Conflict of interest at APSE?

I think it's easier to argue that the higher circulation papers are easier to recognize writers by style and heck even the look of the stories (I think I could pick out the type from a Dallas Morning News story if I saw it, but I'm a design guy), but aside from a handful of papers, does that really come into play?

 

Nope. And after reading 616 entries, I don't care.
I'm not trying to discern typography on a Xerox. Are you guys kidding me?

Stylistically, only the big columnists can be recognized if you really concentrate.

 

Until you judge, do not gripe about the process.
I've done it twice, enjoyed it, learned a lot and can say the people I judged with were fair.
No one ever pressured me to choose a APSE "favorite."
If you don't like the contest, don't enter. It's a contest, not an affirmation of your career.
This stuff comes up every year. We get it, the contest isn't perfect, then again, in life, what is?

 

I'm not saying most people can or that they try; in fact I know most can't. But I think there's four or five papers I'd know by sight. Of course, like I said, I'm a design guy and notice those things. Most people don't, and honestly, in a judging setting, I don't know if I would.

 

Point of clarification, for those that don't know.
When judging, there are no heds, deks or bylines. No photos. No cutlines. No jumplines.
Just body. Just sticks of type. One column of copy after another after another after another on Xeroxed sheets.

So, if you can tell New Times Roman from Post Roman, more power to you.
I don't give a shit. Nor would you with a stack of entries literally a foot high.

 

My bad, Moddy. Didn't read the whole thing until now, just the part that was posted, out of context.

And Pulitzer, nice sentiment, but a bit naive.

 

What, if you haven't been elected to public office, you can't criticize your senator? That's ridiculous.

Do you think your hero, Van McKenzie, would have approved of what's happening this week? Or told people who complain about it that they're unqualified to complain? Get over yourself.

Anyway, the fairness of the judging is a diversion from the real topic -- whether a journalism organization ought to allow an MLB employee to have input in that organization.

 

Put aside the judging. What if baseball decides that credentials can only be issued to certain reporters, or puts restrictions on the the content that can go on the web? What if a team blocks access for a critical reporter? The APSE is an organization that has our backs in conflicts with the clubs. It is an adversarial relationship in that sense, we have different aims and interests and need to maintain a professional distance.

Jenks can't play for both teams.

 

Frank, hasn't that been "asked-and-answered" for about three pages now?

 

Fishy, Frank's point is exactly the issue. There is NO way this should have been allowed to happen. But it is.

 

I get it. It is the issue.
And, I agree. You agree. Frank agrees. The last four pages of this thread agrees.