The Dallas Morning News has solidified its reputation by extending its streak among the top 10 sports sections in the United States. The publication garnered recognition in five writing categories during the recent Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) Contest, marking one of SportsDay’s most successful years since the competition’s inception in 1983.
This year, SportsDay was one of eight newspapers in the largest circulation category to achieve an APSE Triple Crown. This accolade is awarded for excellence in three categories: best print portfolio, outstanding digital section, and impressive event coverage. Although SportsDay narrowly missed achieving a Grand Slam in projects, it stood out as one of the premier sports sections in the country. Notably, only The Philadelphia Inquirer managed to secure a position in the top 10 across all four categories within the contest’s highest division.
Tommy Magelssen, the third sports editor of The Dallas Morning News since the retirement of Dave Smith in 2004, expressed pride in this accomplishment. He stated, “There’s no question that sports journalism has changed dramatically since Dave Smith made this section what it is, but this haul of silverware shows we can still compete with the very best in the nation.”
The results, which were announced at the annual APSE convention held in Las Vegas, were determined by a nationwide panel of judges. While APSE does not provide rankings for its top 10 in the section competition, rankings for the writing awards will be disclosed next month.
SportsDay staff members excelled in five out of the nine writing categories, showcasing their versatility and depth. They achieved recognition in columns, beat reporting, breaking news, event coverage, and high school writing. Tim Cowlishaw and Kevin Sherrington were honored for their column portfolios. Both journalists collaborated with Mike Curtis, Brad Townsend, and Shawn McFarland to secure a top 10 position for their event coverage, particularly focusing on the aftermath of Luka Doncic’s unexpected trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Additionally, Evan Grant, who has reported on the Texas Rangers for three decades, received a top 10 recognition for his beat writing portfolio. Calvin Watkins, entering his 17th season covering the Dallas Cowboys, was acknowledged alongside news reporters Jamie Landers and Elissa Jorgensen in the breaking news category for their coverage of the tragic death of Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland. Furthermore, Greg Riddle, who has been covering high school sports in Dallas since 2005, made the top 10 in the newly introduced category of high school beat writing.
Photographer Smiley Pool also achieved top 10 recognition for his outstanding sports feature photos, contributing to the overall success of SportsDay.
As The Dallas Morning News continues to elevate its standards of sports journalism, the upcoming month will bring further recognition with the announcement of writing award rankings, continuing to affirm the publication’s status as a leader in the field.
