At the annual competition for Associated Press staff members evaluated by the Associated Press Editors, several writers were recognized for their exceptional work, highlighting the talent and storytelling present within the AP newsroom.
A significant achievement was made by Eddie Pells, who secured the prestigious Story of the Year award as well as honors for his proficiency in Deadline Writing. Pells was acknowledged for his insightful examination of the evolving landscape of amateurism in college sports, alongside his coverage of Noah Lyles’ victory in the 100-meters at the Paris Games.
The AP contest, which featured works from 2024 and was recently assessed by a group of APSE judges, celebrated more contributors apart from Pells. John Leicester and Hanna Arhirova, in collaboration with multiple AP team members, were awarded the Package of the Year prize for their impressive Ukraine Olympics project.
Charles Odum captured the Feature Writing accolade with his poignant narrative on the 50th-anniversary celebration of Hank Aaron’s 715th home run, featuring a fan’s video shot by Charlie Russo that had never before been unveiled publicly.
Howard Fendrich was honored with the Grimsley Award, which recognized his comprehensive body of work. Some of his notable stories included an exclusive look at pro tennis player Jenson Brooksby’s experience living with autism, a recount of Djokovic’s face-off with Nadal at the Paris Olympics potentially marking their final match together, and the unique challenges clay court tennis players encounter at the Paris Olympics.
Leicester and Arhirova were crucial in executing the Ukraine Olympics project, working alongside a team of dedicated AP staff such as Susie Blann, Evgeniy Maloletka, and Francisco Seco, among others. This project exemplified AP’s dedication to blending compelling narratives with innovative digital storytelling and effective social media engagement.
In the photography category, Francisco Seco received acclaim by winning Best Portfolio, which included captivating images from the Paris Olympics involving gymnastics, championship boxing, and Europa League soccer, as well as a feature series on Simone Biles and an insightful photo essay on Ukrainian high jumper Oleh Dorashchuk. Seco also earned the Feature Photo award with a dynamic image of Turkish fans celebrating during the Euro 2024 soccer tournament, vividly capturing the spirited moment from Istanbul.
Ashley Landis secured the Action Photo title with an impactful shot depicting fans interacting with a foul ball caught by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts during a dramatic inning of the baseball World Series game against the New York Yankees in New York.
