Check out the innovation room

The Society of American Business Editors and Writers annual conference next month in Baltimore will have a new feature — an innovation room where business editors and reporters can show journalists at other papers what they’re doing online.

Cliff Cumber, the business editor of the Frederick News-Post in Maryland, is organizing the effort.

“To be honest, we’re not quite sure what it is, but we know what we want it to do — be a showcase for some of the best, most innovative strides media outlets are making in this grand transition to the future,” says Cumber.

SABEW vice president Bernie Kohn, who is also assistant managing editor of business at the Baltimore Sun and the host of the conference, calls is a “a journalistic science fair.” It’s part of SABEW’s effort to have our members take away things they can apply when they get back home.

“I guess we’ll have to see how well the project goes,” says Cumber. “It’ll be a twofer. All the cutting edge stuff will be right next to SABEW’s best in business winners, so not only will attendees be able to take in a taste of the future, they’ll be able to peruse the country’s finest business journalism too.

The innovation room will be equipped with computers that will have Internet access — wired and wireless — and can accommodate audio/visual needs.

If you’re interested in taking part, please drop Cumber a line at ccumber@newspost.com.