By BILL BRADLEY
Sacramento Bee

Access, seating and internet rights are the main issues facing the writers groups around the country.

The APSE's Writers Liaison Committee, which works with writers groups around the country, has issued its first report on these groups in two years.

Among the biggest issues: The Pro Basketball Writers are upset because press views have been moved higher in many arenas; the Football Writers Association (college) are seeing their week-long access to players and coaches reduced; and the Golf Writers are seeking wireless access at all press facilities. The Profesional Hockey Writers, which had some of the worst issues – access, awards voting and direction – during the past decade, has seen improved working conditions and relationships around the league.

The capsules were compiled by a revamped APSE Writers Liaison Committee. New to the group are Chuck Scott of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Jim Lefko of the Indianapolis Star, Glen Crevier of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Mark Faller of the Arizona Republic and Joe Hawk of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Ron Bellamy of the Eugene Register-Guard has also joined, but his first work with the group will not begin until later this year.

APSE Writers Liaison Committee

■ Chairman/Pro Hockey Writers Association: Bill Bradley, Sacramento Bee.

■ Pro Basketball Writers Association: Mike Anastasi, The Salt Lake Tribune.

■ Baseball Writers Association of America: Chuck Scott, San Diego Union-Tribune.

■ U.S. (College) Basketball Writers Association: Jim Lefko, Indianapolis Star.

■ Pro Football Writers Association: Glen Crevier, Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

■ Tennis writers: Bill Dwyer, Los Angeles Times.

■ Golf Writers Association of America: Mark Faller, Arizona Republic.

■ American Auto Racing Writers Association: Mike Persinger, Charlotte Observer.

■ National Turf Writers Association: Harry Bryan, Louisville Courier-Journal.

■ (College) Football Writers Association of America: Mike Sherman, Daily Oklahoman.

■ U.S. Boxing Writers Association: Joe Hawk, Las Vegas Review-Journal.

■ Track and Field Writers of America: Ron Bellamy, Eugene Register-Guard.

PRO BASKETBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION

APSE liaison: Michael Anastasi, The Salt Lake Tribune. E-mail: manastasi@sltrib.com.

President: Rick Bonnell, Charlotte Observer, 12004 Willingdon Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078. Cell: (704) 621-6585.

Treasurer: Rich DuBroff, Associated Press. Home: (410) 523-0635.

Annual meetings: At the NBA All-Star Game and NBA Finals.

Membership: 180.

Dues: $20.

Are Internet reporters allowed? Yes.

Concerns and issues: The biggest issue by far is the eroding vantage points that the league has been issuing reporters. PBWA believes basketball is unique among the major sports in that it is an intimate game in a way that the others are not and that reporters' ability to gather the news has been harmed in a significant way. The organization cites Cleveland as the worst offender, with Utah, Golden State and Portland. PBWA believes a logical compromise is to provide regularly traveling beat writers a baseline seat and that such a compromise also would benefit ticket-holders who are forced to deal with reporters getting in and out of their seats. PBWA asks the Associated Press Sports Editors to become a vocal and assertive advocate for NBA writers on this issue.

Financial contracts: None.

Activities: Three major awards – J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, presented to a player, coach or trainer who has contributed significantly to the community; Magic Johnson Award, presented to a player who is also the best working with the media; One award for the writer who has exemplified the kind of hard work that goes into covering the NBA. A new, yet-to-be-named award beginning with the 2007 season that recognizes the league's best PR director and staff.

Writing contests: Yes.

PRO FOOTBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION

APSE liaison: Glen Crevier, The Star Tribune, Minneapolis. Phone: 612-673-4748. E-mail: gcrevier@startribune.com.

President: Alex Marvez, South Florida Sun Sentinel. Phone: 305-987-2872. E-mail: amarvez@sun-sentinel.com.

First Vice President: Charean Williams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Phone: C 817-454-5749. E-mail: chareanw@aol.com.

Second Vice President: Mark Curnutte, Cincinnati Enquirer. Phone: 513-348-5237. E-mail: markcurnutte@aol.com.

Secretary: Howard Balzer, The Sports Xchange. Phone: 314-799-5760. E-mail: hbalzer@aol.com.

Treasurer: Mike Sando, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Phone: 253-209-5403. E-mail: mike.sando@thenewstribune.com.

Annual meetings: Super Bowl week and at the NFL owners meetings in March.

Membership: More than 350 reporters, columnists and editors. No radio/TV members unless they also write.

Dues: $50 annually.

Are Internet reporters allowed? Yes, if they write for credible news organizations. Reporters for team-based web sites are not allowed.

Concerns and issues: Injury report announcement, internet policy and surgical announcements.

Financial contracts: None.

Activities: Writing contests continue for PFWA members, with small monetary prizes.

Awards: The organization hands out five awards: The Horrigan is for the person (not a player or team P.R staffer) who helped the media best do its job last season; The Good Guy is for the player who best helped the media do its job; The Rozelle is for the P.R. staff that best helped the media do its job; The Halas is for the individual in the NFL who overcame the most adversity to succeed last season; And the McCann Award honors a PFWA member for long and distinguished service to the profession.

FOOTBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Association address: 18652 Vista Del Sol, Dallas, TX 75287.

President: Mike Griffith, Knoxville News Sentinel, 155 Federal Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37934. Office/Cell: 865-755-5599.

First Vice President: Ron Higgins Memphis Commercial Appeal, 2011 Littlemore Fwy., Cordova, TN 38016. Phone: 901-529-2525. E-mail: rhiggins@commercialappeal.com.

Second Vice President: George Schroeder, Daily Oklahoman, 4108 Gyrfalcon Dr., Norman, OK 73072. Phone: 405-923-7814. E-mail: gschroeder@aol.com.

Executive Director: Steve Richardson (address same as FWAA office). Phone: 972-713-6198. E-mail: tigerfwaa@aol.com.

Board of Directors: Craig Barnes, South Florida Sun-Sentinel; Eric Bailey, Tulsa World; Chad Cripe, Idaho Statesman; Scott Ferrell, Shreveport Times; Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Chip Brown, Dallas Morning News; Robert Gagliardi, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle; Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune; Andrew Logue, Des Moines Register; Tom Luicci, Newark Star-Ledger; Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic; Norm Wood, Daily Press (Va.); Mike Huguenin, Orlando Sentinel; Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune; Carter Strickland, Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Matt Markey, Toledo Blade; Budd Davis, Ruston Daily Leader (La.); Robbi Pickeral, Raleigh News & Observer; Steve Irvine, Birmingham News; Michael Lewis, Salt Lake City Tribune; Bob Clark, Eugene Register-Guard.

Annual meetings: We have an annual meeting each year at the BCS 1-2 game, but we also have numerous conference calls, smaller meetings at various sites throughout the year.

Membership: More than 900 members (print, internet, some broadcast, sports information directors and others from college football affiliated organizations such as bowls and awards groups).

Dues: $40 for regular members. $20 for student memberships, retirees exempt from dues.

Are Internet reporters allowed? Yes. Last year Dennis Dodd of CBS SportsLine was our first president from an internet organization. Many of the very best print journalists work for internet based organizations such as ESPN.com, SI.com, CBS SportsLine as the profession has evolved.

Concerns and issues: The FWAA remains concerned about access issues and the fact that many major-college programs are becoming more restrictive in nature in what they are allowing the media to cover. Press Boxes which sometimes seem to become places where alumni hang out. The FWAA works to foster better working relationships between writers and SIDS as stated in its charter of 1941.

Financial contracts: The FWAA, which has been the case for the last 15 years, has contracts with the Charlotte Touchdown Club (Bronko Nagurski Trophy), the Omaha Sports Committee and ESPN (Outland Trophy) for banquets and presentations.

Activities: All FWAA members vote on the Coach of the Year Award and the Grantland Rice pre-season poll. All writers and SIDs can have input into nominations for the other awards, but an All-America board comprised of only writers picks our award winners (Nagurski and Outland) and All-America team. We also have a Freshman All-America team and the Courage Awad, as well as some internal awards given to members such as the Bert McGrane (Hall of Fame). The FWAA works directly with the BCS and football programs over access and press-box issues as well as coverage of teams and monitors problems brought to it by either the SIDs or other journalists. The FWAA puts out an annual membership print directory, which for years has been hailed as the most complete in college sports.

Writing contests: Yes. Five categories. Plaques to first place winners, certificates to others. Cash prizes ranging from $200 to $50.

NATIONAL TURF WRITERS ASSOCIATION

APSE liaison: Harry Bryan, Courier-Journal, Louisville. Phone: (502) 582-4060. E-mail: hbryan@courier-journal.com.

President: Tom Law, Thoroughbred Times, 2008 Mercer Rd., Lexington, KY 40511. Office: (859) 260-9800, ext. 125. Home: (859) 396-9407. E-mail: tlaw@thoroughbredtimes.com.

Vice President: Tom Pedulla, USA Today, 459 Benedict Ave., Tarrytown, NY 10591. Cell: 646-337-6955. Office: 914-332-6414. E-mail: tpedulla@usatoday.com.

Secretary-Treasurer: Jill Williams, 3920 Grassy Creek Drr., Lexington, KY 40514. Office: 859-219-9437. Cell: 859-608-8561. E-mail: jill@turfwriters.org.

Board of Directors: Kevin Modesti, Los Angeles Daily News; Sherry Ross, New York Daily News; Hank Wesch, San Diego Union Tribune; Ed DeRosa, Thoroughbred Times; Vic Zast, Freelance; Dave Johnson, Sirius Satellite Radio.

Annual meetings: Twice a year at the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders Cup.

Membership: About 225.

Dues: $50 per year.

Are Internet reporters allowed? Yes.

Concerns and issues: Nothing right now.

Financial contracts: None.

Activities: Awards dinners during Breeders Cup week; one of three voting bodies on Eclipse Award; NTWA charitable foundation; also contributes to Jim Bolus Scholarship annually; ongoing oral history project.

Writing contests: There are other organizations that have awards that are presented at the banquet. However, these are not sponsored or selected by the National Turf Writers Association.

BOXING WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

APSE liaison: Joe Hawk, Las Vegas Review-Journal.

President: Tim Graham, Buffalo News. Office: (716) 849-5497. E-mail: graham@bwaa.org.

First Vice President: Steve Farhood, Showtime and MaxBoxing.com.

Vice Presidents: Ron Borges, Boston Globe; Thomas Hauser, Author, SecondsOut.com; Jack Hirsch, Boxing Illustrated.

Treasurer: Thomas Gerbasi, MaxBoxing.com.

Secretary: Denis Nolan, Ringside Sports.

Board of Directors: Bernard Fernandez, Bill Gallo, Michael Hirsley (Midwest), Tom Kenville, Wallace Matthews, Anthony Carter Paige, Santos Perez (Southeast), Steve Springer (West), Michael Woods.

Meetings: Twice a year, once in winter and once in spring. Sites vary.

Approximate Membership: 260, but we classify full and auxiliary membership based on number of factors such as full-time or freelance.

Dues: $35.

Internet members? Yes.

Issues: The bulk relate to credentialing and ringside seat assignments. Internally, it's objections over auxiliary membership when a member thinks he should be a full member. Full members get to vote for the International Boxing Hall of Fame's modern category and for our annual awards such as fighter of the year, trainer of the year, et al.

Writing contest: The Barney Awards (named after Barney Nagler) are conducted annually for the preceding calendar year. Categories are Event Coverage, Column, News Story, Feature under 2,500 words, Feature over 2,500 words and Investigative.

Web site: www.bwaa.org.

BASEBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

APSE liaison: Chuck Scott, San Diego Union-Tribune.

Association address: P.O. Box 610611, Bayside, NY 11361

President: Paul Hoynes, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7107 Briarcliff, Mentor, OH 44060. Home: (440) 354-4834. Office: (216) 999-4370. Cell: (216) 409-7853. E-mail: phrug14@aol.com.

Vice President: Bob Dutton, Kansas City Star, 4513 Craig Ave., Grandview, MO 64030. Home: (816) 234-4352. E-mail: bdutton@aol.com.

Secretary-Treasurer: Jack O'Connell, BBWAA, 39-12 211th St., Apt. 3, Bayside, NY 11361. Phone: (718) 767-2582. Cell: (631) 236-2648. E-mail: bbwaa@aol.com.

Board of Directors: Mike DiGiovanna, Los Angeles Times; Jose de Jesus Ortiz, Houston Chronicle; Peter Schmuck, Baltimore Sun; Dave Van Dyck, Chicago Tribune.

Annual meetings: Thrice a year, held at the All-Star Game, World Series and Winter Meetings (the officers are elected at the World Series).

Membership: About 800 (baseball writers, sports editors, columnists, etc., who cover baseball).

Dues: $65 (plus local dues, which vary).

Are Internet reports allowed? No, but 10-year members in the organization retain their card and Hall of Fame voting privileges after they leave newspapers. Those BBWAA members, however, are subject to the club's regulations concerning their type of news outlet.

Concerns and issues: Access to players and club officials, credentialing. Commissioner Bud Selig meets with BBWAA members only (no other media outlets) for a private Q&A each year at the site of the All-Star Game. Access Committee of Murray Chass (New York Times), Dan Graziano (Newark Star Ledger) and Dave Van Dyck (Chicago Tribune) had off-season meetings with MLB and MLPA officials to explain importance of clubhouse access for BBWAA members.

Financial contracts: None.

Activities: Voting on BBWAA awards – Most Valuable Player, Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and Manager of the Year each season – and voting on players eligible for the baseball Hall of Fame. The BBWAA also compiles a Hall of Fame Veterans Committee ballot that goes out to living Hall of Fame members, Frick Award winners and Spink Award winners for the election every other year for players and every four years for executives/managers/umpires. The BBWAA's Hall of Fame election was announced Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Writing contests: None.

GOLF WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

APSE liaison: Mark Faller, Arizona Republic.

President: Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press. Office: (904) 396-9262. Fax: (904) 396-7798. Cell: (904) 608-3054. E-mail: dferguson@ap.org.

First Vice President: Vartan Kupelian, Detroit News. Office: (313) 222-2285. Home: (248) 489-8607. Fax: (248) 489-9530. E-mail: golfstix@aol.com.

Second Vice President: Mark Soltau, Golf Digest. Office/cell: (310) 993-8159. Fax: (650) 327-1770. Home: (650) 321-1666. E-mail: msoltau72@aol.com.

Board of Directors: 12 members serving three-year terms. All past presidents are members of the board.

Secretary/Treasurer: Melanie Hauser. Office/home: (713) 782-8141. Fax: (713) 781-2575. Cell: (713) 201-8427. E-mail: mhauser806@aol.com.

GWAA mailing address: 10210 Green Tree Rd., Houston, TX 77042. E-mail: golfwritersinc@aol.com.

Annual meetings: At The Masters and the U.S. Open.

Awards dinner: The Wednesday night before The Masters.

Membership: Currently about 900 in three categories: Regular (full-time golf writer/editor of recognized media that accept paid advertising), associate (freelance writer or press officer of a national golf organization), professional (public relations and marketing).

Annual fee: $50 for regular and associate. $150 for professional.

Are Internet reporters allowed? Yes.

Financial contracts: The GWAA has a scholarship program, initiated in 1988 with a $10,000 grant from the Ryder Foundation. There are now grants of $71,000 from PGA Tour, PGA of America, USGA and The Memorial Tournament. There is a GWAA championship golf outing. The 2007 event was at Kiawah Island, S.C., and the cost for three rounds of golf and lodging was $525.

Activities: William D. Richardson Award (individual who consistently made outstanding contribution to golf); Ben Hogan Award (individual who continues to be active in golf despite physical handicap or illness. Bronze statuette donated by Callaway Golf, Ben Hogan division). Charles Bartlett Award (playing pro for unselfish contributions to the betterment of society). ASAPSports/Jim Murray Award (professional player for his cooperation, quotability and accommodation to the media, and for reflecting the most positive aspects of the working relationship between athlete and journalist); Player of the year: male, female and senior. Some GWAA members also vote in PGA World Golf Hall of Fame selections.

Issues: The GWAA's primary mission is to promote proper working press facilities and conditions. In the last few years, the organization has worked toward upgrading telecommunications (getting wireless Internet access in virtually every press room) and access (persuading the PGA Tour to rescind an old policy of not allowing tape recorders in the locker room).

Writing contest: Held annually.

UNITED STATES BASKETBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION

APSE liaison: Jim Lefko, The Indianapolis Star.

President: Andy Katz, ESPN.com. Phone: (860) 712-0754. E-mail: Andy.d.katz@espn3.com.

Vice Presidents: Dick Jerardi, Philadelphia Daily News. Phone: (215) 854-5700. E-mail: jerardd@phillynews.com. Steve Carp, Las Vegas Review-Journal. E-mail: scarp@reviewjournal.com.

Annual meetings: Final Four

Membership: TBA.

Dues: $40.

Are Internet reporters allowed? Yes.

Concerns and issues: Seating at games throughout the country, NCAA Tournament; appropriate access throughout the year.

Financial contracts: None.

Activities: Player of the year breakfast, Most Courageous Award, Coach of the year award, Katha Quinn Award.

Writing contests: Yes.

TRACK AND FIELD WRITERS OF AMERICA

APSE liaison: Dale Jones, Cedar Rapids Gazette.

President: James Dunaway, American Track & Field Magazine. Phone: (512) 261-8354.

Treasurer: Ed Gordon, USA Track and Field. Phone: (510) 524-3317.

Annual meeting: At NCAA championships, June 8-11, Sacramento, Calif.

Membership: 370; primarily reporters, photographers, also statisticians, broadcasters, sports information directors and public relations types.

Dues: $20.

Are Internet reporters allowed? Yes.

Concerns and issues: 1. Improving press box facilities for track meet. 2. Expanding membership. 3. Promoting common membership interests. 4. Pursuing sponsorships.

Financial contracts: None.

Activities: Monthly newsletter, indoor track yearbook, membership directory and other publishing projects. The newsletter is archived online.

Web site: www.tafwa.org.

Writing contest: Jesse Abramson Award, named after the former New York Herald Tribune track reporter.

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY WRITERS ASSOCIATION

APSE liaison: Bill Bradley, Sacramento Bee.

President: Kevin Allen, USA Today. Home: (734) 487-9160. Cell: (734) 657-6112. E-mails: ka1@msn.com, kmallen@usatoday.com.

Vice Presidents: Brian Biggane, Palm Beach Post. Cell: (561) 307-3041. E-mail: bbiggane@adelphia.net. Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times. Office: (213) 237-7145. E-mail: helene.elliott@latimes.com. Terry Frei, Denver Post. Office: (303) 820-1895. E-mail: tfrei@denverpost.com. John Glennon, Tennessean. Office: (615) 259-8262. E-mail: jg1sport@aol.com. Lance Hornby, Toronto Sun. Office: (416) 947-2267. Cell: (416) 824-9019. E-mail: lance.hornby@tor.sunpub.com.

Secretary-Treasurer: Sherry Ross, New York Daily News. Home: (973) 669-8607. Cell: (973) 650-3413. E-mail: sherrydarlingnj@aol.com.

Annual meetings: Stanley Cup Finals and All-Star Game.

Membership: 165; primarily reporters and some editors.

Dues: $25.

Are Internet reporters allowed? Yes, but each local chapter makes determination of which Internet reporter should be allowed in.

Concerns and issues: 1. After amazing inroads and access, they are concerned if the league uses own Web site to create coverage; hand-delivering the news of the day to the their own Web site. 2. Would like to see teeth in the new injury law.

Financial contracts: None.

Activities: None.

Web site: None.

Writing contest: Yes; winners in six different categories.

PRO TENNIS WRITERS ASSOCIATION

Did not report.

MOTOR SPORTS WRITERS OF AMERICA

Did not report.

 Back to index