Voting is now open for the election of the newest second vice president for the Associated Press Sports Editors.
The second VP will begin a three-year run as an officer, capped by their year as president of the organization starting in the summer of 2027.
Each organization receives one vote for second VP. Please email Executive Director Bill Eichenberger at billapse707@gmail.com with your vote by the end of the day, Sunday, April 20.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Bill or APSE president Dan Spears at apsepresident@gmail.com.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Erik Hall
Current position: Managing Editor, The Telegraph in Alton, Illinois; Hearst Corporation
Journalism Background
Education: Bachelor’s in Journalism from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign; Master’s in Journalism from the University of Missouri.
- Managing Editor, The Telegraph in Alton, Illinois (2024-present)
- Digital Sports Editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (2022-23)
- Lead Producer for Sports, USA TODAY Network (2018-22)
- Assistant Sports Editor, Roanoke (Virginia) Times (2015-17)
- Assistant Sports Editor, Columbia (Missouri) Missourian (2013-15)
- Sports intern, San Diego Union-Tribune (2014)
- News and sports copy editor, Charleston (Illinois) Journal Gazette/Times-Courier (2012-13)
- High school sports writer, La Salle (Illinois) NewsTribune (2005-11).
APSE Experience
- APSE Foundation board member/secretary (2023-present)
- Executed video interviews with more than 20 APSE presidents to celebrate the organization’s 50th year in 2023
- APSE Southeast Region vice chair and chair (2019-23)
- Oversaw the APSE Student Contest (2020-22)
- APSE Diversity Fellowship (2015-16)
- Social media management for APSE Facebook account (2016-present)
- Wrote the monthly APSE On The Move (2017-23)
- Judging member annually since 2014
- Attended summer conference regularly since 2012
Objectives
APSE has been an integral part of my career, providing opportunities, education, and connections that have shaped me as a journalist. I want to ensure that every sports editor — regardless of market size or career stage — can benefit from this organization as much as I have. If elected president, I will work to strengthen APSE’s financial foundation, expand career support for editors, and position the organization for long-term success.
I’ve seen firsthand how strategic financial planning can strengthen an organization. Since joining the board of NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists in 2019, I’ve been part of efforts that have more than tripled the organization’s cash reserves from $500,000 to over $1.5 million. I believe we can take a similar approach with APSE by expanding corporate sponsorships and developing new revenue streams.
APSE should be a resource for every editor — whether they are thriving in their careers or facing challenges in a shifting media landscape. I want to create a system to help editors connect with hiring managers, share resumes, and find new opportunities.
APSE has meant so much to me, and I want to ensure it remains a vibrant and valuable organization for the next generation of sports editors. By improving our financial footing and expanding career resources, we can make APSE stronger, more inclusive, and more impactful than ever.
I’m excited about the opportunity to serve, and I’d love your support.
Quotable: “Tell the truth and don’t be afraid.”
Maria McIlwain
Current position: Multiplatform coordinator, sports; women’s sports editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Journalism background 
- At The Inquirer, I also mentor interns and have been a member of the newsletter and social media teams.
- Before The Inquirer, I was a copy editor on the combined print desk of the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News and also worked as a digital producer/newsletter editor at the Chronicle.
- I covered high school and college sports at The Bryan-College Station (Texas) Eagle and The Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury.
- While I was an Auburn student, I covered high school and college sports for The Anniston Star and Opelika-Auburn News.
- Outside of APSE, I’m a student chapter coordinator for AWSM.
APSE experience
- I was a Diversity Fellow in Class X (2020-21).
- I’ve been to every summer conference except one since 2016, when I was a senior at Auburn, and have been a contest judge since 2018.
- I was the Southwest Region (RIP) vice chair and chair from 2020-22 and am the current West Region vice chair.
- I have served on the contest committee and have helped with summer conference planning and student programming.
Objectives
At every APSE event I attend, I look around the room and am struck by how profoundly this organization has impacted every one of us. It’s sobering — but exciting. This organization has the power to shape careers, hold sports leadership accountable, and nurture the next generation of top sports journalists. I’ve seen that power at work as a student, as a young professional, as a Diversity Fellow, and as a member of its leadership, and each experience has provided valuable insights into how to best serve this organization and its members. In short: APSE has had a profound impact on me personally and professionally, and I want to strengthen it for journalists present and future. With that in mind, and aided by the expertise of current and former APSE leaders, here are four key areas of emphasis for me:
R — Retain. How can we keep members invested year after year? This particularly applies to Diversity Fellows. We want their growth and membership to continue beyond their program. I think it would be valuable to track them down, create a database of former Fellows with current info, and attempt to get them back in the fold if they’ve fallen away. The APSE Foundation will provide valuable insights here.
A — Adapt. We do this every day at work; we’re constantly trying to meet readership where it’s at, and that shows in how we distribute news. Let’s convey that to APSE. Whether it’s reframing how we disseminate our messaging via social media (maybe a video series explaining the benefits of APSE and debunking myths?), updating the contest to highlight the best of the best, or how we pick convention locations, let’s consider who our members are — and how much money they have. As someone who frequently pays their own way (and I know there are many out there like me), I’d love for things to be cheaper and would work with the rest of the executive board and the conference coordinator on that.
G — Generate. I remember the days when our coffers were running dry, and it’s imperative that we’re never in that place again. We’re lucky now that the organization is on strong financial footing, and I’d like to keep it that way through continuing partnerships with sponsors and working with the revenue committee to find new leads. Another key to keeping our organization financially healthy is generating new membership. I’d like to explore states in which we have weak involvement and identify sports editors and writers who could be involved. I’ll engage with third vice president Tony Maluso on his idea of having a form for prospective members to assess their needs. Another area in which we can grow is online-only members. I worked alongside excellent journalists at these outlets in my time as a writer, and I’d like to see more of them in the fold.
E — Engage. Regional programming is an amazing way to get new faces in the door and invested in professional development. In my tenure as Southwest Region chair, we hosted a student summit, which was a virtual meeting of three panels geared toward the topics students are interested in. Roughly 50 students from colleges across Texas participated, and I think that’s something we could replicate in regions across the country, particularly in areas with rich journalism school traditions. This is an area in which the career advancement committee would have a huge impact.
Quotable: “Vigorous writing is concise.” — William Strunk Jr.
Jim Pignatiello
Current Position: Deputy Editor/Content and Senior Director/Sports, MassLive.com
Journalism Background 
- Deputy Editor/Senior Director at MassLive.com since 2023
- Director/Sports, MassLive.com, 2014-23
- High School Sports Coordinator, MassLive.com, 2013-14
- High School Sports Coordinator, Daily Hampshire Gazette, 2010-13
- Sports Reporter, Daily Hampshire Gazette, 2004-10
- Sports Reporter, North Adams Transcript, 2003-04
APSE Experience
- Current Northeast Region chair, vice chair 2022-24
- Have attended judging every year since 2018; judge for Billie Jean King Award
- Attended national conferences in 2022-24 and took part in panels all three years. Will be in Minneapolis this summer
- Attended Commissioners meetings in 2023-24
- Two-time APSE mentor
- World Cup committee member
- Regular Thai Night attendee
Objectives
When I started at MassLive, we were largely the website for a newspaper in Springfield, Massachusetts, two hours from Boston that just dabbled a bit in pro sports coverage. In the past 12 years, we’ve expanded and moved east and used sports to lead all of our journalism efforts. We’ve embraced and tried new methods and approaches to become a leader in coverage of the Boston teams and one that’s still growing.
Some of the successful ideas were our own. Others we picked up from other places. APSE is a place where we share and foster those ideas to meet the challenges of our time — from political attacks on our industry to shrinking staffs and budgets. It’s also here to support one another and help each other find ways to grow. The best part of APSE is that it is filled with the most incredible people, and I’m fortunate to count so many of them as close friends and mentors.
Being part of APSE has been incredibly beneficial to me and to MassLive, and I want to continue to help build and strengthen this community that has helped me build and strengthen my team.
That means focusing on:
- Membership growth through direct outreach and experimentation, including current leadership’s decision to move the winter conference outside of Florida for the first time since 2012.
- Strengthening regions in their current configuration and supporting both in-person meetings and regular virtual connection opportunities. (Come to our Northeast Region meeting at Temple University on April 14!)
- Working with A. Sherrod Blakely on his plan to evolve the Diversity Committee along with expanding APSE’s relationship with TIDES.
- Build depth of committee leadership to ensure there’s enough bandwidth to handle all the amazing things APSE does.
- Interpersonal support that goes beyond the technical aspects of what we do and fostering discussions and training on topics that promote prioritizing mental health, thoughtful leadership and talent development.
Quotable: ‘You treat people with respect not because of who they are but because of who you are.” — Tommy Deas
