By Mike Sherman, APSE President
Jesse Newell, who covers the University of Kansas athletics for the Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, took first place in the Associated Press Sports Editors 2014 contest for Beat Writing in the 30,001 to 75,000 circulation category.
Newell, whose five-story entries highlighted his work on the Kansas basketball and football beat, will be presented a first-place plaque at the 2015 APSE banquet. The banquet and awards dinner concludes the APSE Conference June 24-27 at The Westgate Hotel in San Diego, Calif.
Newell received three of six first-place votes from APSE judges, who ranked him ahead of runner-up Brian Christopherson, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star and third-place finisher Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman. Cripe won the 2014 beat writing award in this category. The top 10 is listed below with links to each writer’s Twitter page and available entries.
Sports editors in the 30,001 to 75,000 circulation category submitted a total of 58 Beat Writing entries from APSE member sports departments in 2013. Contest catchers numbered each entry, assuring they had been stripped of headlines, graphics, bylines and any other element that would identify the writer or news organization.
The contest is open to APSE members. Go to this link to join.
In early February, preliminary judges at the APSE Winter Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., selected a top 10, with each judge ranking the entries in order from 1 to 10 separately on a secret ballot. Entries were given 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for second and so on down to 1 point for a 10th-place vote. The final 10 were given to a second judging group, which ranked the entries 1-10 in the same fashion. The winner and final rankings are determined by tallying the ballots.
The Beat Writing category recognizes the most authoritative, newsy and innovative coverage of a beat during 2014. Each APSE member news organization was permitted to submit up to two entries of five stories each. Each entry consisted of at least one breaking news story, one event or game coverage, one enterprise piece and two wild-card stories that could include a blog post.
Here are the top 10, listed in order of finish
1. Jesse Newell, Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, 50 points, 3 first-place votes
Andrew Wiggins shoulders blame following KU basketball’s 60-57 loss to Stanford in round of 32
Could KU basketball study lead to a change in the way the game is played?
Passion, preparation led to new KU football coach David Beaty getting hired ahead of schedule
3 ways KU basketball can avoid zone woes in 2014-15
Life-changing son: Kansas’ Keon Stowers alters family cycle
2. Brian Christopherson, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star, 41 points, 1 first-place vote
Pelini’s final meeting with players included profane shots at Eichorst
Abdullah carries Huskers past ‘Canes
Different day, different stakes, Huskers-Hurricanes still brings nostalgia
New Husker coach Riley the genuine article, former players say
Abdullah the toast of the ballroom in Chicago
3. Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman, 39 points, 1 first-place vote
Boise State’s Ioane continues to play football as he awaits kidney transplant
Bryan Harsin ‘living his dream’ as Boise State coach
Here’s why Boise State, and its fans, paid $150 for some $75 Fiesta Bowl tickets
Boise State throws away opener against Ole Miss
Boise State getting $9 million for Albertsons Stadium dea
4. David Dorsey, The News-Press (Fort Myers, Fla.), 37 points
Fort Myers Miracle baseball team changes ownership
Jorge Polanco makes Miracle history, promoted to Twins
Minnesota Twins player development academy benefits all
Fort Myers Miracle make history at JetBlue Park
Miracle pitcher Tim Shibuya excels at fielding
5. Tim Wilkin, Times Union (Albany, N.Y.), 36 points
Riding for their lives in a saddle
Bayern gets controversial win in Breeders’ Cup Classic
Wilkin: Doubters now feeling dumb
6. Evan Woodbery, Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel, 35 points
Winning run scores on hit batter, as Vols fall again to Tide, 7-6
Vols seeing effects of bat-calming measures
Vols’ workout warrior Corey Vereen says his drive to succeed will be hard to extinguish
Contracts show Nike significantly outbid adidas on new apparel deal
7. Zac Boyer, The Washington Times, 32 points
Jay Gruden takes unorthodox path to NFL head coaching job
Steady McCoy leads Redskins: ‘We’re going to win this game’
Redskins’ Breeland cited for pot possession on eve of training camp departure
In Arena League, dreams of following Jay Gruden’s path
NFL practice squad players are outsiders on their own team
8. Seth Soffian, The News-Press (Fort Myers, Fla.), 31 points
FGCU basketball players McKnight, Graf not returning
A-Sun Conference championship: Lights out for FGCU
FGCU believes on-campus plasma injections a first
Cut-throat recruiting finds way to college pools, FGCU
FGCU guard Boyle tells different story
9. Vince Nairn, Wilmington (N.C.) StarNews, 16 points
David Irving steps down after 15 years as Hammerheads coach
Braswell returns as Vikings continue strong start
Youth sports teams struggle for field space as county grows
USL Pro moving quickly on expansion
USL Pro moving quickly on expansion
10. Seth Emerson, The Telegraph (Macon, Ga.) 13 points
Help for when the dream ends: Richt’s other passion
Stunned Bulldogs ‘sick’ after squibbing away game
UGA’s Gurley suspended amid investigation over autographs
Georgia’s McGarity discusses financial support
Gurley’s legend quickly grew among Georgia team
(Mike Sherman is sports editor of The Oklahoman and president of APSE. Contact him at msherman@oklahoman.com or 405-475-3164.)
