I am pleased to announce that rules revisions and details of this year's APSE contest have been finalized.
The entry deadline this year is Tuesday, Jan. 25.
Our contest — the vehicle by which professional excellence in sports journalism is recognized among the membership — continues to evolve, and move forward.
At the suggestion of membership at our winter and summer conferences, we've added a new category for multimedia. We've also amended writing awards rules — please review them carefully — and the section categories have been changed to better reflect today's newspaper circulation.
Our website contest also continues to evolve, with a third category and a second day of judging. The first day of judging took place in October. Winners will be announced at the end of December.
The traditional judging is taking place Feb. 12-16 at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, the first time APSE is holding judging at the home of our partner, the National Sports Journalism Center.
Every APSE member, as well as staff from those organizations, is encouraged to volunteer as a judge. Those who have participated in the past will tell you this is the toughest job you'll ever love. It is grueling but extremely rewarding as you review the best work in the nation. You'll come home with ideas and inspiration.
The program begins on Saturday, Feb. 12 with an executive committee meeting at 3 p.m. The business meeting is open to all members, and judging assignments will be handed out at the conclusion of the meeting. It is not absolutely necessary to attend on Saturday, but recommended, and you do need to let me know if you can't attend. And you need to be ready to begin judging at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
To make the experience even more worthwhile, we've added an exciting lineup of speakers and events.
Following our opening executive committee meeting, we'll be having a dinner with Mark Emmert, the NCAA's new president, as the keynote speaker.
Sunday night, we'll have an informal mixer featuring a workshop conducted by Gary Roberts, the dean of the Indiana University School of Law — Indianapolis, one of the nation's foremost experts on sports law. Roberts, a former president of the Sports Lawyers Association and the co-author of the nation's leading textbook on sports law, is going to provide a backgrounder on the possible lockouts in the NFL and NBA as well as tips for editors on what to look for in those disputes.
On Tuesday night, editors will have the opportunity to attend the Pacers-Heat game at Conseco Fieldhouse. For $75, editors get admission to the game as well as a meal and beverages at the Legends restaurant. Pacers President Larry Bird is expected to address the group.
APSE again is making a limited number of expenses-paid scholarships available to judges from papers under 40,000 circulation. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, please contact Executive Director Jack Berninger at jackapse@aol.com.
The room rate at University Place Conference Center & Hotel is $119. To make a reservation, call (317) 269-9000 and ask for the APSE rate. You also make make a reservation online. The reservation deadline is Jan. 11. If you are interested in having a roommate to limit cost, please e-mail Jack.
If you have any questions about the contest itself, about participating in judging, or to sign up as a judge, please contact me. It is particularly important that you let me know if you are coming to judge so you can be assigned to a judging committee.
