Before Alex Vejar was recognized in the 2023 APSE annual contest, he was a Diversity Fellow participating in judging and attending the summer conference.
The support and career development offered by the APSE Foundation made all the difference in his work, Vejar said.
“By participating in judging for the 2022 APSE contest through the fellowship, I got to work with seasoned editors and read the best work in the country,” he wrote in an email. “That helped me understand the quality and depth of stories that caught the attention of editors and won awards. When I went back to my market, I started looking at stories through the lens of, ‘Can this story be deep and impactful enough not only to resonate with my readers, but also to potentially compete at APSE?’ Luckily, the five I chose to submit ended up doing both.”
Vejar’s work at the Salt Lake Tribune finished in the top 10 in beat writing. His stories were “centered solely around women’s sports in the state of Utah — from high school girls’ wrestlers to college softball and gymnastics,” he wrote.
“It was the result of a renewed focus by The Salt Lake Tribune to cover girls and women in sports more deeply and more often. I was fortunate to find stories that were not only about these girls and women as athletes, but as people fighting for themselves and others in various ways.”
Carlson honored as she makes a move to Sellout Crowd
In August 2023, Jenni Carlson left her position as a columnist at The Oklahoman and shortly thereafter announced she was joining Sellout Crowd. She was recognized for top 10 in columns and event coverage in the B Division.
Receiving APSE recognition was rewarding for Carlson as she settled into her new job.
“Start-up life is difficult, so receiving recognition from APSE was definitely a shot in the arm,” she wrote. “It was a reminder that good work, regardless of platform, is seen and appreciated. I’ve never done this work for awards, but that doesn’t mean APSE awards don’t add another layer of legitimacy. All of us at Sellout Crowd were super appreciative of it.”
Carlson wanted to emphasize the teamwork that’s part of the culture at her new employer.
“One thing I’ve had reinforced during the months that Sellout Crowd has been operating: it takes a team. People writing. People editing. People posting. People promoting. We have an amazing team that is agile and caring and committed to doing great local sports journalism. I’m so honored to be a part of the Crowd.”
Havsy recognized in two categories
Jane Havsy was also among the winners in explanatory and projects.
The project that was recognized focused on challenges to exercise faced by New Jersey residents with disabilities. It was reported through a Gannett Atlantic Region “How We Live” fellowship in the fall of 2023.
In the explanatory category, Havsy wrote about esports in New Jersey high schools.
“Hopatcong High School hasn’t been known for many positive events since a football star graduated more than a decade ago,” Havsy wrote. “But their esports team had a chance to win the school’s first state title in recent memory. But what is esports anyway, and how did this multibillion-dollar industry get to New Jersey? A statewide explanatory story was born. (And yes, Hopatcong did win the final Knockout City championship.)”
Congratulations to Em Poertner of the Tennessean, who was also recognized for Projects (along with Mike Organ).
B Division
Jenni Carlson, Sellout Crowd, Columns and Event Coverage
Alex Vejar, Salt Lake Tribune, Beat Writing (Utah Women’s Sports)
Em Poertner, The Tennessean, Projects (along with Mike Organ)
D Division
Jane Allison Havsy, Daily Journal (Rockaway, N.J.), Explanatory and Projects