Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com honored for sports coverage

The Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com put forth a banner year of sports journalism in 2019, and recognition has followed in the form of several awards and honors in recent weeks.

The Associated Press Sports Editors’ annual awards were revealed this week, and the Herald-Leader earned Top 10 recognition in its class for Daily Sports Sections and Sports Special Sections. Also, the Herald-Leader’s Kentucky.com website received Honorable Mention recognition.

Additionally, Herald-Leader photographer/videographer Ryan C. Hermens brought home a Top 10 award in the APSE’s Projects category for our “Friday Night Lens” series last fall in which he connected high school football teams with their communities in small-town Kentucky.

Herald-Leader sports columnist Mark Story was recently named Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

Story, fellow sports columnist John Clay and University of Kentucky football beat writer Josh Moore also were honored last month with Kentucky Press Association awards.

And, of course, longtime Herald-Leader UK basketball beat writer Jerry Tipton this month was elected to the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame.

“I am so proud of this team,” Sports Editor Mathew Graf said. “These deserving individuals are supported by so many others here at the Herald-Leader and throughout our McClatchy network who commit to giving our readers their best every day. It is gratifying to see their efforts recognized.”