ASNE Convention 2012

ASNE's annual convention is the largest annual gathering of newsroom leaders from daily newspapers and other news organizations. At ASNE 2012, editors and leaders in the field of journalism education will gather for programs focused on "What It Takes" to lead the digital and mobile transformation of a modern newsroom.

2012 U.S. Olympians and Coaches: On winning!

By Sarah Hogue

Being an Olympic Games athlete involves concentration, support from family and friends and a hunger for success, two Olympics athletes and one of their coaches told the Wednesday opening session at the ASNE conference.

Dominique Dawes, a gymnastics gold medalist in the 1996 Games, and Alex Meyer, who is to compete in open-water swimming at the London Olympics this summer, joined Tim Murphy, the Meyer's coach in a panel discussion.

Meyer and Murphy discussed the dangers and difficulties of open-water swimming, especially since it debuted only four years ago in Beijing. Meyer said that every time he gets in the water, he must adapt to differing course layouts, water conditions and swimmers around him.

Unforeseeable conditions, such as the death of teammate Fran Crippen during a competition in United Arab Emirates in 2010, also produce stress during the training of Olympians. A panel investigating the death criticized safety standards at that race.

"The last thing I wanted to do was get in a pool," Meyer said in reaction to the death of his friend.

Dawes said exercise and fitness are a catharsis in times of stress and encouraged others to "press start on a treadmill" rather than "popping a pill" when they feel depressed.

Murphy, the head coach of Harvard University's men's swimming and diving program, said he had to balance his encouragement of Meyer at Harvard. He said he had to push Meyer physically while making sure to support his efforts in the classroom.

Meyer said he finds training to be easier after graduation but thinks that he has less motivation when he doesn't have a full schedule of practice and schoolwork.

Dawes and Meyer agreed that a hunger for winning kept them eager to practice and compete, and gave them an advantage in their events.

Sarah Hogue is a student at the University of Maryland. She is one of several local university journalism students reporting live from ASNE 2012 in Washington, D.C. 

About Amanda Knowles

Amanda Knowles is Web & Social Media Manager at the Newspaper Association of America. Before coming to NAA, Amanda spent four years working in print journalism, both at the college and professional level. She has worked as a copy editor and news page designer for two daily newspapers in northwestern Pennsylvania, The Erie Times-News and The Meadville Tribune. Most recently, she collaborated on The American Observer, the online magazine edited and produced by graduate journalism students at American University in Washington, D.C. Amanda believes strongly in the secure future of the newspaper, and is excited to be a participant in the movement to integrate traditional print media into the burgeoning digital world.