Below is a promo for the latest worthwhile Webinar from Poynter and APME:

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Most newspapers struggle to various degrees with managing online comments. We're full of advice here at the News & Interactive Division, of course, but check out my fellow APME board member and director of news innovation at the Knoxville (Tenn.) Sentinel Jack Lail's News U Webinar.

http://www.newsu.org/courses/course_detail.aspx?id=nwsu_webComments09

Cost is just $9.95 for APME members. According to Poynter, this was one of their most successful Webinars ever.

Without a doubt, managing online comments is an issue on everyone's mind right now. I highly recommend the following Webinar from APME and Poynter on Thursday.

From APME:

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There are still a few free registrations available for the APME St. Louis conference in late October. For more information on this offer from the GateHouse News & Interactive Division, please click here.

With APME's conference registration down to $200, and the offer of buy one registration, get one free, I would like to help GateHouse editors attend.

The conference will be Oct. 28-30, and you can get all the information, including the incredible agenda, here. APME conferences are always the most down-to-earth news conferences out there. In other words, you will walk away with realistic, actionable ideas you can implement quickly.

Below is a note from APME President Bobbi Jo Buel. As an APME board member with a keen interest in great national training programs, like NewsTrain, I highly recommend you take a moment to participate. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
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GateHouse editors:

You can help fund journalism training programs by sending APME two copies of your paper.

Whether you are dealing with a vendor, enjoying dinner at a local restaurant, or trying to sort out your weekend project at the local hardware store, there is nothing better -- or more pleasantly surprising -- than finding great service.

It is in that spirit that it is worth noting the lead item from today's Online Update (see below), which briefly outlines the support system improvements taking effect tomorrow. All of these improvements are being made for one reason: To improve our services for your benefit.

For anyone who fears newspapers are losing depth in their local news coverage, look no further than our own Patriot Ledger and The Enterprise in our New England division to have faith restored.

The papers have released a series, "Paying Big-Time," which details abuse of local pension funds. Check out the online presentation of the series here.

While many of you already embrace Twitter as another platform for news delivery, you may also consider the site as a newsgathering tool.

ESPN provided a good example this morning when Minnesota Timberwolves player Kevin Love tweeted/broke the news that Coach Kevin McHale would not return next season. ESPN caught this and reported the story on SportsCenter.