The Montgomery Advertiser and The Tuscaloosa News combined to win 22 awards in their circulation divisions for sports coverage in 2022 from the Associated Press Sports Editors in its annual contest, with The Montgomery Advertiser earning a Triple Crown for the second year in a row by taking top 10 honors in three top categories.
Both news organizations won digital honors for coverage on their websites, montgomeryadvertiser.com and tuscaloosanews.com. The Montgomery Advertiser also took honors in print portfolio.
Nick Kelly of The Tuscaloosa News took home the most awards with six top-10 honors. Former Montgomery Advertiser sports writer Bennett Durando won five. Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread won three, with USA TODAY Sports Network Alabama sports editor Tommy Deas, former Montgomery Advertiser sports writer Jacob Shames and Montgomery Advertiser photographer Jake Crandall winning two each. Richard Silva was honored in event coverage and both Mickey Welsh and Gary Cosby Jr. in photo categories.
Kelly, Goodbread and Deas were honored for their project on “Bear” Bryant’s last game as Alabama football coach.
Kelly was also honored for beat writing for his coverage of Alabama athletics, breaking news for his story on an application for a liquor license for sales at Bryant-Denny Stadium, explanatory writing for his story on Alabama changing football contracts in anticipation of SEC expansion, game story for his coverage of Alabama vs. Arkansas and long features for his story on UA offensive line coach Eric Wolford and his son, who has a rare genetic condition.
Chase Goodbread, Nick Kelly and Tommy Deas, projects, “Bear” Bryant’s last game
Durando was honored in event coverage along with Silva and Deas for coverage of Auburn’s firing of football coach Bryan Harsin and hiring of new athletics director John Cohen.
Durando also won awards for beat writing for his coverage of Auburn athletics, breaking news for his story on Olympic gymnast Suni Lee planning to return to Auburn for her sophomore season and game story for coverage of Auburn-Missouri.
He also placed in the top 10 in investigative reporting for his deep dive into the poisoning of Auburn’s trees at Toomer’s Corner by Harvey Updyke. The investigative category crosses all divisions, with Durando’s work honored along with that of USA TODAY, The New York Times, The Washington Post and other major news organizations.
Goodbread placed in column writing and in short features for his story on Alabama football player Brian Robinson Jr. being selected in the NFL Draft.
Shames won top-10 recognition in breaking news for his story on a former Troy football player being arrested for alleged assault on a former teammate and long features for his story on a Pike Road player who takes care of her nephew with a rare disease.
Crandall was honored in the action photo and feature photo categories. Welsh was also honored in action photo and Cosby in feature photo.
Bennett Durando, Richard Silva and Tommy Deas, event coverage (Bryan Harsin firing, John Cohen hired)
Nick Kelly, explanatory (Alabama football changing contracts to allow flexibility in anticipation of SEC expansion)
Bennett Durando, game story (Auburn-Missouri)
Nick Kelly, game story (Alabama-Arkansas)
Nick Kelly, long feature (Alabama line coach Eric Wolford and his son, who has a rare genetic condition)
Bennett Durando, investigative (Harvey Updyke tree poisoning)
Jacob Shames, long feature (Pike Road player who cares for nephew with rare disease)
Chase Goodbread, short feature (Brian Robinson Jr. draft day)
Jake Crandall, Mickey Welsh, action photo
Montgomery Advertiser and Tuscaloosa News, digital
Montgomery Advertiser print portfolio
