AWSM Members Recognized by APSE

AWSM members Linda Robertson of The Miami Herald and Meri-Jo Borzilleri of the Colorado Springs Gazette were double-winners in the annual Asssociated Press Sports Editors writing contest, announced last week.

Robertson finished in the top 10 for features and game stories in the top circulation category (over 250,000). Her feature chronicled the metamorphosis of Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali from his upset victory 40 years ago against Sonny Liston in Miami Beach to present. Her game story was on the Alpe d'Huez stage of the 2004 Tour de France.

Borzilleri was top 10 in breaking news and game stories in the third circulation category (40,000-100,000). Her breaking news story was a compelling tale about heavyweight wrestler Rulon Gardner's last match at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Borzilleri's feature was about two Iraqi wrestlers and their coach, who took the unlikely step of giving up the safety of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to go back to their war-torn country.

Other AWSM winners in the top circulation category were Jody Berger of the Rocky Mountain News as part of a team project in the breaking news division, Rena Cash of the Atlanta Jounral-Constitution as part of a team project in project reporting and Susan Vinella of the Cleveland Plain Dealer in project reporting.

In the second circulation category (100,000-250,000), Karen Crouse of the Palm Beach Post won for explanatory reporting.

In the investigative division, which is not split into circulation size, Nicole Vargas of the San Diego Union-Tribune won as part of a team project.

-Lydia Craver, AWSM Job Fair Coordinator