By Jeff Rosen
APSE President
Ryan Thorburn of the Register-Guard in Eugene, Ore., placed first in the Associated Press Sports Editors 2017 contest in beat writing in the 30,000-75,000 circulation category.
Thorburn covers the Oregon Ducks for the Register-Guard.
He will be presented a first-place plaque at the 2018 APSE banquet. The banquet and awards dinner concludes the APSE Summer Conference June 17-20 at the Marriott Hotel Nashville/Vanderbilt University. The second- through 10th-place winners will receive frameable certificates.
The contest is open to APSE members. Click here to join.
Contest chair John Bednarowski and fellow APSE officers Jeff Rosen, Todd Adams and Robert Gagliardi numbered each entry. Preliminary judges selected a top 10, and from there another group of judges ranked the finalists in order from 1 to 10 separately on a secret ballot. Entries were given 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for second, etc. The winner and final rankings are determined by tallying the ballots.
APSE contest beat writing entries consist of five pieces: at least one breaking news story; one event or game coverage story; one enterprise piece and two wild-card stories from any of the aforementioned categories (or other stories or analysis related to the beat). Judges in this category are looking for excellence on the beat, with metrics showing authority and audience engagement.
The top 10 are listed below with links to writers’ Twitter pages, APSE member websites and the winning entries.
1 . Ryan Thorburn, The Register Guard, 45 points, 2 first-place votes
Advocate delivers powerful message
UO paid assistant Reaves $63,750
Oregon coaches’ ties go back 20 years to when Taggart was a player
Oregon deals Oregon State historic Civil War beating, 69-10
After just one season with Ducks, Oregon coach Willie Taggart accepts job with Florida State
2 . Mark Emmert, Des Moines Register, 43, points, 1 first-place vote
Jane Meyer wins $1.43M in case against Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes outlast Iowa State Cyclones, thanks to their New Jersey duo
Here are the kids you’re waving at during Kinnick’s new tradition
- Ryan Wood, Green Bay Press-Gazette, 38 points, 2 first-place votes
3 Packers sit in protest during national anthem as others lock arms
How Packers mastered art of the Hail Mary
Why Lance Kendricks sat in protest for national anthem
Bears LB Danny Trevathan defends devastating hit on Packers WR Davante Adams
Focused on football and fatherhood
4 . Aaron Kasinitz, Patriot-News/PennLive.com, 29 points
Lack of diversity in ownership looms as NFL moves forward from year of protests, controversy
Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz has season-ending ACL tear
Carson Wentz’s Philadelphia Eagles teammates follow ‘the general’ to win over Panthers
For Eagles’ Alshon Jeffery, tiny-town upbringing paved road from hardwood to NFL stardom
After Trump calls for boycott, experts say NFL faces marketing challenges — but not doom
5 . Cody Stavenhagen, Tulsa World, 26 points
Criminal background checks remain a rarity despite issues in college sports
OU football: Amani Bledsoe suing NCAA over one-year suspension
Bob Stoops rides away: A look behind the football facade of OU’s winningest coach
West Virginia at No. 4 Oklahoma: For Baker Mayfield, an emotional senior day ends just fine
6 . Will Sammon, Clarion-Ledger, 22 points
Mississippi State upsets UConn in Final Four
Mississippi State names Ron English as safeties coach
Andy Cannizaro wants MSU to be an extension of himself
Meet the Starkville barber that generations of Mississippi State football players trust
Nick Fitzgerald was a known secret to high school coaches
7 . Michael Lycklama, Idaho Statesman, 19 points
Two newly hired Nampa High coaches are out. Did the school do its homework?
‘No divide anymore.’ Two rival Idaho schools join forces, reach football final
‘Life-threatening’ turf at an Idaho high school? Lax testing raises safety concerns
White lie earns Rocky Mountain football a victory in matchup of two 5A powerhouses
Fans asked Idaho to reform its high school football playoffs for years. Is it time?
TIE Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune, 19 points
A day in the life of Brian Kelly and his attempted Notre Dame football resurrection
Brian Kelly’s ‘someday’ team arrives as Notre Dame bullies USC, 49-14
Analysis: How will Brian Kelly co-exist with new Notre Dame OC?
Analysis: Passing judgment at Notre Dame begins with Brian Kelly
How college football’s backroads set up Notre Dame DC Mike Elko for success
9 . Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 17 points
After making memories with his sons, Ginobili has memorable out for Spurs
Spurs’ Leonard expected to miss preseason with lingering thigh injury
Former Spurs sometimes pay high price for playing in NBA
Humble beginning in Latvia set Spurs’ Bertans on path to NBA
Reporter finds inspiration, new friends, good food on Spurs road trip
10 . Jennifer Smith, Lexington Herald-Leader, 16 points
Father of college football’s Stoops brothers an ordinary man with an extraordinary legacy
After 44 years, Commonwealth Stadium has a new name: Kroger Field
Benny Snell sets school records, carries Cats to win at Vandy
‘Mr. Kentucky’ has seen it all from Fran Curci to Mark Stoops
‘The Wildcats are with you.’ A coach, a QB and a special visit to a boy’s hospital room.
