Paul Barrett returns APSE presidency to the West Coast

The Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) presidency will be back in the Pacific Northwest for the first time in more than 30 years.

Paul Barrett, sports editor of the Seattle Times, will take over the one-year position in June at the organization’s summer conference in Minneapolis.

The Washington native is the first APSE president from a Pacific Northwest media outlet since Jeff Wohler of The Oregonian in the 1991-92 term.

“It will definitely be a learning experience for me,” Barrett said. “Every major thing I have been involved in with APSE, I come away learning a lot, being inspired by other people who give so much to this organization.”

Barrett carried out two terms as APSE vice president to lead up to the presidency. He was elected second vice president in May 2023, after defeating three candidates. He transitioned to first vice president in June 2024.

Barrett has been an active member of APSE since 2015. He has led the Seattle Times, the second-largest newsroom on the West Coast, to three APSE Grand Slams, two triple crowns, and multiple digital and writing awards.  

He also has been a contest judge since 2017. Barrett said he relishes the opportunity to travel to APSE contest sites and engage with the industry’s most talented sports journalists.

“You get a chance to read the best work in the industry and take those ideas home and put them into practice,” Barrett said. “You learn a lot, and you have a lot of great conversations about other people’s work.

“On the plane ride home, I definitely have a list of ideas, story ideas, and projects to take back to our staff to see what we can do.”

When long-time friend and former APSE president Jorge Rojas approached Barrett a few years ago about running for second vice president, the decision was not difficult.

“He asked me if I would be interested in running, and I gave it some thought,” Barrett said. “I was just excited about it. It is an incredible opportunity that not many people can say they did, so I decided to run.”

“This organization is made up of so many incredible people, who give so much of their time to make [sports journalism] a fulfilling thing for other people,” he added. “A lot of selflessness and just doing things simply for the good of the organization. There are a ton of people who are eager to help out with anything they can. They believe in this organization and the organization’s ability to further others’ careers. It is really inspiring to be a part of.”

This vast support system is what makes Barrett feel prepared for the presidency, where he will progress current initiatives on building and retaining membership, teaching best journalistic practices, and promoting diversity within the organization.

“There is a strong network of people that I can lean on to help me deal with any situation, and I will definitely be doing that,” Barrett said.

Barrett has his own ambitions for APSE as well, particularly for its youngest members.

“I am really excited about being a mentor, getting more students involved and getting people early in their careers involved in APSE,” Barrett said. “I want to provide a network of resources for them because there is so much more available to younger people in our industry than when I was young.”

He contributes to the APSE website’s extensive job board and has mentored early-career reporters through APSE’s mentorship program.

However, Barrett’s greatest asset might be in the transition APSE makes back to the West Coast.

“A lot of our membership is based in the Eastern Time Zone and Central Time Zone, so it would be nice to get some more West Coast people involved,” Barrett said. 

The winter contest will be held in Las Vegas in February. This is the first time since 2012 that contest judging has been held in the western part of the United States.

Barrett also anticipates more West Coast engagement at the college level.

“We just had a western regional meeting, and getting college students involved along the West Coast is definitely an initiative that we want to explore,” he said.