Minutes from the Associated Press Sports Editors Winter Conference and Judging closing meeting at the Doubletree at Disney Springs, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025
President Dan Spears called the meeting to order at 11:03 a.m. and introduced first vice president Paul Barrett, second vice president Perryn Keys, third vice president Tony Maluso, executive director Bill Eichenberger. (Conference coordinator Glen Crevier left early and could not attend.)
Past presidents in attendance:
- Naila-Jean Meyers, Minnesota Star Tribune (2023-24)
- Jorge Rojas, The Athletic (2022-23)
- Gary Potosky, The Philadelphia Inquirer (2021-22)
- John Bednarowski, Marietta Daily Journal (2018-19)
- Tommy Deas, then Tuscaloosa News (2016-17)
- Phil Kaplan, then Knoxville News Sentinel (2010-11)
- Bill Eichenberger, then Newsday (2003-04)
Region representatives
Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia. – Nate Mink
Southeast: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. – Ed Reed
Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin. – Naila-Jean Meyers
West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming – Chris Boan
Representing the Associated Press: Barry Bedlan
Finances and budget update (Bill Eichenberger)
No updates.
Conference update (Glen Crevier)
The Doubletree has reached out to us about coming back. We’ll see.
Revenue (Tommy Deas)
I want to correct myself from what I said at the opening meeting. I said we have raised more than $500K in sponsorship money or in-kind contributions since I took over this role in 2019. I actually took on this responsibility in 2017, so that number reflects sponsorships obtained dating back to that time.
Thai Night and Mini-Golf
We have good options for Thai Night with a restaurant across the street in Minneapolis. A Puttery mini-golf place is also nearby.
In a hard-fought battle, which included trading aces down the stretch of the back nine, this year’s winter mini golf event ended in a tie. Eric Wallace, behind two aces, rebounded from a tough start to tie Justin Pelletier for the title, each scoring 45. Jeff Perkins, always a factor, finished strong and claimed third place at 48.
In the women’s competition, Jamie Hancock shot 53 and edged Maria McIlwain by two shots to claim the title.
All prizes have been distributed. Congratulations, and we’ll see you all in Minneapolis.
APSE Foundation & Diversity Fellows Class (Jorge Rojas)
Thanks to our Diversity Fellows for their attendance and work this week. We will see you all in Minneapolis in a few months.
Dan Alegria said this was a very tight-knit group and thanks everyone for their welcome and their help this week.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Contest (Paul Barrett)
Thank you, everyone, for all of the work you’ve done this week. It was a lot, and there’s a little more left. I still have three top 10s that need ranking, and if you are available to take one please let me know.
And even though the remote judges aren’t here, I want to make sure I thank them. They got this year’s judging off to a strong start, which was huge. Several groups judged multiple categories, and Iliana Limón Romero deserves special kudos for judging three categories and ranking one top 10.
I’m hoping to have everything done by March 9, and I hope to start posting individual winner stories the last week of March.
I’m also responsible for judging in Year 2 of the Billie Jean King Award, so if you’re interested in helping with that, and the upcoming student contest, please email me at apsecontest@gmail.com.
Getting back to the APSE Contest, we got some great feedback this week for several categories, including National Beat Writing and Event Coverage – specifically on how we can improve the rules. And Perryn will decide if we keep High School Beat Writing as a category next year, but I thought it worked out well.
Also, I want to thank Matt Pepin again for putting together the plan for feedback in the C and D Short Feature and High School Beat Writing categories. Matt, is there anything you want to mention about that?
Matt says there was lessons learned, most importantly to split up the responsibilities as to who’s providing the feedback sooner. Feedback will be delivered after the final rankings have been posted. Thanks to all the judges who participated.
And finally, let’s open it up to contest questions and comments.
Tommy Deas said he’s in his 17th year doing this, and in his opinion, the addition of high school beat writing was the best change he’s seen coming into the contest. He thanks Paul Barrett and the group in the judging room and their work is greatly appreciated.
Maria McIlwain asked whether we should or could add High School Beat Writing in divisions A and B. Dan Spears adds that the point of added the High School Beat Writing category in divisions C and D was to help us as editors identify the rising stars in our business. Maria asked: Are those same people in similar high school positions in big markets, like Philadelphia and Boston? Maria noted that plenty of good high school writers can get crowded out by the writers on larger beats among A and B members.
The room generally agrees that the addition of High School Beat Writing in A and B warrants discussion. Tommy Deas added that If we add new categories, we will have to look at dropping other categories, so as to keep the contest “judgeable.”
Diversity (A. Sherrod Blakely)
No updates.
Membership (Jason Murray)
No updates.
Regions update (Michael Kates, Gary Potosky)
Reminder that the Northeast Meeting is April 14 at Temple.
Southeast Meeting: May 12 at Alabama Sports in Birmingham. Greg Sankey has been approached, plan to reach out to ACC commissioner Jim Phillips.
West Region: More in-person stuff coming from Chris.
Career Advancement (Lisa Wilson)
No updates.
Other summer journalism conferences:
AWSM: Iliana says that AWSM will soon be announcing an in-person conference for AWSM this August in Phoenix. More details to come.
NAHJ: July 8-12 in Chicago.
NABJ: August 6-10 in Cleveland.
AAJA: July 30-August 3 in Seattle.
NLGJA: September 4-7 in Atlanta.
Commissioners (Hank Winnicki)
No updates
Legal affairs and ethics (Gerry Ahern and John Cherwa)
No updates
Olympics (Roxanna Scott)
No updates
World Cup 2026 (Paul Barrett)
We had a good session on Monday night with some of the FIFA media-relations staff, who gave a presentation on the credential/access process and answered questions. Lenny Santiago sent me the slides from the presentation, and I’ll forward them to the World Cup committee members.
Also, committee members should be on the lookout for an invite from me to our next meeting in the next month or so. And if you want to join this committee, please let me know.
Red Smith Award (Matt Pepin)
Red Smith Award: Voting deadline is March 10.
Scholarships (Phil Kaplan)
We’ve settled the amount and are working on a notice to post.
Student Contest (Iliana Limon Romero)
No updates.
Website/social (Perryn Keys)
I will take another look at the posts with contest results, streamlining them for style and to make sure links are correct.
OLD BUSINESS
TIDES report (Dan Spears)
After a little snafu on Tuesday, we got a fresh TIDES report link to everyone on Wednesday. Please make sure you’re filling that out as soon as you can for Brandon and his team.
Committee changes & volunteers (Dan Spears)
Dan will be sending an email and President’s Note with a Google Form out to members next week and we’ll use social media channels to ensure receipt and encourage responses for volunteers for committees. We’ll transition regions out, student contest over, in the coming months ahead of Minnesota and check on any bylaw changes that need to be made.
2026 Winter Conference (John Bednarowski, Dan Spears)
Anybody sharing a room in Orlando should double-check the price they were charged. John Bednarowski blamed Tommy Deas. Some were charged $209 as opposed to $199 due to an extra person in the room.
For 2026, a proposal exists from South Point in Las Vegas, which is 10 minutes south of the airport on the strip. The deadline to accept the proposal is today (Feb. 27). The first set of dates is Feb. 15-19; the second set of dates is Feb. 22-26. John Bednarowski suggested the earlier dates; it is $30 per night cheaper.
Gary Potosky asked about a proposal from Doubletree. Dan Spears said he was informed by Glen it had not arrived yet, but that Glen would be shocked if it were much different than the current plan.
Six people voted for the first set of dates in Las Vegas; eight voted for second set of dates in Las Vegas. Tommy Deas added the New Kids on the Block residency stretches both set of dates. Gary Potosky and Perryn Keys both offer to change their vote for the second set of dates.
Tommy Deas seconded the motion for a second vote.
On the second vote, the executive committee voted unanimously in favor of the Las Vegas proposal for Feb. 22-26.
NEW BUSINESS
Second Vice President Nominations (Dan Spears)
Dan opened the floor for nominations for second vice president. A reminder that this is a three-year commitment to the organization to attend both winter and summer conferences.
Outgoing region chairs Jason Hoffman of Cincinnati (Midwest) and John Devine of Miami (Southeast) are eligible to be on the ballot.
Per the bylaws, a candidate must be nominated – and seconded – by independent members of the Executive Committee, between now and 11:59 p.m., March 15. Executive committee is officers, region chairs (or vice chairs in their absence), AP representative and past presidents.
Candidates will be asked for a biography for the website before the election.
• Tommy Deas nominated Maria McIlwain. John Bednarowski seconded. Maria accepted.
• Bill Eichenberg nominated Jim Pignatello. Chris Boan seconded. Jim sent word he will accept.
• Naila-Jean Meyers nominated Erik Hall. Jorge Rojas seconded. Erik sent word he will accept.
Motion to adjourn: Christopher Boan
Second: John Bednarowski
Meeting ends at 11:38 p.m.
Attendance
Naila-Jean Meyers, The Minnesota Star Tribune, APSE past president
John Bednarowski, Marietta Daily Journal, APSE past president
Matt Pepin, The Boston Globe
Maria McIlwain, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Ed Reed, USA Today Network-Florida
Gary Potosky, The Philadelphia Inquirer, APSE past president
Bill Eichenberger, APSE executive director, APSE past president
Jamie Hancock, The Dallas Morning News
Greg Brownell, Glens Falls Post-Standard (retired)
Christopher Boan, Gambling,com group
Barry Bedlan, The Associated Press
Nate Mink, Advance Media New York (Syracuse)
Tommy Deas, USA Today Network South Region, APSE past president
Phil Kaplan, USA Today Network South Region, APSE past president
Jorge Rojas, The Athletic
Dan Alegria, USA Today Network
Perryn Keys, The Buffalo News
Paul Barrett, The Seattle Times
Tony Maluso, Capital Gazette
Dan Spears, USA Today Network
