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The Oklahoman Wins Historic APSE Triple Crown

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. e-oklahoman-wins-historic-apse-triple-crown.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, February 26th 2026 at 15:24 GMT by The Oklahoman
      Locales: Oklahoma, UNITED STATES

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoman has cemented its place as a national leader in sports journalism, achieving an unprecedented feat at the 2026 Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) awards. The publication was awarded the coveted APSE Triple Crown - recognizing excellence as the Best All-Around Newspaper, offering the Best Sports Coverage, and producing the Best Feature Writing - alongside an additional four awards, bringing its total haul to six.

This is more than just a collection of accolades; it signifies a strategic and sustained commitment to impactful, in-depth sports reporting that resonates with the Oklahoma community and beyond. The Triple Crown is exceptionally rare, a testament to a news organization's consistent high quality across multiple journalistic disciplines. Few publications can boast such a well-rounded and award-winning sports section.

The APSE awards, judged annually, are considered the highest honor in American sports journalism. Winning isn't simply about writing well; it's about demonstrating a deep understanding of the local sports landscape, providing insightful analysis, and telling compelling stories that capture the spirit of competition and the human element within athletics.

Beyond the Triple Crown, The Oklahoman's success spanned a diverse range of categories. Their coverage of the Oklahoma City Thunder earned them the award for Best Beat Writing, acknowledging the consistent, high-quality reporting on the NBA franchise. This isn't simply game recaps and scoreboards; it delves into the team's dynamics, player development, and its impact on the Oklahoma City community. The award speaks to the beat writer's ability to cultivate sources, break stories, and provide fans with an inside look at their favorite team.

The publication also triumphed with its Best Multimedia Storytelling entry - a series focused on the resurgence of high school athletics in rural Oklahoma. This project likely went beyond traditional text-based reporting, incorporating video, photography, and interactive elements to paint a vivid picture of the challenges and triumphs facing smaller schools and their athletic programs. In an era where local news often struggles to cover these vital areas, The Oklahoman's commitment to rural sports is particularly noteworthy. It speaks to the publication's dedication to serving all of Oklahoma, not just its urban centers.

Recognizing the growing importance of audio journalism, The Oklahoman was also awarded Best Podcast. This podcast, featuring in-depth interviews with local athletes and coaches, provides a platform for nuanced conversations that wouldn't typically find space in print or online articles. The award likely recognizes the podcast's quality of production, insightful interviews, and ability to attract a dedicated listener base. It demonstrates an understanding of how audiences are consuming sports content - increasingly through audio channels.

Finally, The Oklahoman's prowess in the digital realm was acknowledged with the Best Use of Social Media award. In a constantly evolving digital landscape, engaging with fans on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram is crucial. This award recognizes The Oklahoman's ability to use social media not just to distribute content, but to foster a community, spark conversations, and provide real-time updates and analysis. Successful social media strategy goes beyond simply posting links; it requires active engagement, creative content, and a deep understanding of the platform's audience.

"This is a truly remarkable accomplishment for our entire team," stated Publisher Elizabeth Harding. "These awards are a testament to the dedication, hard work, and passion of our sports journalists. We're incredibly proud to represent Oklahoma and deliver exceptional sports coverage to our readers."

This latest success builds on a year of significant growth and innovation at The Oklahoman. The publication has proactively embraced digital transformation, expanding its online presence, investing in multimedia capabilities, and focusing on community engagement. This strategic approach has clearly paid off, positioning The Oklahoman not just as a chronicler of sports events, but as a vital source of information, analysis, and community connection. The newspaper's commitment to providing quality local sports coverage in the face of national trends of media consolidation and shrinking newsrooms is especially commendable. This sweep of APSE awards is a clear signal that local sports journalism is thriving in Oklahoma City, and The Oklahoman is leading the charge.