Kaplan: Played to my strengths as APSE president June 29, 2011
BOSTON — Transcript of 2010-11 APSE President Phil Kaplan's departing speech delivered June 25 at the APSE Convention:
I opened a vein, like the great Red Smith suggested, not to sit down and write a great sports story, but to do some good work in the name of APSE.
And at times, it was a bloody mess.
Like the time I called Tom Jolly at the New York Times for help on the commissioner’s meetings.
The young person who answered the phone apparently had never heard of me – don’t blame him – because when I asked to talk to Tom he relayed to me that Mr. Jolly does not take calls, but if you leave your name and number, he’ll return your call.
OK, I said. It didn’t take long for Tom to call back and apologize for what happened and tell me that it should not have happened. Hey, no problem, I told him. But not an encouraging start.
There was the 45-minute interview with Bill Krueger of Poynter on how social media was changing how the industry covers sports. And the email a month later that he did not use my quotes, but thanks for my help and he may have occasions to call me for other stories.
And then the time I talked to Tom Curley, president and publisher of Associated Press. You know AP for APSE. We had a good 15-minute talk about APSE before he delivered a talk about changes in the industry.
In his talk, when he wanted the audience to answer a question about what subject helped him learn about math when he was younger, he called me Chris when trying to solicit a response from the only sports editor in the audience because baseball was the answer. As he left, Tom said to me, hey, I set you up for that one.
He sure did.
But you know what, it was perfect.
I never wanted or intended APSE to be about me. You know, some mid-size sports editor who at the time I was elected an assistant sports editor, working lots of hours a week, trying to balance family and work.
So how could I help APSE as president?
I just played to my strengths. Organization, planning and motivation. Just like work.
And the working knowledge I learned from two past presidents, Lynn Hoppes and Garry D. Howard. From Lynn, I learned things can be changed. And Garry showed me, well told me, to be strong, you are the president.
And also the late Tim Wheatley, who sent me detailed emails, called me at the airport before I arrived in Pittsburgh for the conference two years ago and even cut up the dates for the contest judging announcement because I had to fill his spot and move up in my first year as an officer.
So I made my priorities as president, subjects that I could have an impact and some control in my one year. Increase membership, brand APSE and make diversity mean something more than just we’re going to do something about diversity.
I took some heat this week after posting my president’s message because the subjects I just described were my focus and something I was proud to share.
What they said was missing was how I was going to save the print industry. Where was my message on how I was going to create jobs, end layoffs, prevent furloughs and stop design centers.
And how dare I make a diversity a priority. Did I realize this was 2011?
One person called it lip service. I’m sorry. I don’t have the answers to end the ills of the industry.
And I’ll be frank, and maybe I’m talking out of place because I'm now the immediate past president of APSE, this organization couldn’t stop Gannett’s announcement on Tuesday that 700 layoffs were taking place in newsrooms, or Media General from announcing Thursday there would be 15 furlough days to use by the end of the year or stopping Gannett from implementing design centers or preventing Scripps from closing the Rocky or Media News from creating a cluster of newspaper groups.
But by providing training and offering workshops that Boston Globe sports editor Joe Sullivan helped put together this week, we can make you a better journalist, a more informed sports editor and that make give you the versatility when you return to your shop to cope with the changing business model.
Take advantage of a network of sports editors from across the country to share ideas, suggestions and get feedback from people that really care and go out of their way to help.
I could break down the success of membership, branding and diversity. I’m not going to bore you with all the details. It’s been repeated. But membership is up, branding continues and diversity still has lots of work.
And with Michael, Gerry, Tim and Ben, and Jack, all is good with APSE.
I leave no legacy for APSE, like Garry did with the Red Smith Hall of Fame.
I’m honored and truly grateful that my colleagues gave this sports editor their trust to play a smart part in the success of APSE. And for that, I thank you.
