Story posted on June 11, 2008

Arizona Diamondbacks managing partner Jeff Moorad and club president Derrick Hall were the keynote speakers at the annual Arizona APSE meeting April 28 at Chase Field in Phoenix.

The baseball executives discussed the team's transition, both financially and competitively, over the past several years, as well as steps the organization has made to make games better fan-friendly experiences, including the installation of a new, $12 million HD scoreboard for this season.

The future of the team's spring training base in Tucson also was discussed. Hall said the team wants to stay there, and would hope another major league franchise could be persuaded to relocate there to replace the Chicago White Sox, who are planning a move into the Phoenix area. The D-Backs' Class AAA franchise in Tucson was sold and will be moved to Reno, Nev., next year.

Other highlights from the meeting of state sports editors and AP bureau members:

■ Two sessions were devoted to various Internet issues. The first was a discussion of the struggle newspapers face trying not to lose rights to post videos, photos and other content online. Chuck Schmidt, assistant director of the Arizona Interscholastic Association, said that high school federations are facing the same problems pro and college leagues have in trying protect their products in the evolving world of new media.

The other session looked at the challenge editors face trying to maintain traditional journalistic standards in the face of a 24-hour online news cycle without necessarily having adequate support resources. John D'Anna, a metro editor for the Arizona Republic who also writes an environmental issues blog, likened the challenge to "flying the airplane while you're building it."

■ The late Bob Moran was inducted into the Arizona Sports Writers Hall of Fame. Moran, who covered collegiate sports for three decades for the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson and the East Valley Tribune, died in March after a long illness. Moran joins Corky Simpson, Joe Gilmartin, the late Steve Schoenfeld and Abe Chanin as members of the hall. Earlier this year, it was announced that the MVP award in the annual Arizona-Arizona State football game would be named in Moran's honor.

■ Arizona Daily Star sports editor Shannon Conner was elected Arizona APSE president for 2008-09, succeeding Arizona Republic sports editor Mark Faller.

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