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Jane Leavy's BASW 2011 picks are out

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Versatile, Aug 12, 2011.

  1. Versatile

    Versatile Active Member

    http://indiepro.com/glenn/index.php/the-best-american-sports-writing-2011/

    I read a lot of sports journalism, and I'm annually impressed by how many things I haven't read end up in these collections.

    Three thoughts:

    1. Newspapers were relatively well represented, compared to some previous editions. Two from the Los Angeles Times, one from the Washington Post, one from the Boston Globe and one from the Philadelphia Daily News. In the Montville edition (2009), there were only two newspaper picks.
    2. There seems to be a bigger focus than perhaps normal on reporting and hard-to-tackle issues, which is nice.
    3. This book features a few stories focusing on women's rights, which is fine and perhaps needed. Leavy is the first female editor, and the pieces by Jenkins, Roberts and Haas were all excellent. (Those were of the 10 pieces I had already read featured here, out of 29.)

    I recall reading Jason Fagone's Marvin Harrison feature in February 2010 and thinking, "If this piece doesn't get in, it's only because of the turnaround on BASW and a complete lack of emphasis on breaking news." I'm particularly glad that piece was included, considering all the aftershock it created.
     
  2. Gator

    Gator Well-Known Member

    Not bitter, because I know I'll never get in, but it would be nice to see the little guy get a bone once in a while. I'm sure there is some pretty damned good writing from circulations less than 250K.

    EDIT: Holy crap, after going back to read this, is this what a soccer mom sounds like?
     
  3. Mystery Meat II

    Mystery Meat II Well-Known Member

    YOU ONLY COVER ME WHEN I WRITE FOR A PRESTIGE PUBLICATION

    No, that never gets old.
     
  4. baddecision

    baddecision Active Member

    Those guys try just as hard as all the big papers.
     
  5. Rhody31

    Rhody31 Well-Known Member

    BASW is costing me a scholarship.
     
  6. Come on. Don't make me go to the bookstore and leaf through the back, alphabetically, in breathless anticipation, only to ... oh, I'm such a fool. (Blood flushing to forehead.)

    I mean, I've never done that.

    Ahem. Where are the "notables" of 2010?
     
  7. mediaguy

    mediaguy Well-Known Member

    I prefer to think that they have to ask a writer's permission for inclusion in BASW, and they're afraid I'll say no.
     
  8. Glenn Stout

    Glenn Stout Member

    Actually, my dog ate the submission you meant to send when your grandmother died during the postal strike.
     
  9. ringer

    ringer Active Member

    Where can we find the list of honorable mentions for 2011?

    Also, an idea for future editions: Block out the name of the author and the name of the publication. Every year, I'm convinced that some of the picks are swayed by the writer's reputation.
     
  10. Glenn Stout

    Glenn Stout Member

    Notables released with publication. And for a number of years all submissions to the guest editor have been made blind. Whenever possible I give the Guest editor all submissions as word documents without notice of author, publication, or with any illustrations. When I can't get the story in a word doc, I try to block out any identifying information.
     
  11. JRoyal

    JRoyal Well-Known Member

    Those writers put in lots of hard work, too. They deserve to be recognized.
     
  12. Versatile

    Versatile Active Member

    That's a great policy, Glenn, though I'm not sure anything besides rewriting could keep most people from knowing what Gary Smith wrote. Then again, he might be the only active sports writer that's unequivocally true for right now. Wright Thompson, maybe? Posnanski? Simers? Simmons?
     
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