By Tim Stephens, APSE President, CBSSports.com
Our winter conference is now over and we’ve selected the exemplary entries of sports journalism in our annual contest. But there is still much to accomplish during my term as APSE president before we pass the gavel to Mike Sherman of The Oklahoman at our June 2014 conference in Washington, D.C.
In D.C., we’ll celebrate APSE’s 40th anniversary with a forward-thinking conference lineup that will emphasize professional development and hands-on training. APSE was formed in 1974 to help set high standards for American sports journalism. It has been a support group, an advocate for access, a source of mentorship and career development and a beacon of quality during that time. Our mission has not changed even if the industry around us has, leading us to evolve with it.
APSE has taken on serious challenges before; we must do so again now.
During our executive committee meeting in Indianapolis March 5, I outlined five priorities for the organization for the remainder of my term that require immediate action.
These are:
1. A coordinated membership drive. APSE membership has been in slow but steady decline for several years. There are myriad reasons for this. And we’ve added many new members by opening our arms to websites, writers and students. Still, there are many organizations who should be members that have never been approached and others who have fallen out of the organization who need to be brought back into the fold. I have asked 3rd Vice President Tommy Deas of The Tuscaloosa News to form a membership drive committee, in conjunction with Phil Kaplan and our Outreach Committee. Tommy will present a plan to the other officers for our membership drive by April 1. We’ll hit the ground running between April and June 1. New members who join during that time would go on the rolls for 2014-15, with an extended first-year membership. As part of this drive, our executive committee approved the following incentives: 1) a member who signs up a new dues-paying organization will receive $25 off convention fees for 2015; 2) the member who signs up the most new member organizations for 2014-15 will have his or her convention fees waived for 2015.
2. Student initiative. APSE’s student outreach has been successful thanks to the support of sports editors who sponsored talented student journalists by paying their dues. Several of our student members have turned relationships established through APSE into their first professional jobs. We grew from a handful of student members in 2012 to more than 60 in 2013. Those numbers declined in 2014 and highlighted the need for a student-driven organizational structure that sustains and grows membership at the university level. I found enthusiastic support for student chapters when I reached out to several universities that place emphasis on sports journalism. I assembled an initial list of guidelines, with some input from educators as well as in consultation with organizations such as AWSM and NABJ. I have asked chairman Glen Crevier of the Star Tribune to have the Futures Committee to review the proposal and research similar organizations. It is my hope that we’ll be introducing students from our first APSE student chapters at the convention in June.
3. Contest review. We have a great contest that has evolved over time with additions such as the website division and multimedia and beat writing categories. But the contest also sorely needs to be modernized in its administration. I have asked 2nd Vice President Mary Byrne, who will chair the contest next year, to head a committee to review all of the contest rules and present revisions to the executive committee at the June conference. If you have suggestions or ideas, please send them to Mary, 2013-14 contest chair Mike Sherman or me. Our contest is one of our most important functions. It is very good. As we strive to bring in new members, now is the time to make it even better.
4. Website plan. The APSE website is a source of industry news. It needs to be more interactive and should more closely reflect the pace and multimedia sophistication of our own news sites. Mike Sherman and Mary Byrne will develop a plan for, and seek volunteers to create, more content for the site and add video, archives, organizational history and more. The website is the window into what our organization is all about. We must do more to sell our own story and connect our members with more information and resources that help them tangibly in the pursuit of quality journalism and the advancement of their careers. If you have interest in helping us achieve these goals, we need you.
5. Fundraising. Sponsorship dollars also are much more difficult to obtain than in the past, whether that is to support our conventions in general or specific professional development goals through programs such as the Diversity Fellowship. I will develop a plan to attract more sponsors and will aggressively pursue any grants that might be appropriate for APSE. If you have experience in grant writing, please don’t let that contribution go unmade.
Much work lies ahead. APSE needs your help. We are you; as a member-driven professional organization, we do not function without the input of our members. If you can contribute to any or all of these initiatives, please contact me at tim.stephens@cbsinteractive.com or find me on Facebook at Facebook.com/TimWStephens. Our organization is strong, but it must grow stronger. These challenges must be taken on with a sense of urgency, leaving both a solid starting foundation and a clear plan of action for future leaders of APSE to build upon.
This has been an exciting time to serve as APSE president. I eagerly prepare to share some of the organization’s storied history for the past 40 years and unveil a clear clear road map to our future in D.C. in June. I hope you'll join us.
Tim Stephens is the Deputy Managing Ediitor of CBSSports.com and president of APSE for 2013-14.
