Category Archives: Newspapers
NSSA Announces Sportscasters and Sportswriters of the Year
The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) has unveiled its list of national and state award winners for 2011.
NBC and MLB Network’s Bob Costas and Washington Post national sportswriter and author John Feinstein have been selected to enter the NSSA Hall of Fame. ESPN’s Dan Shulman has been named National Sportscaster of the Year while Sports Illustrated’s Joe Posnanski has been selected as the National Sportswriter of the year.
The national winners, along with the state winners, will be recognized at the NSSA’s Awards Banquet June 11th in Salisbury, NC.
Here is the list of the state sportscaster and sportswriter winners:
ALABAMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Jim Dunaway, CBS 42/WJOX Radio, Birmingham
ALABAMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Doug Segrest, Birmingham News, Birmingham
ARKANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Steve Sullivan, KATV, Little Rock
ARKANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bob Wisener, The Sentinel Record, Hot Springs
ARIZONA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Tim Ring, KTVK-TV, Phoenix
ARIZONA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Paola Boivin, Arizona Republic, Phoenix
CALIFORNIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Vin Scully, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles
CALIFORNIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles
COLORADO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Drew Goodman, ROOT Sports, Denver
COLORADO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dave Krieger, Denver Post, Denver
CONNECTICUT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Joe D’Ambrosio, UConn Huskies/IMG Sports Network, Farmington
Kevin Nathan, WVIT-TV & UConn Huskies/IMG Sports Network, West Hartford
CONNECTICUT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, Hartford
DC SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Czarniak, WRC-TV (now with ESPN), Washington
DC SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
John Keim, DC Examiner, Washington
DELAWARE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
John Sadak, 1290 the Ticket, Wilmington
DELAWARE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jon Buzby, Newark Post, Newark
FLORIDA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Gene Deckerhoff, Florida State/IMG Sports Network, Tallahassee &
Tampa Bay Bucs Radio Network, Tampa
FLORIDA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Gary Shelton, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg
GEORGIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Rathbun, Fox Sports South, Atlanta
GEORGIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta
HAWAII SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dave Vinton, OC16 (Time Warner Cable), Honolulu
HAWAII SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star Advertiser, Honolulu
IOWA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
John Walters, WOI-TV, Des Moines
IOWA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rick Brown, Des Moines Register, Des Moines
IDAHO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Behler, Boise State Broncos/Learfield Radio Network, Boise
IDAHO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman, Boise
ILLINOIS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dave Eanet, Northwestern Wildcats/Learfield Radio Network, Chicago
ILLINOIS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Paul Klee, Champaign News Gazette, Champaign
INDIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Don Fischer, Indiana Hoosiers/Learfield Radio Network, Bloomington
INDIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Terry Hutchens, Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis
KANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Wyatt Thompson, K-State/Learfield Radio Network, Manhattan
KANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Haskin, Topeka Capital Journal, Topeka
KENTUCKY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Drew Deener, WKRD Radio, Louisville
KENTUCKY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Larry Vaught, Danville Advocate Messenger, Danville
LOUISIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Lynn Rollins, Cox Sports, Baton Rouge
LOUISIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Perryn Keys, Baton Rouge Advocate, Baton Rouge
MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mike Lynch, WCVB-TV, Boston
MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe, Boston
MARYLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Pete Gilbert, WBAL-TV, Baltimore
MARYLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, Baltimore
MAINE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Rich Kimball, Maine Black Bear/Learfield Sports Network, Orono
MAINE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Pete Warner, Bangor Daily News, Bangor
MICHIGAN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mario Impemba, Detroit Tigers/Oakland Univ., Detroit
MICHIGAN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mark Snyder, Detroit Free Press, Detroit
MINNESOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Kurtz, Minnesota Wild Radio Network, St. Paul
MINNESOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mike Russo. Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minneapolis
MISSOURI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
John Covington, KLPW, Washington
MISSOURI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bill Battle, Washington Missourian, Washington
MISSISSIPPI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
David Kellum, Ole Miss Radio Network, Oxford
John Cox, Southern Mississippi/IMG Sports Network, Hattiesburg
MISSISSIPPI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rick Cleveland, Clarion Ledger, Jackson
MONTANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mick Holien, Montana Grizzlies/Learfield Radio Network, Missoula
MONTANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Greg Rachac, Billings Gazette, Billings
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Harris, Duke/IMG Sports Network, Durham
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Tom Sorensen, Charlotte Observer, Charlotte
NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dan Keating, KMAV/KMSR, Mayville
NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Lou Babiarz, Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck
NEBRASKA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Kugler, KOZN Radio, Omaha
NEBRASKA SPORTSWRITER
Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald, Omaha
NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Jim Jeannotte, UNH Wildcats/Learfield Radio Network. Durham
NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mike Whaley, Fosters Daily, Dover
NEW JERSEY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Matt Harmon, Shore Sports Network, Bayville
NEW JERSEY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Greg Lerner, Star Ledger, Newark
NEW MEXICO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Jack Nixon, New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces
NEW MEXICO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rick Wright, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque
NEVADA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Russ Langer, Las Vegas 51s Radio, Las Vegas
NEVADA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ed Graney, Las Vegas Review–Journal, Las Vegas
NEW YORK SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bruce Beck, WNBC-TV, New York
NEW YORK SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bob Glauber, Newsday, New York
OHIO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Paul Keels, Ohio State Buckeyes/IMG Sports Network, Columbus
OHIO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Hal McCoy, Dayton Daily News, Dayton
OKLAHOMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
John Holcomb, KOTV-TV, Tulsa
OKLAHOMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Berry Tramel, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
OREGON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mike Parker, Oregon State Beavers/Learfield Radio Network, Corvalis
OREGON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Kerry Eggers, Portland Tribune, Portland
PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSCASTER
Jim Jackson, Philadelphia Flyers/Phillies TV, Philadelphia
PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSWRITER
Bob Ford, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia
RHODE ISLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Steve Hyder, Pawtucket Red Sox Radio, Pawtucket
RHODE ISLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brendan McGair, Pawtucket Times, Pawtucket
SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Allen Smothers, Coastline Sports Media, Myrtle Beach
SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Gene Sapakoff, Charleston Post and Courier, Charleston
SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mike Henriksen, Sportsmax Radio, Sioux Falls
SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Terry Vandrovec, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls
TENNESSEE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Pete Weber, Nashville Predators Radio Network, Nashville
TENNESSEE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jim Wyatt, The Tennessean, Nashville
TEXAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Eric Nadel, Texas Rangers Radio Network, Dallas
TEXAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Kirk Bohls, Austin American Statesman, Austin
UTAH SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Carl Arky, Weber State Univ. Radio Network, Ogden
UTAH SPORTSWRITER
Gordon Monson, Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City
VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bill Roth, Virginia Tech Hokies/IMG Sports Network, Blacksburg
VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER
David Teel, Newport News Daily Press, Newport News
VERMONT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
George Commo, Northeast Sports Network, Essex Junction
VERMONT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Tom Haley, Rutland Herald, Rutland
WASHINGTON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Rondeau, Washington Huskies/IMG Sports Network, Seattle
WASHINGTON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jerry Brewer, Seattle Times, Seattle
WISCONSIN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Lance Allan, WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee
Matt LePay, Wisconsin Badgers/Learfield Radio Network, Madison
WISCONSIN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Tom Haudricourt, Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee
WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mark Martin, WCHS-TV, Charleston
WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Chuck McGill, Daily Mail, Charleston
WYOMING SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Reece Monaco, KFBC Radio, Cheyenne
WYOMING SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Eric Schmoldt, Casper Star Tribune, Casper
NFL Week Eleven Schedule, With Local Media Links
Here is the week eleven schedule in the NFL, with links to the local media contingents covering each team:
| Thursday, Nov. 17 | ||
| Game | Time | TV |
| N.Y. Jets at Denver | 8:20 pm | NFL Network |
| Sunday, Nov. 20 | ||
| Game | Time | TV |
| Buffalo at Miami | 1:00 pm | CBS |
| Dallas at Washington | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Oakland at Minnesota | 1:00 pm | CBS |
| Tampa Bay at Green Bay | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Carolina at Detroit | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Jacksonville at Cleveland | 1:00 pm | CBS |
| Cincinnati at Baltimore | 1:00 pm | CBS |
| Seattle at St. Louis | 4:05 pm | FOX |
| Arizona at San Francisco | 4:05 pm | FOX |
| San Diego at Chicago | 4:15 pm | CBS |
| Tennessee at Atlanta | 4:15 pm | CBS |
| Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants | 8:20 pm | NBC |
| Monday, Nov. 21 | ||
| Game | Time | TV |
| Kansas City at New England | 8:30 pm | ESPN |
| Open date: Indianapolis,New Orleans,Pittsburgh,Houston | ||
Sports Media Weekly Podcast No. 79- Eric Deggans, St. Petersburg Times
Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites and I are back for another edition of the Sports Media Weekly Podcast.
The top story remains the media coverage of the Penn State scandal. Ken and I discuss the fine job done by Bob Costas in interviewing former Penn State Defensive Coordinator Jerry Sandusky while taking CBS to task for promoting what proved to be a non-interview between Armen Ketayian and Sandusky accuser Mike McQueary.
Ken and I also praise ESPN for its coverage of last weekend’s Nebraska/Penn State game, the first in 46 years without former coach Joe Paterno on the sidelines.
We also touch upon the ratings for the first UFC on Fox match, the debut of Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock on the NFL Network, and the prospects of NBC Sports Network now that former HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg is on board to produce documentaries and Costas’ new program.
Our guest this week is Eric Deggans, media writer for the St. Petersburg Times as well as writer for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center. We spend most of our talk with Eric discussing the media coverage of the Penn State story, but also spend some time on his work for the paper and the university.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Media Coverage Of Red Sox Collapse a Teaching Moment for Students
Red Sox fans in New England are finally starting to relax a bit as stories on the circumstances of the team’s historic collapse are beginning to find themselves off the front page. The three week deluge of coverage has become a fascinating study on how the media of today handles the distribution of information that, under normal circumstances, might not make news. And journalism schools across the country are taking notice.
“We’ve had real spirited discussions about how you cover a story.” says Frank Shorr, Senior Lecturer, Journalism and Director of the Sports Institute at Boston University.
When the Red Sox ended the season by blowing a nine game wild card lead in September, the local media began to search for reasons behind the colossal breakdown. It soon became apparent that they were going to look at the events of the final month by delving into what happened to the club on and off the field.
It began with references by John Tomase of the Boston Herald and Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston.com that pitchers Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Jon Lester were seen drinking beer in the clubhouse during games in which they did not pitch. A week later the firestorm erupted with a report by Bob Hohler of the Boston Globe that expanded upon the beer drinking in the clubhouse to include personal issues possibly affecting Manager Terry Francona and general disinterest on the part of some members of the club.
“Bob’s original article was terrific.” Shorr says, ”What has happened next was to be expected. I’m sure there were conversations in newsrooms of, ‘How come we didn’t have this.’ Then you are charged with finding something new.”
Shorr says much has been made in the classroom on Hohler’s use of unnamed sources. He tells students that it’s okay to use anonymous sources, as long as you are confident that the information provided by those sources is accurate.
“You just have to be safe, you just have to be confident. If you are comfortable in what you’re writing that’s all you need to be concerned with.”
Many of Shorr’s students have never been in a locker room. He says as part of the real-life reporting experiences shared with students include the importance of cultivating, and sometimes protecting, reliable sources.
“Bob could not have told his story if he sourced out all his information. Nobody can.” said Shorr, “You never know when you’re gonna need to call a player to get information. I think (the students) understand that.”
The coverage of the Red Sox’ demise has become so competitive that members of the media have begun criticizing each other as to what should, and should not, be published. Those discussions are also taking place in Shorr’s classes.
“The sports journalism culture of today is focused on what is considered opinion journalism. And that everyone has an opinion and that’s what you put out there there. But when you are a reporter on a daily basis and you are face to face with your subjects, it’s not that easy”
Students, like many other fans, have questioned why the disarray in the Red Sox clubhouse wasn’t unearthed earlier in the season, since many beat reporters were aware of those issues for some time. Shorr says people who cover the team on a day-to-day basis often balance the need to keep things quiet with the need to protect access to players, coaches, and management.
“Students are very idealistic when they say ‘If I was in the locker room I’d ask why they were drinking.’ But then no one would talk to you for the rest of the year. How could you do your job then?”
“The day-to-day reporters that cover the team know a lot more than they print. Sometimes they do that purposely. If a reporter could sit down and make list of all the things that are never reported, you’d totally be amazed.”
Boston has always been a tough sports media town, especially in regards to its coverage of the Red Sox. In the 70′s and 80′s many a player would refuse to play for the Red Sox because of the difficult media environment. That seemed to change recently as the Sox won two World Series titles over the last seven years. With how the media has been reporting on the 2011 club since the end of the season, will Boston again be a city on the list of undesirable destinations for potential free agents? Shorr doubts it.
“If they offer a guy more money, He’ll deal with the media.”
Photo via http://bostinnovation.com/
Media Critics Need to Learn That There is a Gray Area
In the examination of a sports media entity, we need everything to be black and white. There can be no areas of gray. Every newspaper, TV network, radio station, or website is either toeing a company line, protecting the players, or writing with a perceived agenda. I call B.S.
Media critics, fans, and other media outlets in New England are responding in black and white terms to an article written this week by Bob Hohler of the Boston Globe seeking to explain the unprecedented collapse of the 2011 Boston Red Sox. I’m here to say the work of the Globe cannot be so easily defined.
When there is controversy surrounding a team, especially in a electric media market like Boston, the conspiracy theorists come out in full force. And even though the Red Sox have won two world championships in the last seven years, they remain the patsy de jour among the big four professional sports teams in town
Fans in Boston have the right to question what led to the Red Sox blowing a nine game lead in the American League Wild Card race in September. And the Boston Globe and other media outlets should be responsible for using their resources to answering those questions. Hohler’s article attempted to do that.
Hohler did a good job in making sure everyone in the Red Sox organization was tagged with the blame for what took place on and off the field. But because they’re the Boston Globe, there has to be more to the story. There must be something they’re hiding or someone they’re protecting. No gray area allowed.
Lets look at the accusations made against Hohler and the Globe and make a realistic attempt to see the likelihood they are true.
The biggest complaint about the article is that Hohler and the Globe wrote the piece on behalf of Red Sox ownership. The Globe’s parent company, the New York Times, owns a minority stake in the team.
This accusation that the Globe does the bidding on behalf of the team is not new, but really, does anyone really think the corporate big wigs at the Times or the Red Sox ownership, pick-up the phone to Globe Sports Editor Joe Sullivan and have the following conversation?
“Joe, John Henry.”
“Yes Mr. Henry, how are you?
“Not so great Joe. I need your help. We’re looking to control the message concerning our late season swoon and we’re wondering if you’d put your best investigative reporter on the case, to, you know, make us look good? It would mean a lot to us.”
“Sure Mr. Henry, not a problem. I assume we can use the same ‘unnamed sources’ we’ve used in the past?
“Absolutely. We’ll be in touch.”
“Have a great day Mr. Henry.”
“I will now, Joe. Thanks.”
How silly does that sound? No editor of a newspaper should let that happen, no matter what the connections or bottom line dictate. Are there perceived agendas with some media outlets? Absolutely. And the Globe has been tagged with them for years. But I doubt it would jeopardize its integrity to partake in this type of practice.
Another bone of contention made by the critics of the Globe and other media outlets is why the clubhouse behavior of some of the players, specifically pitchers Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Jon Lester, was not published earlier? To me that’s an easy one to answer. The actions of the pitchers allegedly took place DURING the game. Even though the media have liberal access to the clubhouse, they do not have that access DURING he game. Even if there were rumblings about the indescretions of the pitching corps, no reporter would have had first hand knowledge of that activity. The news on this began to leak from sources after the season ended.
Speaking of sources, critics also looked with a curious eye towards the Globe’s use of anonymous sources. Here’s an example of people not understanding how journalism works. It’s always preferable to get named sources for a story. But there are times when sources for a story fear for their job, or even their lives, if their identity were to be made public. It is better to keep those names quiet in exchange for the information. That’s why the Globe and others use anonymous sources. It bothers me why people still don’t understand this.
Some will say, “Why should reporters care about revealing sources or burning bridges in the locker room if the truth comes out?” Bloggers and sports radio callers (and even some hosts) make this claim often and still don’t get it. Beat reporters for a club rely on one thing, above all else, in getting information on the team. That is access. If they are not allowed access, or are shunned by members of the club, then they cannot do their job. Not being able to do their job leads to their termination.
Are some reporters too close to players, coaches, and owners? Yes. But it should not hinder their ability to ask difficult questions when needed. Some reporters are too close to be able to walk that fine line. Those reporters should be replaced. Most can work that balance and do a good job of it.
I will criticize Hohler for his unnecessary implication that Terry Francona’s martial problems, along with his concern for his son’s safety as a soldier in Afghanistan, and his alleged reliance on pain killers played a role in the demise of the club. I’ve always been a proponent of keeping one’s personal life out of the news, unless brought into play by the player or coach. Everyone has issues in their life that need not be made public in the paper.
The media today have too much pressure to report on every nuance of the team they cover. That’s not fair. People take too much stock into how a story is reported when instead they should focus on the story itself. Not everything needs to be turned into the next big controversy. It is not always black and white.
Gray is not such a bad color. We should all wear it once in a while.
