APSE Judging Thread

[Hackwilson191]

UNDER 40,000
DAILY SECTIONS
Top 10
Bloomington (Ind.) Herald-Times
Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune
Columbia (Mo.) Missourian
Concord (N.H.) Monitor
Killeen (Texas) Daily Herald
Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, Wash.)
Morning News of Northwest Arkansas (Springdale, Ark.)
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, Ill.)
Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News
Wyoming (Cheyenne) Tribune-Eagle

Honorable Mention
Carroll County Times (Westminster, Md.)
Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review
Elyria (Ohio) Chronicle-Telegram
Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
Lawrence (Kan.) Journal World
Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser
Sauk Valley Newspapers (Sterling, Ill.)
Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald Journal
Southtown Star (Tinley Park, Ill.)
Willoughby (Ohio) News-Herald

SUNDAY SECTIONS
Top 10
Altoona (Pa.) Mirror
Bellingham (Wash.) Herald
Carroll County Times (Westminster, Md.)
Concord (N.H.) Monitor
Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, Ill.)
Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald-Journal
Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News

Honorable Mention
Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald
Bloomington (Ind.) Herald-Times
Iowa City Press-Citizen
Marin (Novato, Calif.) Independent Journal
The Missoulian (Missoula, Mont.)
Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser
New Bedford (Mass.) Standard-Times
Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel
Willoughby (Ohio) News-Herald
Wyoming (Cheyenne) Tribune-Eagle

SPECIAL SECTIONS
Top 10
Altoona (Pa.) Daily Mirror
Beaufort (S.C.) Gazette / Hilton Head (S.C.) Island Packet
Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald
Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel
Sauk Valley Newspapers (Sterling, Ill.)
News & Messenger (Woodbridge, Va.)
Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News
Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) Citizens' Voice
Willoughby (Ohio) News-Herald
Yakima (Wash.) Herald-Republic
Honorable Mention
Decatur (Ala.) Daily
Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle
Elyria (Ohio) Chronicle-Telegram
Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
Kileen (Texas) Daily Herald
Lawrence (Kan.) Journal World
Longmont (Colo.) Times-Call
Marietta (Ga.) Daily Journal
Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald Journal
Wooster (Ohio) Daily Record

BREAKING NEWS STORY
Top 10
Marc Weiszer, Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald
Chris Koman and Hugh Kellenberger, (Bloomington, Ind.) Herald-Times
Dave O'Onofrio, Concord (N.H.) Monitor
Alicia Johnson, (Glens Falls, N.Y.) Post-Star
Dugan Arnett, (Lawrence, Kan.) Journal-World
Patrick Ridgell, (Longmont, Colo.) Daily Times-Call
Stacy Long, Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser
Brad Engel and Jason Ivanitz, Naperville (Ill.) Sun
Jim Seimas and Jennifer Squires, Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel
Kevin Melton, (Spartanburg, S.C.) Herald-Journal

COLUMNS
Top 10
Brian T. Smith, The Columbian (Columbia, Wash.)
John Sahly, DeKalb (Ill.) Daily Chronicle
Jon Styf, DeKalb (Ill.) Daily Chronicle
Rick S. Alvord, The Longview (Wash.) Daily News
John Turner, Kerrville (Texas) Daily Times
Josh Moon, Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser
Ryan Moses, Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel
Jon Couture, The New Bedford (Ma.) Standard-Times
Greg Fallon, The Star Press (Muncie, Ind.)
Chuck Pollock, Olean (N.Y.) Times Herald
GAME STORIES
Top 10
Chris Carlson, Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Mass.)
Patrick Ridgell, Daily Times-Call (Longmont, Colo.)
H. Williams Kellenberger, Herald-Times (Bloomington, Ind.)
Andrew Hamilton, Iowa City Press-Citizen
Joe Stevenson, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, Ill.)
Tim McManus, Post Star (Glens Falls, N.Y.)
Will Springstead, Post Star (Glens Falls, N.Y.)
Julie Jag, Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel
Christopher Smith, Southeast Missourian (Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Greg Fallon, The Star Press (Muncie, Ind.)
EXPLANATORY
Top 10
Buck Frank, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror
Dan Goldberg, Antelope Valley Press (Palmdale, Calif.)
Chris Carlson, Berkshire (Mass.) Eagle
Patrick Schmiedt, Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune
Alex Ruppenthal and Matt Schiffman, Columbia Missourian
Tim McManus, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
Justin Jarrett, Hilton Head (S.C.) Island Packet
Randy Whitehouse, Lewiston (Maine) Sun Journal
Todd Shanesy, Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald-Journal
Aaron Suttles, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News
FEATURE STORIES
Top 10
Jim Owczarski, Aurora (Ill.) Beacon News
Rob Schultz, Capital Times (Madison, Wis.)
Alex Matthews, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
Rick S. Alvord, Longview (Wash.) Daily News
Tony Blasi, Lewiston (Maine) Sun Journal
Corey Mitchell, Saginaw (Mich.) News
Jim Seimas, Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.)
Jeff Breer, Southeast Missourian (Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Tony Baranek, Southtown Star (Tinley Park, Ill.)
Dave Zeitlin, West Chester (Pa.) Daily Local News

PROJECT REPORTING
Top 10
Jeff Cochran, Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald
Cory Giger, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror
Eric Baca, Merisa Jensen, Alan Hendry, Eric Harding, Toby Carrig and Brian Golden, Antelope Valley Press (Palmdale, Calif.)
Patrick Schmiedt, Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune
Dave D'Onofrio, Concord (N.H.) Monitor
Brett Vito, Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle
Tim McManus and Jackie Friedman, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
Andrew Carroll, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News
Jason Wolf, Danville (Va.) Register & Bee
Robert Gagliardi, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne)

 

[Hackwilson191]

40,000-100,000
DAILY SECTIONS
Top 10
Albany (N.Y.) Times Union
Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star
Canton (Ohio) Repository
Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.)
Los Angeles Daily News
The State (Columbia, S.C.)
Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette
Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette
Honorable Mention
Colorado Springs Gazette
Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News
Everett (Wash.) Daily Herald
Fort Myers (Fla.) News-Press
Oakland (Mich.) Press
Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard
Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, Ind.)
Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal
Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Ariz.)
Portland (Maine) Press Herald
SUNDAY SECTIONS
Top 10
Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle
Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
Everett (Wash.) Daily Herald
Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
Los Angeles Daily News
Newport News (Va.) Daily Press
North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
Roanoke (Va.) Times
The State (Columbia, S.C.)
Times Herald-Record (Middletown, N.Y.)
Honorable Mention
Arizona Daily Star
Canton (Ohio) Repository
Daytona Beach (Fla.) News Journal
Fort Myers (Fla.) News-Press
Harrisburg Patriot-News
Idaho Statesman
Mobile (Ala.) Press Register
Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal
Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus Leader
Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal
SPECIAL SECTIONS
Top 10
Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle
The Canton (Ohio) Repository
Daytona Beach (Fla.) News Journal
Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star
North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
Provo (Utah) Daily Herald
Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat
The State (Columbia, S.C.)
Honorable Mention
Colorado Springs (Colo.) Gazette
Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette
Fredericksburg (Va.) Free Lance-Star
Idaho Statesman
Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana
Mobile (Ala.) Press Register
Newport News (Va.) Daily Press
Palm Springs (Calif.) Desert Sun
Roanoke (Va.) Times
Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette
BREAKING NEWS
Top 10
Bruce Pascoe, Arizona Daily Star
Todd M. Adams, The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
Taft Coghill Jr., The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.)
Scott Dochterman, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Ryly Jane Hambleton, Lincoln Journal Star
John Maffei, North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
Eric Hansen, South Bend (Ind.) Tribune
Sal Interdonato, Times Herald-Record (Middletown, N.Y.)
David Filking, Paul Grondahl, Christen Gonan, The Times Union (Alabany, N.Y.)
Jeffrey Martin, The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle
COLUMN WRITING
Top 10
Scott Michaux, Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle
Brad Rock, Desert News (Salt Lake City)
David Jones, Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News
Sam Borden, Journal News (White Plains, N.Y.)
Lowell Cohn, Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat
Donnie Collins, Scranton (Pa.) Times-Tribune
Kevin Thomas, Portland (Maine) Press Herald
George Schroeder, The Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.)
John Blanchette, Spokane (Wash.) Spokesman-Review
Bob Lutz, Wichita (Kan.) Eagle
EXPLANATORY
Top 10
Drew Bruno, Evansville (Ind.) Courier Press
Kevin Brockway, Gainesville (Fla.) Sun
Josh Bean, Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register
Joe Morelli, New Haven (Conn.) Register
Brian Hiro, North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
George Schroeder, The Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.)
Seth Emerson, The State (Columbia, S.C.)
Bob Gillespie, The State (Columbia, S.C.)
Alan Blondin, The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Nate Ulrich, Times of Northwest Indiana
FEATURE STORIES
Top 10
Patrick Finley, Arizona Daily Star
Scott Michaux, Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle
Michael Lewis, Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal
Todd M. Adams, Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
Dan Wiederer, Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
Adam Himmelsbach, Fredericksburg (Va.) Free Lance-Star
Peter Kerasotis, Florida Today (Melbourne, Fla.)
Brian Christopherson and Brian Rosenthal, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star
Mark Lazerus, Post Tribune (Merriville, Ind.)
Erin Bolen, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader
GAME STORIES
Top 10
Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star
Rich Campbell, The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.)
Brian Hiro, North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
Jeff Nahill, North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
Gentry Estes, Press-Register (Mobile, Ala.)
Curtis Anderson, Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.)
Katrina Waugh, Roanoke (Va.) Times
Alan Blondin, The Sun Times (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Coley Harvey, The Telegraph (Macon, Ga.)
Matt Erickson, The Times (Munster, Ind.)
PROJECTS
Top 10
Gene Sapakoff, Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier
Todd M. Adams and Dan Wiederer, The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
Brandt Merritt, The Lakeland (Fla.) Ledger
Gentry Estes and Mike Herndon, Mobile (Ala.) Press Register
Scott M. Johnson, The Everett (Wash.) Daily Herald
David Teel and Dave Fairbank, Newport News (Va.) Daily Press
Chris Beaven, Joe Frollo, Todd Porter, Josh Weir, The Repository (Canton, Ohio)
Stu Whitney, Mick Garry, Terry Vandrovec, Matt Zimmer, Maggie Stehr and Mike Klinski, Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus Leader
Bob Flounders, Roxanne Moses, David Bohr, Rod Frisco, James Phillips, Andrew Shay, John Tuscano, Jeremy Elliott, David Rung, Michael Bullock and David Jones, Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News
Annabelle Tometich, The News-Press (Fort Myers, Fla.)

 

[Hackwilson191]

100,000-250,000
DAILY SECTIONS
Top 10
Columbus Dispatch
Des Moines Register
Detroit News
Indianapolis Star
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
New Orleans Times-Picayune
Omaha World Herald
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Seattle Times
Washington Times
Honorable Mention
Charlotte Observer
Lexington Herald-Leader
The Oklahoman
Palm Beach Post
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.)
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Salt Lake Tribune
Tampa Tribune
Tulsa World

SUNDAY SECTIONS
Top 10
Buffalo News
Columbus Dispatch
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
New Orleans Times-Picayune
Palm Beach Post
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Salt Lake Tribune
Seattle Times
The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.)
Virginian Pilot
Honorable Mention
Des Moines Register
Lexington Herald-Leader
Louisville Courier-Journal
Omaha World Leader
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Raleigh News Observer
San Antonio Express-News
Tacoma News Tribune
Tampa Tribune
Tulsa World
SPECIAL SECTIONS
Top 10
Buffalo News
Des Moines Register
Florida Times-Union
Louisville Courier-Journal
New Orleans Times-Picayune
Omaha World-Herald
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Salt Lake Tribune
Seattle Times
Tampa Tribune
Honorable Mention
Birmingham News
Columbus Dispatch
Indianapolis Star
Lexington Herald-Leader
The Oklahoman
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Palm Beach Post
Syracuse Post-Standard
Virginian-Pilot
Washington Times
BREAKING NEWS
Top 10
Reid Forgrave, Tony Leys, Grant Schulte, Erin Jordan, Mark Emmert, Sean Keeler, John Naughton, Randy Peterson, Andrew Logue, Bryce Miller, Des Moines Register
John Niyo, Detroit News
Mike Martindale and Mike Wilkinson, Detroit News
Desmond Conner, Hartford Courant
Dirk Chatelain and Lee Barfknecht, Omaha World-Journal
Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post
Andrew Marra, Michael LaForgia, Jason Lieser, Palm Beach Post
Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steve Dilbeck, Salt Lake Tribune
Geoff Mosher, Wilmington (Del.) News Journal

COLUMN WRITING
Top 10

Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman
Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News
Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman
Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Gordon Monson, Salt Lake Tribune
Tom Powers, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Bob Klapisch, The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.)
Ian O'Connor, The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.)
Martin Fennelly, Tampa Tribune
Martin Frank, Wilmington (Del.) News Journal

FEATURE STORIES
Top 10
Mike Leggett, Austin American-Statsman
Bruce Miles, Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald
Tom Reed, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
Mark Story, Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader
Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post
Gene Collier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Jeff Roberts, The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.)
Michael Becker, Riverside Press-Enterprise
Jerry Brewer, Seattle Times
Mason Kelly, Seattle Times

GAME STORIES
Top 10
Alan Trubow, Austin American-Statesman
Mike Harrington, Buffalo News
Ron Green Jr., Charlotte Observer
David Poole, Charlotte Observer
Chris McCosky, Detroit News
Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Matt Calkins, Riverside Press-Enterprise
Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post
Ross Siler, Salt Lake Tribune
Larry LaRue, Tacoma News Tribune

EXPLANATORY
Top 10

John Maher and Eric Dexheimer, Austin American-Statesman
Mike Wagner and Tom Reed, Columbus Dispatch
Tom Witosky, Des Moines Register
Joanne C. Gerstner and Tim Twenytman, Detroit News
Lori Nickel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Nakia Hogan, New Orleans Times-Picayune
Carl Prine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Jay Drew, Salt Lake Tribune
Geoff Baker, Seattle Times
Jeff Roberts, The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.)

PROJECT REPORTING
Top 10

Steve Esack, Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call
Peter St. Onge, Charlotte Observer
Mike Dyer and Ryan Ernst, Cincinnati Enquirer
Dan Johnson, Tom Witosky and Bill Petroski, Des Moines Register
Adam Hill, Matt Youmans, Ed Graney, Doug Elfman, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Scott Cacciola, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Bob McGinn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tony Jones, Kurt Kragthorpe, Michael C. Lewis, Steve Luhm, Gordon Monson, Martin Renzhofer, Ross Siler and Lya Wodraska, Salt Lake Tribune
Jerry Brewer, Seattle Times

 

[Hackwilson191]

DAILY SECTIONS
Top 10
Boston Globe
Dallas Morning News
Denver Post
Kansas City Star
Los Angeles Times
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
New York Times
Orlando Sentinel
Philadelphia Inquirer
Washington Post
Honorable Mention
Arizona Republic
Chicago Tribune
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Houston Chronicle
Miami Herald
Newsday
Philadelphia Daily News
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
St. Petersburg Times
USA Today
SUNDAY SECTIONS
Top 10
Boston Globe
Chicago Tribune
Dallas Morning News
Denver Post
Detroit Free Press
Kansas City Star
Miami Herald
New York Daily News
New York Times
St. Petersburg Times
Honorable Mention
Baltimore Sun
Chicago Sun-Times
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Houston Chronicle
Los Angeles Times
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Newark Star-Ledger
Orlando Sentinel
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Washington Post
SPECIAL SECTIONS
Top 10
Chicago Tribune
Dallas Morning News
Kansas City Star
Miami Herald
Newsday
Orlando Sentinel
Philadelphia Daily News
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Petersburg Times
Washington Post
Honorable Mention
Arizona Republic
Boston Globe
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Houston Chronicle
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
New York Daily News
New York Times
Philadelphia Inqurier
San Francisco Chronicle
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

BREAKING NEWS
Top 10

Michael Rosenberg, M.L. Elrick and Mark Snyder, Detroit Free Press
Shawn Windsor, Eric Sharp, Jo-Ann Barnas, Carlos Monarrez and Nicholas J. Cotsonika, Detroit Free Press
Joseph Duarte and David Barron, Houston Chronicle
Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times
Christopher Clarey and Gina Kolata, New York Times
Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News
Dennis Knight and Tracey Kaplan, San Jose Mercury News
Charles Robinson and Jason Cole, YahooSports
Dan Wetzel, YahooSports
COLUMN WRITING
Top 10

Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News
Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times
Gwen Knapp, San Francisco Chronicle
Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune
Tim Sullivan, San Diego Union-Tribune
Bernie Miklasz, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Gary Shelton, St. Petersburg Times
Dave Hyde, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Sally Jenkins, Washington Post.
EXPLANATORY
Top 10
Shira Springer, Boston Globe
Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times
Mark Kram, Philadelphia Daily News
Mike Jensen, Philadelphia Inquirer
Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Michael Kruse and Stephen F. Holder, St. Petersburg Times
Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune
Jon Wilner and Mark Emmons, San Jose Mercury News

FEATURE STORIES
Top 10

David Moore, Dallas Morning News
Lindsay H. Jones, Denver Post
Jackie Friedman, Newark Star-Ledger
Michael O'Keefe, New York Daily News
Izzy Gould, St. Petersburg Times
Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune
Sally Jenkins, Washington Post
Mike Wise, Washington Post
Charles Robinson and Dan Wetzel, YahooSports

GAME STORIES
Top 10

Benjamin Hochman, Denver Post
J. Brady McCollough, Kansas City Star
Brendan Prunty, Newark Star-Ledger
Joe Drape, New York Times
Steve DiMeglio, USA Today
Nate Ryan, USA Today
Dan Wetzell, YahooSports
Liz Clarke, Washington Post
Chico Harlan, Washington Post
Jeff Passan, YahooSports
PROJECTS
Top 10

Shira Springer, Boston Globe
Rick Morrissey, Dan McGrath, David Haugh, K.C. Johnson, Shannon Ryan and Brian Hamilton, Chicago Tribune
Bill Lubinger and Jodie Valade, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Candace Buckner, Randy Covitz, Joe Posnanski, Matt Schofield, Adam Teicher, Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
Wayne Coffey, Filip Bondy, Mark Feinsand, John Harper, Roger Rubin, New York Daily News
Alan Schwarz, New York Times
Andrea Adelson, Andrew Carter, Jeremy Fowler, Iliana Limon, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel
Marcus Hayes, Mark Kram, Sam Donnellon, Rich Hofmann, Chuck Bausman, Philadelphia Daily News
Steve Yanda and Eric Prisbell, Washington Post
Dan Wetzel and Josh Peter, YahooSports

 

[apseloser]

The Decatur Herald-Review is definitely one of the top 25 newspapers in central Illinois.

 

[dixiehack]

Whoever guided Marietta to a triple crown deserves every comped dinner he can find.

 

[FreddiePatek]

Whoever guided Marietta to a triple crown deserves every comped dinner he can find.

His name is John Bednarowski. And, yes, he has done one helluva job turning that paper around.

 

[spup1122]

Mitch Albom named Red Smith Award winner

 

[Sic semper tyrannis]

Interesting. That SE must not have worked for the chain I did.
I never once put in an expense for a meal that big and I spent a shirtload of time on the road. Never put one in as an SE either, nor did any of my writers. I would have loved to hear an explanation for that had something come across my desk.

I suppose some newspapers even a few years ago could have been so reckless with their money. Can't imagine that now.

Biggest meal I ever expensed was 90 bucks and that was with company permission when a bunch of us were on a 10-day roader that kept us away from home on 12/31/1999.

I wasn't an SE long but I never went to judging or the convention. Not knocking those who do. It just didn't interest me at a time when I was trying to figure out what I could cover with the money I was alloted. Had I been an SE 10 years earlier, I'm sure I would have felt differently.

Biggest meal I ever expensed was for 700 euros, in advance of Athens Olympics. Took our "team" out for a heck of a night, a prethanks for all the hours and effort they were going to put in.
Was pre-approved to do so by EiC
The goodwill that bought was worth the dough.
I never expensed a meal that didn't include someone on my staff - frankly, didn't do a lot of those.
In the grand scheme of budgeting, a meal here, beer there, is a drop in the bucket. But it goes a long way when "the boss" reaches for the check and says "I got it."
I know that because I've had my bosses do the same, and perhaps this is stupid, but its a way to tell someone they are valued enough to spend some money on just to enjoy a small luxury.

You guys are already on a working vacation.

Sickening.

How about the motherforkers who have to stay in the normal hellhole they work at for 45-50 hours a week, week after week?

Where is the $1500 dinner night for them?

Pathetic.

Because you asked, we would go out as a department after the Olympics and company would pick up the bill.
But don't fly off the handle or anything.

And as for covering an Olympics being a "working vacation", then you either haven't worked a Games, or didn't do it properly.

Not saying it can't be fun, but please, not everyone enjoys three to four weeks away from family etc.

 

[mb]

Mitch Albom named Red Smith Award winner

Mateen Cleaves and Jason Richardson, resplendent in their Michigan State green, were thrilled.

 

[SteveThePirate]

I don't know why they even bother with this charade anymore. Newspapers are going bankrupt, good journalists are losing their jobs left and right and we're worried about this bullshirt?

I've judged APSE, I've won APSE awards and it was a really big deal to me at the time.

These days, it means less than nothing.

WFFW. Other than the whole winning and judging thing . . .

APSE awards are not the shield against buyouts and layoffs that we would like them to be. So really, what is the point? To receive a nice pat on the back, make you falsely confident in your job security so you stay until the next round of buyouts/layoffs?

Oh, for chrissakes. What do you want us to do? All curl up under our desks in the fetal position, sucking our thumbs and sobbing hysterically? Nobody's "worried" about this shirt. We've all got bigger things to worry about. But we should give up trying to write great stories and produce great sections because our business sucks right now? We should stop taking three measly days a year to acknowledge great work and give everyone something, however minor, to aspire to because our business sucks right now? Give me a break.

Contests are silly, yes. Overly subjective, sure. But they cost practically nothing, they're a nice bit of positivity in a job sorely lacking in it, and they're a nice piece of solace in an otherwise shirtty business where shirtty people like you spout shirtty shirt about all the bad shirt all the shirtty time.

I almost lost my job this year. My wife almost did, too. We both took huge paycuts and endured furloughs. Just like everybody else. Will a state contest or an APSE make up for any of that? No. But you know what? I, and a lot of other people, wouldn't mind a token pat on the back at this point, even if it's all we can get.

Some of us still love this business, dying or not. I hope you got out a long time ago.

Thank you, Max. Really, thank you. My God, the negativity on this board is alarming, and the reason I stay away for the most part. I didn't win, my paper did OK, but for chrissakes I'm not going to sit here and join in as this thread becomes another bash-the-industry, woe-is-us bitchfest. Here's a thought: Take a step back from the keyboard before your first instinct is to bash any- and everything that comes up. Geez, do your job, do it the best you can, and if you hate it so much go mow yards for a living (and see if they give out any awards for it).

Now cue all the responses from everyone done wrong by the industry.

Yes, I've had friends, co-workers and even family put out to pasture by it. I would be up shiit creek if it happened to me. But I prefer to take the high road and still take pride in what I do, and what our paper does, until that day comes. And I'll save the energy that might go with criticizing any attempt to honor or celebrate the good still being done out there.

 

[Birdscribe]

UNDER 40,000
EXPLANATORY
Top 10
Buck Frank, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror
Dan Goldberg, Antelope Valley Press (Palmdale, Calif.)
Chris Carlson, Berkshire (Mass.) Eagle
Patrick Schmiedt, Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune
Alex Ruppenthal and Matt Schiffman, Columbia Missourian
Tim McManus, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
Justin Jarrett, Hilton Head (S.C.) Island Packet
Randy Whitehouse, Lewiston (Maine) Sun Journal
Todd Shanesy, Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald-Journal
Aaron Suttles, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News
FEATURE STORIES
Top 10
Jim Owczarski, Aurora (Ill.) Beacon News
Rob Schultz, Capital Times (Madison, Wis.)
Alex Matthews, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
Rick S. Alvord, Longview (Wash.) Daily News
Tony Blasi, Lewiston (Maine) Sun Journal
Corey Mitchell, Saginaw (Mich.) News
Jim Seimas, Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.)
Jeff Breer, Southeast Missourian (Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Tony Baranek, Southtown Star (Tinley Park, Ill.)
Dave Zeitlin, West Chester (Pa.) Daily Local News

PROJECT REPORTING
Top 10
Jeff Cochran, Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald
Cory Giger, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror
Eric Baca, Merisa Jensen, Alan Hendry, Eric Harding, Toby Carrig and Brian Golden, Antelope Valley Press (Palmdale, Calif.)

Gotta give well-earned kudos to Justin Jarrett in Hilton Head and my peeps at the Antelope Valley Press. Nicely done, folks.