N&O earns prestigious APSE Grand Slam; Observer, State, Rock Hill Herald also honored
The News & Observer has been awarded the prestigious Grand Slam by the Associated Press Sports Editors organization in judging completed in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, this week. The N&O is one of four organizations nationwide to receive the honor for excellence in sports journalism.
Additionally, the N&O sports staff earned 10 individual or section awards in the contest, an annual celebration of the best sports journalism in the country.
The N&O achieved the Grand Slam by placing among the top 10 in the contests for best sports section, best digital sports coverage, long feature and project reporting. N&O writers also collected top 10 honors in beat writing, breaking news, explanatory, short feature, columns and event coverage.
The News & Observer’s fellow McClatchy Southeast publications also fared well in judging. The Charlotte Observer earned five APSE awards: Digital, beat writing, breaking news, long feature and event coverage.
The State in Columbia, South Carolina, was honored with awards for short feature, beat writing (twice) and projects, as well as special section and digital.
And The Herald in Rock Hill, S.C. was honored four times: Investigations, beat writing, breaking news and short feature.
The annual APSE sports journalism contest receives entries from top content providers across the country, measuring the best sports journalism from outlets of all sizes. The contest is split into four divisions based on circulation and digital footprint. The N&O and Observer compete in Division B; the State is in Division C; and the Herald is in Division D.
There is only one division for investigations. The Herald’s Return Man series placed top 10 alongside investigations by ABC News, The New York Times and Washington Post.
Winning APSE entries from the N&O
Sections
Digital (Overall web, digital presence)
Sunday sports section
Writing
Beat writing
Steve Wiseman for his coverage of Duke athletics
Breaking news
C.L. Brown for his story on UNC basketball hiring Hubert Davis as head coach
Columns
Luke DeCock for a series of columns on topics including N.C. State baseball, UNC basketball, a transgender sports bill and the NC Courage.
Event coverage
C.L. Brown, Luke DeCock and the N&O Staff’s coverage of Roy Williams’ retirement
Explanatory
Andrew Carter for his behind-the-scenes look at N.C. State’s College World Series debacle
Long feature
Andrew Carter for his story on a rural North Carolina high school basketball team
Projects
The N&O staff was awarded for its preseason project on Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s next steps, including stories from Steve Wiseman and Luke DeCock.
Short feature
Chip Alexander for his retrospective on ‘Pistol Pete’ Maravich, 33 years after his death
Winning APSE entries from The Charlotte Observer
Sections
Digital (Overall web, digital presence)
Writing
Beat Writing
Alex Andrejev, for her coverage of NASCAR
Breaking news
Scott Fowler, for his coverage of the death of Charlotte 49ers basketball star Galen Young
Event Coverage
The Observer team for its coverage of Cam Newton’s return to the Panthers
Long feature
Scott Fowler for his story on forgotten Charlotte sports star Tony Suarez
Winning APSE entries from The State
Sections
Special section, for the team’s college football season preview
Digital (Overall web, digital presence)
Writing
Beat writing
Ben Portnoy, for his coverage of the University of South Carolina
Michael Lananna, for his coverage of the University of South Carolina
Projects
Ben Portnoy and Greg Hadley
Short feature
Augusta Stone, for her look at the newest live mascot at the University of South Carolina
Winning APSE entries from the Rock Hill Herald
Writing
Investigative
Bret McCormick, for his investigative project on the life and death of Jim “Butch” Duncan
Beat writing
Alex Zietlow for his coverage of Winthrop University
Breaking news
Andrew Dys, for his story on a mass shooting involving ex-NFL player Phillip Adams
Short feature
Alex Zietlow, for his story on an eighth-grader winning a golf state championship
This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 1:24 PM with the headline "N&O earns prestigious APSE Grand Slam; Observer, State, Rock Hill Herald also honored."
