Published June 25, 2009 01:04 am - Paying another visit to the variety store...
Seeing Red The most famous person to ever sit in this chair will be receiving one of journalism’s most prestigious awards Friday afternoon.
A Don McCormack column: Former Beacon SE honored
DON McCORMACK Star Beacon
Paying another visit to the variety store...
Seeing Red
The most famous person to ever sit in this chair will be receiving one of journalism’s most prestigious awards Friday afternoon.
Vince Doria, who began his professional journalism career as sports editor of the Star Beacon in April 1971 after graduating from Ohio State University, has been the 2009 winner of the Red Smith Award for major contributions to sports journalism.
Doria’s selection was announced Wednesday by the Associated Press Sports Editors. The Smith award is named after the legendary New York Times columnist.
“Vince is a legend in this business and deserves all the accolades he receives,” APSE President Lynn Hoppes said in announcing the Red Smith award. “He, along with some of the greats of years gone by revolutionized this business and Vince still is setting the agenda for how we should be practicing journalism.”
Doria spent 16 months as sports editor here in Ashtabula before departing in 1973 for a position with the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In the 1975, he moved on to the Boston Globe, quickly climbing the ladder from assistant sports editor to sports editor of the section generally accepted as the best in the country.
His staff at the Globe included the likes of Peter Gammons and Larry Whiteside, who both eventually would be inducted into the media wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Bob Ryan, Basketball Hall of Fame, Leslie Visser, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Kevin Paul Dupont and Fran Rosa, Hockey Hall of Fame, Bud Collins, Tennis Hall of Fame and Collins, Will McDonough and Leigh Montville, National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame.
Doria made the move from the Globe to be assistant managing editor of The National, a new national sports tabloid. While extremely popular with readers, The National lasted 18 months before folding because of circulation and advertising problems.
He landed on his feet in 1992, joining ESPN, first as editor and then following his trail blazed at the Globe by climbing the ladder to his current post, Senior Vice President and Director of News for all of the World Wide Leader’s platforms in video, audio, print and online content.
“I basically do the same things I did at the Globe,” Doria told Montville for a story about him being named the 2009 Smith winner. “It’s just a lot more people.”
He summed up his current high-profile position.
“Everyone sees PTI, everyone wants to be the next Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon,” he told Montville. “Well, Kornheiser and Wilbon are very good, but they know what they’re talking about. They’ve been around. They’ve done the work. Their opinions are based on something.”