Last summer APSE president Gerry Ahern called on every member of APSE to recruit and sponsor one college student as a member of our organization.
For a $25 fee, students gain access to the minds and events that will shape the future of sports journalism. Ahern also asked sponsoring editors to help help mentor the student as they prepare to enter the profession.
To sponsor a student member, go to http://apsportseditors.org/registration/
Several APSE members have answered the call. To recognize them and the new members they've brought into our organization, we'll be posting bios of the first wave of student members.
Today, meet a University of Michigan junior who worked as an intern last summer at the Baltimore Sun.
Name: Zach Helfand
College status: Junior at University of Michigan in 2012-13
Sponsoring member: Ron Fritz, Baltimore Sun head of sports
Experience: Worked as sports reporting intern for the Baltimore Sun in summer of 2012. Write as freelancer for College Hockey News. Worked as senior editor and covered college baseball and hockey for the Michigan Daily, the University of Michigan’s student newspaper. Covered Michigan football for the Detroit Free Press in fall 2011. Interned for USA Today in its collegiate correspondent program in fall 2011. Worked as a college general assignment sports intern in summer 2011 at The Trentonian in Trenton, N.J.
How did you become interested in sports journalism? My student newspaper, the Michigan Daily, helped me realize how much I love storytelling. And being able to be around sports was a nice bonus.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned? Don't follow the pack. The best stories are usually a result of extra reporting, independent of what the pack of writers are following. Go where others won't, and you'll be rewarded.
Dream job? Columnist/enterprise writer at a daily newspaper in a good sports town or for a magazine.
Interests/hobbies/activities: Reading, woodworking and playing sports.
Zach’s work appears on: Michigandaily.com, baltimoresun.com
Follow Zach on Twitter @zhelfand
