Executive Committee and General Membership Opening Meeting Minutes
Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011
University Place Conference Center and Hotel
Indianapolis
Called to order by president Phil Kaplan at 5:05 p.m. Motion to open meeting by Garry D. Howard, seconded by Joe Sullivan.
Executive Committee roll call:
President Phil Kaplan
First Vice President: Michael Anastasi
Second Vice President: Gerry Ahern
Third Vice President: Ben Brigandi
Executive director: Jack Berninger
Past Presidents: immediate past president Garry D. Howard
Lynn Hoppes
Jerry Micco
Glen Crevier
Bill Eichenberger Executive Director Jack Berninger
Regions (Chairs, or the Vice Chair or other recognized representative in their absence):
*Carrie Cousins, Atlantic Coast
*Dave Leeder, Canada
Paul Skrbina, Great Lakes
Josh Barnett, Mid-Atlantic
Reid Laymance, Great Plains
*Joe Sullivan, Northeast
Jon Johnson, Southeast
*Burt Henry, Southwest
Mike James, West
Kevin Brown, Northwest
General Membership:
Toby Carrig, St. Genevieve Herald
Joe Sullivan, Boston Globe
Scott Thurston, Boston Globe
Josh Barnett, Philadelphia Daily News
Greg Brownell, Glens Falls Post-Star
Carrie Cousins, Roanoke Times
Burt Henry, San Antonio Express-News
Mike James, Los Angeles Times
Robert Gagliardi, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
Pete Wallner, Grand Rapids Press
David Leeder, Toronto Globe and Mail
Jeff Budlong, Rapid City Journal
Nick Dettmann, Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Mike Rose, Newsday
Kathy Laughlin, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
Don Shelton, Seattle Times
Kevin Brown, Everett Herald
Mary Byrne, Associated Press
Roy Hewitt, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Doug Tatum, New Orleans Times-Picayune
Tim Stephens, Orlando Sentinel
Loren Nelson, Minnesota Hockey Hub
Barry Forbis, Cincinnati Enquirer
Keith Lipscomb, ESPN.com
Lynn Hoppes, ESPN.com
Joe Wojciechowski, ESPN.com
Brian Hendrickson, National Sports Journalism Center
Jon Johnson, Dothan Eagle
Chris Imperiale, Scranton Times
John Turner, Huntsville Times
Jim Lefko, Indianapolis Star
Ron Fritz, Baltimore Sun
Chris Korman, Baltimore Sun
Reid Laymance, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Carlos Ayulo, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Gene Myers, Detroit Free Press
Courtney Linehan, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Pam Clark, Springfield News-Leader
Teri Thompson, New York Daily News
Bill Eichenberger, Wall Street Journal
Glen Crevier, Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Ruben Luna, Detroit News
Jerry Micco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune
Kevin Winters Morriss, Southeast Missourian
Garry D. Howard, Sporting News
Jeff Mailett, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Tim Franklin, National Sports Journalism Center
Lenny Bernstein, Washington Post
Jorge Rojas, Miami Herald
John Silver, Chicago Sun-Times
John Bednarowski, Marietta Daily Journal
Tom Bergeron, Yahoo! Sports
Jason Wolf, Greensboro News & Record
Jeff Rosen, Kansas City Star
Jay Lee, Houston Chronicle
Jeff Krupsaw, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Scott Monserud, Denver Post
Roxanna Scott, USA Today
Jim Luttrell, New York Times
Bob Velin, USA Today
OPENING REMARKS — Phil Kaplan
Congratulations to and appreciation for all the efforts of first vice president Michael Anastasi to line up 94 judges for the contest, a big number.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
COMMISSIONERS – Phil Kaplan for Jeff Rosen
Meetings set for third week in April (21-22) in New York. Schedule being formalized with NFL, MLS etc. APSE is not setting up hotel rooms.
CONTEST — Michael Anastasi
Thanks for turnout at judging. Four members on each committee which helps greatly. Final committees available online. Some shifts possible in final categories. We expanded web contest from two categories to three this year. Exploring going to four next year. Web judging went from one day to two, which made it more fair and thorough. Discussing going to three days. Asks membership for commitment of help in web judging. Response being logged by Gerry Ahern. Want to do first web judging window in first half of year. Also added multimedia judging to this year’s contest, two categories.
CONVENTION — Joe Sullivan
Boston Sheraton is the hotel. June 22-25 are the dates. $209 is hotel rate, good rate for Back Bay Boston. Activities include Red Sox game on Wednesday afternoon. Tickets are $30. We’ll leave game and have executive committee meeting and then have opening reception at the hotel. Activities after that, you are on your own. Lots to do in Boston. Matt Pepin will do a video with tips on the website. Kaplan notes that we will be offering a job fair on Saturday morning to help mentor students and possibly increase membership. Sullivan notes transportation from Logan Airport can be pricey. Check with him if you have questions. Sessions will include leadership with duo from Poynter Institute, big event coverage on all platforms, chasing rumors, the next big thing (tablets), high schools (revenue), social media, the craft of writing, analytical writing, investigative. Keynote speaker: Working on Roger Goodell depending on NFL labor situation. Discussing alternatives. Bill Russell, Robert Kraft are possibilities.
DIVERSITY AND SJI — Jorge Rojas, Phil Kaplan
Hampton: Third annual Diversity Day held Nov. 9. Lynn Hoppes moderated a panel discussion with senior assistant sports editor Greg Lee of the Boston Globe, sports writer Lisa Olson of AOL Fanhouse and copy editor Florence Brown of USA Today, who is a graduate of Hampton. Students with the help of 13 professionals later covered the football team's media availability and it was documented with stories, photos, videos and social media.
Two students earned $3,000 stipends from Scripps Foundation and will intern at APSE papers: Asbury Park Press and Palm Beach Post. For second year in a row will be at SJI boot camp at Poynter.
If your paper would like a “free” intern for 2012 (funds have been approved), just contact Kaplan.
AWSM: An AWSM/APSE event is scheduled in Indianapolis on April 4, the day before the NCAA women’s championship. This will be the first joint venture by the two groups.
Racial and Gender Report Card: No surprise here. The third bi-annual edition of the Racial and Gender Report Card of the Associated Press Sports Editors, covering more than 378 Associated Press websites and newspapers (up from 300 APSE members in 2006) will be released soon by Richard Lapchick. It measures changes from the 2008 data for the industry established in the previous report. The 2010 Report was published by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida and was requested by APSE. The APSE newspapers and websites received grades of C for racial hiring practices and an F [CLR1] for gender hiring practices in the key positions covered in the 2010 study.
Missouri/SJI: In initial discussions with Missouri about doing an APSE event there similar to Hampton, Kaplan was able to put Sandy Rosenbush of SJI in touch with Greg Bowers, SE of the Columbia Missourian. Missouri was looking to raise their profile with diversity and SJI was contemplating leaving Poynter. So very happy to report they will be announcing a partnership between the two. SJI will hold their boot camp at Missouri and leave Poynter. A Missouri student will be part of the SJI program. Missouri will be helping with the website, creating a logo. APSE in turn will hold an annual event in the fall at Missouri.
FUTURES — Joe Sullivan
Working on Boston convention.
LEGAL AFFAIRS/ETHICS – Phil Kaplan for John Cherwa
It’s been a rather quiet year. We’ve had a very quiet skirmish with the NBA on background checks at the All-Star Game that was settled in our favor without any publicity. The NBA also put into their credentials a 72-hour window on non-action video but excluded stand ups, which is mostly what we use it for. We are seeing a trend based on the growth of conference networks that there will be an assault on our ability to live stream press conferences. But it hasn’t come to a head yet.
Am awaiting to see the new MLB credential. Had discussions with Pat Courtney about getting some of the photo restrictions (which they are not enforcing) out of the agreement. We’ll see.
Still watching high school associations and their restrictions on championship games. Anyone with any issues should contact John Cherwa.
MENTORSHIP/OUTREACH — Toby Carrig/Ben Brigandi
Brigandi goes over survey results. 111 responses to interest in Boston convention and the program. Particular interest in high school coverage, websites, social media, column writing, game stories, investigations and the future of print and technology. Most addressed by convention committee. Cost a factor in why more folks don’t attend conventions. Time and resources also an issue. Judging issue between under-30,000 and under-15,000 classifications.
WEBSITE/NEWSLETTER — Gerry Ahern
Thanks to Toby Carrig for all his hard work contributing region notes and on the move items. A plea for more participation from the membership in contributing content for the website. Contest flier (available online only) tweaks: Were people able to find it? Was the info obtrusive enough? Many simple instructions in terms of how to prepare entries (listing dates, circulation category, individual stories, etc.) were not followed. We will make every effort to make them more obvious next year. Welcome suggestions from the membership. Directory will be updated online next week.
OLYMPICS — Roy Hewitt
Hewitt, in his last year as committee chair, gets a hand for all his hard work over the years. He announces all is on track regarding London Games and credentialing.
REGIONS — Toby Carrig
Plea for participation supplying region notes and on the move items. Passes out a map breaking down APSE members by state. Looking at regional affiliation and possible realignment.
FUTURE OF COMMITTEES — Michael Anastasi
Wants to accelerate process of committee signups before the summer conference (as has been done in the past). Signup sheets will be posted for all committees this week in Indy. Considering a recruiting committee. Phil Kaplan could play key role.
WELCOME TO INDY — Tim Franklin
Appreciation for APSE coming to Indy, interaction with students. NSJC and APSE partnership valued. Goes over program including meeting with NCAA president, Indiana law school dean/sports law expert, panel on future of sports journalism. Details on judging rooms. Pacers-Heat game.
OLD BUSINESS
FINANCIAL REPORT — Jack Berninger
We are likely to not go over budget this year. Dues are up over projected budgeted. Job postings are two and a half times what we thought they would be. Membership: We have 316 primary members. That’s up from 304 last year. We have 508 total members. That’s up from 452 a year ago. Great job by president Phil Kaplan.
SOCIAL MEDIA — Phil Kaplan
Facebook APSE site, 404 people. Closed group.
Twitter, 3,400 followers, following 1,700.
MEMBERSHIP – Phil Kaplan
News organizations may increase their membership by one from this year’s number next year for free. A newspaper that had one this year may add a second next year for no additional fee, for example. A newspaper that had four may add a fifth, and so on.
NOMINATIONS OF NEW OFFICERS — Phil Kaplan
Nominations for second vice president. Region chairs whose two-year terms are expiring are automatically put forth as candidates for second vice president.
Automatically put forth for nomination are:
Lauren Gustus, Reno Gazette-Journal (expiring term)
Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune (expiring term)
Jon Johnson, Dothan Eagle (expiring term)
Johnson declines. Gustus declines. Skrbina declines.
Nominations accepted from the floor for second vice president; there is a limit of four from the floor.
Josh Barnett of Philadelphia Daily News nominated, seconded. Accepts.
Ron Fritz of the Baltimore Sun nominated, seconded. Tentatively accepts pending paper approval.
Tim Stephens of the Orlando Sentinel nominated, seconded. Accepts.
Bios of all candidates will be posted by April 1. The voting period runs from April 1 to June 1.
REGION METINGS — Phil Kaplan
Western met in November and Northeast met in December.
April 18: Great Lakes Region meeting at Tribune Tower in Chicago.
April 18: Mid-Atlantic Region meeting at Penn State in State College, Pa.
April 18: Southeast Region meeting at Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Ala.
May 2: Atlantic Coast meeting in Richmond, Va. (tentative)
Great Plains: TBA
Northwest: May possibly in Spokane
Southwest: TBA
Considering moving region caucuses to winter meetings. Show of hands. Summer is preferred by membership.
2012 Winter Meetings (Orlando), Feb. 18-22. Room rate is $99 at World Gate Hotel, according to Jack Berninger.
2013 Winter Meetings (Indianapolis). Expected to stay put at IUPUI.
NEW BUSINESS
Attempting to marry new dues structure to work in tandem with contest classification. Would give those who have to move up, pay more, a free member for the year. Discussion. Greg Brownell against plan. Jerry Micco and Garry D. Howard weigh in regarding financial impact on smaller papers. Impacts roughly 35 organizations. About $2,000 in fees at stake. Michael Anastasi recommends tabling vote until closing meeting.
MEMBERSHIP 2011 — Phil Kaplan
According to the bylaws, general-interest sports web sites must be approved by Executive Committee vote for membership. Several web sites have expressed interest in joining APSE.
The sites:
SB Nation
Minnesota Hockey Hub
RealClearSports
Patch.com
Examiner.com
Have been approved but did not join
SI.com (not contacted)
FOXsports.com (will decide in fall/winter 2011)
AnnArborNews.com (contacted, too costly)
Under present bylaws, Ann Arbor must pay dues of largest category. It would make sense in a case like Ann Arbor, a former newspaper in the smallest category that has gone online only. Perhaps it is to give officers discretion in cases such as this.
Vote (by hand) of executive committee on Ann Arbor to be allowed to join for $150 fee.
Passed.
Anastasi recommends other prospective sites (if reps present) make pitches:
SBNation: No one present
Examiner. Com (Anastasi as proxy from an email) Serves 242 markets across U.S. and Canada. One of top 10 most visited sites in the country. Roughly 10 full-time employees. Oversee 1,600 sports writers across the country. Credentialed by pro leagues, colleges and Olympics.
Minnesota Hockey Hub (Loren Nelson)
Site focuses on Minnesota boys high school hockey. Five full-time employees. Partnered with Minneapolis Star-Tribune. 10,0000 unique visitors a day 2.5 million page views a month. Coverage and live streaming of games. TSV media parent company. Has 2,000 amateur sports websites. Future includes more coverage of all high school sports in Minnesota.
Jack Berninger points out the Bylaw states “general interest sports internet sites.” Gerry Ahern says more examination needed in terms of general interest question and practice of journalism beyond aggregation. Vote tabled until closing meeting.
Reduce cost of associate membership for college students from $50 to $25.
Motion to vote
Seconded.
Passed
Dave Schwartz, former SE Northwest Herald and Triple Crown winner in 2007, has been director of outreach and an adjunct instructor for the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication since August 2007.
He has agreed to help Kaplan with an initiative to increase college student/advisor membership.
RED SMITH VOTING — Phil Kaplan
Openness/transparency of process questioned and being looked at. Nominations and vote done secretly by past winners and presidents. Further discussion warranted.
CONVENTION 2012 CHICAGO — Gerry Ahern
Yahoo! Sports will be the primary convention sponsor for 2012 in Chicago. Dates will be June 20-23. Jack Berninger and I are in process of scouting hotels.
CONVENTION 2013 – Tim Franklin, Gene Myers
Tim Franklin says Indy would love to have APSE back for either a winter or summer conference in 2013. Gene Myers makes pitch for Detroit. Full support of Detroit Free Press executive editor Paul Anger, former APSE president. Funding approved. Billing could be shared with Detroit News. Hotels should be reasonably priced. Casinos a possibility. Tigers, restaurants, bars, Ford plant River Rouge tour among highlights.
Ruben Luna adds testimonial. Franklin says 2014 might work better for Indy. Motion for vote by Joe Sullivan. Second by Jerry Micco.
Passed.
Toby Carrig as associate member – Phil Kaplan
Carrig now at weekly in Missouri, longtime APSE member and officer.
Motion to vote Josh Barnett.
Second Paul Skrbina.
Passed
Anastasi rehashes committee assignments, thanks first-time judges. Under 30,00 daily entries will be getting critiques. Plan to pick a top 10 for under-15,000 sections.
Motion to close:
Seconded
Meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
