Votes for Associated Press Sports Editors’ Second Vice President should be e-mailed to Executive Director Jack Berninger at jackapse@aol.com.
It’s very important to remember that if you have multiple members, you only get one vote per paper. If your newspaper sends in multiple votes, we will record the first vote we receive and throw out the others.
Every paper may vote for Second Vice President.
Deadline for voting is June 1.
Bios: Michael Anastasi | Phil Kaplan | Reid Laymance | Ruben Luna
MICHAEL ANASTASI
Newspaper: The Salt Lake Tribune
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| Michael Anastasi |
Michael Anastasi
Background: In Salt Lake since 2004, currently managing editor for sports, features, copy desks and photography; spent about 10 years editing at the Los Angeles Daily News; a reporter and editor at smaller dailies in Northern California prior to that; region coordinator for AWSM; diversity committee member for APME.
APSE experience: Member since 1988; currently chair of West Region and chair of commissioners committee; have served on Olympics, writers, ethics, critique and convention committees; about 10 years’ judging experience, including chair in 2006 and 2007; have been a panelist and leader for seminars at both the regional and national levels.
Objective: APSE must urgently evolve to retain its relevancy to editors of all news organizations. The unprecedented crisis our industry is in will kill this organization unless the right decisions are made now. Editors and directors of sports Web sites should find APSE as invaluable as newspaper editors have in the past. Traditional news organizations should continue to find what APSE has to offer worth their time and money. Collectively, our members have so much to offer. We need to leverage that information and get it out to membership. We need to do a better job of reaching out to younger members, making them regular contributors to our site. We can’t afford to ignore any editor. Regionals must grow in importance and value. And national leadership on critical issues such as freedom of access and credential language, diversity and innovation remain as critical as ever.
Quotable: "The need for information is stronger than ever, especially in sports. We have a future. Sports editors have a key role to play in getting us there. I know I’ve learned a lot from my association with APSE, and I want to ensure that others do, too – whether or not they have the resources to attend events. Please e-mail me at manastasi@sltribcom if you have thoughts or suggestions."
PHIL KAPLAN
Newspaper: Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel
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| Phil Kaplan |
Phil Kaplan
Background: Have worked at the News Sentinel since 1996 and except for the first six months here as deputy sports editor. Previously was assistant sports editor of The Naples (Fla.) Daily News from 1990-95, agate clerk/writer for the Palm Beach Post (1989-90), designer and copy editor at the Oneonta (N.Y.) Daily Star (1987-89) and writer and editor at the Sullivan County (N.Y.) Democrat (1984-87).
APSE experience: Attended first convention in 2000. I am serving my last year as Southeast Region chair and was vice-chair for two years. APSE judge the past two years. Have been a leader and panelist for workshops at last two conventions and region meetings. Through my own initiative, worked with Scripps Howard Foundation and APSE to hold a one-day workshop on diversity issues at Hampton University. In return for APSE’s involvement, Scripps gave APSE two paid internships for the summer of 2010. Started Facebook page for APSE to grow social networking among members.
Objective: APSE needs to continue to change in order for the organization to remain viable for the years to come. In order to do that, it will mean more voices from all members.
APSE also has to be stronger on the region level. Some region reps have not followed their responsibility to produce region reports or hold a region meeting. APSE needs to consolidate some of the regions to make them stronger and produce two informational meetings a year with the vice chair having a greater role in duties.
APSE needs to make the contest more computer friendly or else take a hard look at its future. Also produce more news and information on the Web site and continue to improve on diversity initiatives.
Quotable: "I will personally seek out individuals to have a more active role in APSE. I believe many of you want to help, but have never been asked or just don’t know how to help. I have been successful maintaining a strong region level for APSE and believe I can translate that to a productive national level."
REID LAYMANCE
Newspaper: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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| Reid Laymance |
Reid Laymance
Background: College correspondent, high school writer, high school editor, copy editor, Sunday editor at Dallas Morning News from 1982-1989. Senior editor, assistant managing editor at The National Sports Daily, 1989-91. Assistant sports editor, deputy sports editor at Houston Chronicle, 1991-97. Sports editor at San Jose Mercury News, 1997-2000. Senior assistant sports editor at Boston Globe, 2000-2008. Sports editor at St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2008-present.
APSE experience: Attended first APSE convention in 1989 in Portland and survived Jeff Wohler’s speech at the Saturday night dinner among other things during an eventful three days in the Pacific Northwest and have remained active in the organization ever since. Have written articles for APSE newsletters, worked behind the scenes to help get things done for former national and regional presidents, attended and helped plan regional conventions, commissioner’s meetings, and worked on other national committees (Olympics). When given a choice between going to the summer convention or the winter judging, have always opted for judging because there’s something about sitting in a room with other editor’s and seeing the work that is being done around the country at different levels that keeps me motivated. I guess it’s my version of loving the "smell of napalm in the morning."
Objective: I have had the pleasure of working for many of APSE’s original founders and presidents and feel like the importance of the organization has been hard-wired into my operating system. I have seen APSE evolve but even as the media landscape changes around us almost daily I think we need to stick to what our core values and objectives are: helping us all improve the sports journalism we produce, fighting for the things we all need (access, credentials, etc.), recognizing our good work, and finding solutions together to new challenges.
Quotable: "I probably can’t repeat (or remember) some of my better lines that usually come at the end of a long day of judging or in the hospitality room. But I’ll just say that I’m still an ink-stained wretch who wants to help us all find our way in this cyber world."
RUBEN LUNA
Newspaper: The Detroit News
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| Ruban Luna |
Ruben Luna
Background: I have worked at four newspapers in a variety of positions, from agate clerk (part time) to copy editor/designer to Sports Editor. I started at The El Paso (Texas) Times, my hometown newspaper, taking phone calls on football Friday nights. I was retained as a part-time agate clerk and eventually was hired full-time as an agate clerk. During this time – all while attending UTEP – I worked as a correspondent for the Associated Press and United Press International, covering UTEP basketball and the Sun Bowl. This writing experience led to two beats at The Times – high school baseball and New Mexico State football and basketball. I moved to The Stockton (Calif.) record as a copy editor/designer before heading to The Fresno (Calif.) Bee in the same capacity. I was promoted to Assistant Sports Editor (1995) and served in that realm until the end of 2000, when I was named interim Sports Editor. I then left for The Detroit News and a Deputy Sports Editor position in which I worked with reporters in developing enterprise and investigative journalism. I was promoted to Sports Editor in December 2004.
APSE experience: Have been a member since 2005; APSE judge for three years; served two years as regional chair.
Objective: We need to reinvent APSE to 1) make it more useful and accessible to papers of all sizes; and 2) use the changing times to make APSE and its resources more meaningful. I would like to see us use the Web site as a more useful resource for all members, including a place to go for helpful advice and communication. It’s imperative in these times to provide all sports editors the expertise, knowledge and experience of all our members. In these cash-strapped times, it’s also critical to look at how we conduct business in terms of conventions and judging. It won’t help us – or our future – if our yearly events focus on the few who can and don’t take into account those who can’t.
Quotable: "Newspapers always have been late to the party, and we’re paying for it now. APSE needs to lead the way. We have talented individuals in the organization with experience, know-how and passion for what we do. We need to utilize all our resources and lead the next generation of journalists. I’ve learned a great deal from the little time I’ve spent with some key individuals at APSE. If we can expand that circle where every sports editor can pick the brains of our more experienced core, it will be the key to sustaining our future as an organization." ruben.luna@detnews.com
