The five best writers, period.

Hollandsworth is a great choice.

What's Thomas Lake been up to recently?

 

Sportswriter division:
S.L. Price
Charlie Pierce
Sally Jenkins
Spencer Hall
Brian Phillips

Non-sportswriter division (but still journalism):
Tom Junod
Gene Weingarten
Eli Saslow
John Jeremiah Sullivan
Katherine Boo

 

Third on Hollandsworth.

 

This is a bit similar to what my list would look like. Worked with Jon Heyman when he was just starting out in the business and could tell even then he was headed for big things -- although our boss and many of the high school coaches who had gotten used to a certain style of coverage didn't always approve of his aggressiveness. Lowe also is a favorite.

Quite a few very strong writers in my region, especially those with Miami Herald backgrounds: Hiassen, Barry, Buchanan (for crime reporting and then as a novelist). Le Batard doesn't write for the paper much anymore, but I will make an effort to read him when he does.

 

Hiaasen is always on my list.

 

Another vote for Saslow. Doesn't matter what he writes about; it's always great.

 

Yes, ditto on Eli Saslow. Laura Hillenbrand. Gail Collins for opinion/essay. Jennifer Gonnerman's also great (not sports).

 

Another vote for Gregg Doyel. Dude is killing it. Took first in APSE column writing last year after short time in Indy. Probably will win again this year.

 

Five best, any field
1) Shakespeare
2) Mark Twain
3) John Lennon
4) Charles Dickens
5) Maya Angelou

 

I'll throw out a few more names this way: Would I read it if the story shows up in my social feeds even if I care absolutely nothing about the topic? If I see these names attached to it, the answer is probably. I'm rarely disappointed.

Matt Crossman has a portfolio of great stories on diverse topics. I love to find a surprise, either a story I'd never heard about or some angle on a famous person that has not yet been explored. Matt has a pretty strong track record with those.

Dan Wiederer at the Chicago Tribune is excellent, both on the beat and when turned loose with enterprise.

At the Washington Post, Kent Babb and Rick Maese are superb. Chuck Culpepper too.

Joe Goodman has done some excellent work since moving to Alabama from the Miami Herald, and glad to see al.com let him run with it.