enough about conflict of interest, let's see some APSE results!

But shouldn't the purpose of awards, on any level for anything, go to the talented? Or at least those busting their ass?
Oh, and I am not whining. We picked up the first APSE this paper has ever had, so we're just fine.

 

Alma, I respect you tremendously, but I believe that you basically repeated the points I was trying to get across.

We all know what APSE is, and what it isn't. If you don't think membership is worth the dues, or are in it just for the awards and are unhappy because you're not winning, by all means spend your money elsewhere.

And my point about driving to the meeting was that you get out of the organization what you put into it, and that it's possible to be an active member if it's important enough to you, regardless of the size of your circulation or staff.

By the way, damn near every paper represented at that meeting came from as far away, if not farther, than I did. And most drove.

The comment I was addressing in my previous post was from someone who said that they weren't going to pay dues anymore because their paper is TOO SMALL to attend any of the functions, and that their paper is TOO SMALL to compete in the contest.

Neither of those statements are accurate, and I cited facts to back that up.

Maybe attending judging or the national convention is another matter, but I think anyone who wants to attend a regional meeting can get away from the office for a day or two if they plan ahead and it's important enough to them.

That, and even very small papers have won APSE awards. Yes, it is difficult. But shouldn't it be?

 

this is going to come off wrong, but i think the over 250s are afraid of the competition. who wouldn't like having to compete against, what, 38 papers? (my apologies, whatever the number is.) no matter how high the level of competition is in theory, it's still only that tiny number of entities you're competing against -- and if you're all basically at that level, in theory, i would like my chances. crack the top 20 out of 40 or whatever it is and we're all patting ourselves on the back.

the over 250s don't want to compete against the 175s of the world and the 175s and 190s and 210s like being at the top of the food chain in the other level so they can clean up. well, isn't a contest about competition? i say bring it.

LOVE the idea about best in show. do that. why not? maybe all the over 250s would win every year -- maybe not. let's see.

i love Joe P., the man is a genius -- but he's not the best in America. He's the best in over 250 (do i think he'd be the all-class champ? of course, but that's not the point.)

 

I agree with this to some extent. The largest division is clearly less competitive than the smallest.

 

Might depend on the category YaBB. Gamers and columns are, essentially, gamers and columns. But do you think those in the 150,000 category want to be competing with the New York Times in project reporting? A few of those major metros can easily say, "Take six months, work on nothing else, and see what you come up with."

I doubt scared is what the big papers are feeling.

 

Except, you know, some of the talent involved. I'm very happy to concede that there are many, many talented people working at smaller papers across this country. But most of the people working in those big markets are there after proving themselves at two (and sometimes three) smaller stops on the ladder.

 

Originally there was one contest, no breakdown in circ. And over-250Ks didn't win everything. Then there were three circ classes, now four, and last year some people were saying there ought to be five.

Think a Top 20 is a joke with only 34 contestants? Don't forget there are three section categories, so you have 34 sections competing for 60 section awards. It's like one of those game preserves where they buy elderly lions and elephants from a zoo and let hunters shoot them so they can haul it to the taxidermist.

I give the Philly Daily News a lot of credit. Circ isn't much more than 100K, yet every year they step up in class to compete in the top bracket because they're not ducking anyone. There are a lot of other major-market papers bigger than PDN that don't do that.

 

If you're at a small paper (under 40,0000), here's the best reason to get your paper to pick up the APSE dues -- a free, all-expenses-paid trip to the judging. I took advantage of it and it opened my eyes.

I'd heard the arguments about APSE being a good ol' boys network and that the same papers win year after year. (What would KC's Holly Lawton think of this?) There's a reason that they win -- they're good. They do excellent work.

I always thought our paper was pretty decent. It is. But we're not going to win a section award. We don't generate enough local copy with our two reporters. The mandatory dates would have to be ideal for us, almost the perfect storm. I'm OK with that.

Now the writing categories, that's a different story. Those are up for grabs. Find an intriguing topic, add lots of description, then write your heart out. You'll be competitive.

But let me stress again, if you're a member of APSE, haven't judged and are at a paper with a circ. under 40,000, take advantage of the free trip to judge. APSE picks up the flight, hotel room and food. You can't beat the price, and they're always looking for judges.

 

By my count, 30 of the 34 newspapers in the over-250K won either best daily, best Sunday or best special section (or more than one). That means four papers got shut out in the section contest. Enjoy!

 

Welcome to Lake Wobegon!

 

And in the 100K-250K, 37 of the 65 newspapers won at least one section award.

 

Absolutely agree. A very educational time, and a fun time too. If you've never been to an APSE judging, I highly recommend it.

Unfortunately, APSE will pay the freight only for first-timers. You (or your paper) have to foot the bill the second time.