Connecticut newspaper’s open newsroom wins APME award for innovation

The three reporters gathered for The Register Citizen’s afternoon news meeting pitch stories to a wider audience than their editors: A camera mounted atop a newsroom television broadcasts the meeting online for readers who want to comment or make suggestions or requests. It’s part of the public newsroom approach at the Torrington, Connecticut, newspaper, which was honored Thursday with the award for Innovator of the Year by the Associated Press Media Editors association.Anyone from the community is welcome to ask questions online during the meetings, attend in person or stroll up to the desk of any reporter or editor all day Monday through Saturday. The newspaper is closed on Sunday. Staffers say the unimpeded access required some adjustments but has helped them connect with readers. And they say their worst fears about gadflies taking over the newsroom have not been realized.