Newsday A TORN U.S. FLAG, which had flown at the World Trade Center after Sept. 11, flew at Yankee Stadium during the World Series, a reminder that life goes on – but it's different.

Editors take a look at how we're coping

• One solution: keep it close to home
Julie Engebrecht: Like Americans who are staying closer to home these days, sports sections are following suit by focusing on the basics, particularly those nearby.

• 10 tips for controlling your budget
John Cherwa: The flagging economy combined with the events of Sept. 11 have left U.S. newspapers looking to save money in any way possible.

• Evaluate, avoid repetition to use your space better
Nels Jensen: Managing space can be tricky, and what works at some papers might not work at others.

• Sales, alternate airports can save
Reid Laymance: Travel budgets for sports departments were tight in 2001, and prospects for 2002 aren't encouraging.

• Remembering why we're here
John Quinn: Life must go on, the President said, following the events of Sept. 11. But should we change the emphasis of how we cover sports?

• Raising our sensitivity levels
Bob Carter: Have the terrorist attacks and their aftermath changed us, changed the way we do business in the sports department?

• Looking at the way we do our work
Cindy Fairfield: Arriving at the office shortly before 9 a.m. Sept. 11, I bumped into our executive editor on the sidewalk. He opened the door, and I'll never forget his comment: "What possibly could be wrong on a beautiful day like this?"

• Our job: returning to normal
Garry Howard: The South Bronx is a hop, skip and jump from the World Trade Center, but it's still a world apart.

• Seattle critique sessions expanding
A look at APSE region activity.

• Racing-safety package hits home
Doug Roberson: The project started soon after Gary Schwab became executive sports editor at the Charlotte Observer 15 years ago.

• New York Times does the flip
Mark Faller: When Neil Amdur of the New York Times talks about his topsy-turvy sports section, it's not metaphorically.

• Some traffic on Internet lacks sense
Don Skwar: The No. 1 burden of my day is not the recalcitrant staffer; not the budget meeting (OK, a close second); not the traffic to or from work. It's my e-mail.

• Sports chat rooms crossed the line
Tim Burke: It's hard to find a sports editor – or a disgruntled reporter – who hasn't clicked on sportspages.com.

• Holiday schedules: plan now
Bob Sutton: Getting through the holidays can take the fun out of running a sports department.

• Last chance to pay dues and be included in directory
The third 2001-2002 dues notices will be in the mail soon.

• The contest: It's getting late: here are some tips
John Cherwa: This serves as your Newsletter reminder that you now have two fewer months to procrastinate since we last checked in.
• Guide and checklist for the winter meeting

• 11 APSE papers will sponsor copy editing interns
Kevin Dale: APSE and the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund are moving forward with a training program for future sports copy editors.

• Olympics: Information available on Internet
Roy Hewitt: With the Winter Olympics only two months away, sports editors have a number of resources to help them prepare.

• Roundtable: No place like home? Think about it
Bob Sutton: The home team. For some sports editors at small newspapers, that can be a compelling and troublesome topic.

• Finkel resigns as newsletter production editor
Bill Eichenberger: After more than eight years, Kenn Finkel is resigning as production editor of the Newsletter.

• You just can't hide from him
Paul D. Bowker: Playing editor for Kenn Finkel is like playing reporter for Red Smith.

• On the move: Bremerton's Barron gets a day job
Kirby Arnold: After 15 years in the business, Chris Barron learned something his first day out of sports: Readers are pretty much the same – sports or otherwise.

• Drive-in at university campus
Paul D. Bowker: Danny Robbins of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a multiple APSE contest plaque winner, was to lead a session on investigative and enterprise reporting at APSE's 12th drive-in workshop – Dec. 10 on the University of Texas-Arlington campus.

• Return to news business feels good
Ron Morris: I sat many days in the bowels of the old State Capitol in Tallahassee and cursed the day that I decided to leave a life of journalism and test the waters of flackery.

• Mentors can make a big difference
Julie Ward: Young journalists often benefit from the guidance of experienced reporters and editors.

• APSE intern program continues
The 10th APSE/Sports Journalism Institute is scheduled for the Seattle convention in June.

• Convention 2002: Contract change spurs green light
Herb Stutz: Spurred by news that the United States is officially in a recession, APSE has renegotiated its contract with Seattle's WestCoast Grand Hotel on Fifth Avenue, site of the June 2002 convention.
• What you need to know about Seattle

• Survey samples are skimpy, yield mixed results
Don Skwar: In the last Newsletter, we asked if you were going to Seattle for the 2002 convention – and if you had been at Baltimore in 2001.

• Obituaries
Kent Heitholt, Columbia Tribune; George McClelland; Virginian-Pilot

• Color photographs wanted
Note from the APSE webmaster.