Students interested in sports media are invited to join the newly established Associated Press Sports Editor (APSE) chapter at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
The School of Journalism and Media officially added the student professional organization near the end of the 2024 fall semester. Senior journalism and media majors Caleb Jarreau and Gabriel Jackson will serve as co-presidents.
Assistant Professor Shannon Scovel will serve as the chapter’s faculty advisor.
Scovel said most regional and national newspapers and some broadcast organizations and websites are affiliated with APSE, a prestigious sports journalism organization focused on providing training and networking opportunities for professional and student sports journalists. Joining an APSE chapter allows students to network with industry professionals and submit work to the national APSE awards contest.
“We have so many sports programs but students also want to be part of a sports journalism community that’s going to help them grow,” Scovel said.
Scovel said the chapter will supplement the instruction and experiential learning students are already engaged in to set them up for even greater success.
For example, one goal of the chapter is to better connect students with industry professionals so they can receive feedback on the work they are currently doing as student journalists and provide networking opportunities that could lead to future internships and/or jobs in the industry.
Jarreau said he first learned about bringing an APSE chapter to UT from former lecturer and college sports editor for USA TODAY Network Tennessee Phil Kaplan.
“I’ve always wanted to be part of an APSE chapter because all the journalists I look up to are in APSE,” Jarreau said.
Jackson heard about APSE chapters from other professional journalists but became more interested in the idea after talking to Scovel about her experiences with the professional organization at her alma mater.
“I feel like we can not only do that here but expand upon it and make it better and our own,” Jackson said.
Jarreau said he hopes the chapter helps foster greater connections with local sports journalists, which he sees as an untapped opportunity given the talent that resides in the university’s very own backyard.
He personally has benefitted from connecting with and receiving mentorship from area sports journalists. He currently works as a sport reporter at The Daily Times in Maryville.
Though some of the school’s most notable alumni in sports journalism include ESPN’s Ryan McGee and Paul Finebaum, Jackson noted that there are several local alumni in sports media who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with students. Jackson works as a part-time reporter for the Dyersburg News State Gazette.
The chapter also opens up opportunities for students to get their work recognized. Scovel said a professional chapter makes it easier for students to apply to journalism competitions. She hopes to also have students attend annual APSE National Conferences where they can further network with and learn from other industry professionals and students in the field.
“We’ve got the talent in our department, and we’ve got the enthusiasm,” Scovel said. “Now, it’s just translating that into a concrete thing.”
For more information about the new chapter and other updates follow the APSE chapter on Instagram.