Dan Spears ends APSE presidency with a focus on connection

As Dan Spears served in leadership roles for the Associated Press Sports Editors for several years, he never lost sight of one key principle.

"We're trying to be present in people’s lives and give them the opportunity to talk to others, Spears said. 

Spears, the outgoing president of APSE, has been a member of the organization since 2008 as part of a career that included stints as sports editor in Augusta, Georgia, and then various roles with StarNews Media in Wilmington, N.C., from 2006 to 2020. Spears, 51, joined the USA TODAY Network in 2020 and currently serves as the deputy sports strategist for the Center for Community Journalism.

Spears said he knew he wanted to be part of APSE. Being active in the organization allowed him to become the Atlantic Coast region chair and the third vice president of APSE from 2018-2020. All of his work granted him the opportunity to serve as president in 2024-25.

During his tenure, Spears achieved a number of goals. APSE concluded its first year of holding all four regional meetings since the pandemic. APSE was also able to open its doors to people who needed spaces to communicate and collaborate.

The pandemic showcased some challenges as journalists around the world were unable to access the newsroom and maintain in-person conversations with colleagues. These challenges were always prevalent and on the radar for those wishing to keep communities together.

"The biggest hurdle that we as an industry have had to figure out is how do we work better with our reporters who are not in front of us anymore,” Spears said.

Spears said he did learn that his job could be done anywhere, whether online or in person. Utilizing that knowledge, he learned how to adapt and create time with his colleagues to help with the learning and communication process.

As Spears’ tenure comes to a close at the end of the APSE conference this year, he said he hopes the organization keeps bringing people together, creating conversation and adapting to the evolution of sports journalists.

"We are the ones breaking the news,” Spears said. “If we continue to search for information and tell the story, there will always be a space for us."