The Associated Press Society of Ohio (APSO) judges referredto Aaron M. Smith as “easily the best writer in his class” at the 2004 APSOAwards Banquet for his work as sports editor and writer at the Port Clinton(Ohio) NewsHerald. During that year, Smith took first place in every writing andproduction category in which he was nominated (four categories). He won forbest sportswriter, best game story, best special sports section, and best dailysports section. Smith also took second place in the best game story category asthe judges said his articles were “well-written by a journalist with greatreporting and writing skills.”
Aftergraduating from the nationally accredited E.W.Scripps Schoolof Journalism at Ohio University in 2002, Smith began his journalism careerat the Urbana (Ohio)Daily Citizen. He began as an intern but quickly rose in ranks as theassistant sports editor and business editor at the newspaper. Smith often wrotefeature stories and special section stories in addition to his regularresponsibilities of covering games and writing feature articles on localathletes. While at the Urbana DailyCitizen, Smith helped to coordinate a massive enterprise projectchronicling the dramatic impact made on the community by the 20-year presenceof the Honda Manufacturing automobile plant. The versatility of his writingearned Smith several Brown Publishing Awards in 2003. Smith also was noticed bythe APSO in 2003, earning second place in the best sportswriter category and anhonorable mention in the best game story category.
InSeptember of 2003, Smith was named as the sports editor at the Port Clinton News Herald as well as acontributing sportswriter for its sister newspaper, the Fremont News-Messenger. Smith immediately madean impact at the News Herald,developing a reader-favorite “Athlete of the Week” feature, an award givenweekly to a deserving local high school athlete. The award came with anin-depth feature article about the winning athlete, and it soon became a highlyanticipated feature by the newspaper’s readers. Smith’s writing not onlyappealed to sports fans, but also to those who craved human interest stories oftriumph and overcoming personal obstacles. In commenting on Smith’s feature ona high school football team that finally ended a one-year losing streak, theAPSO judges stated that Smith did “an outstanding job of capturing asignificant moment not only for a high school football team, but also theplayers involved and the community that supports them. He uses excellentreporting to get a key quote that helps a well-written lead come full circle.”
Working asa freelance writer in 2005, Smith traveled to Brazilto write a series of feature articles on the landless people of rural central Brazil.Franciscans Network, a non-profitorganization in Cincinnati, sent Smith to Brazilto write the features for the organization’s web site and other publications.While in Brazil,Smith spent time at the landless camps, even sleeping overnight undertarp-covered shanties with the landless to get the full effect of theireveryday lives.
Smith leftthe newspaper business in 2005 and earned his credential to teach writing andEnglish to high school and middle school students, fulfilling a long-time goalto help others develop a passion for writing and reading. He taught English andwriting for two years at Lindbergh Middle School in Long Beach, California,while also instructing and participating in writing workshops with colleaguesin the school district. While excelling in the classroom as a teacher, Smithmissed writing, so he decided to leave the classroom and become a full-timefreelance writer in Ohio.
Having beenaround high school and college sports for most of his life, Smith appreciatesthe human element that makes sports so popular and fans so passionate. As asportswriter and sports editor, Smith further experienced the thrill of sportson a first-hand basis. He is no stranger to athletics and knows the impactsports can have on a person, on a school, and on a community.
Smith lives in Cincinnati with his wife Chrissy and their three young children, Sierra, Aidan, and Natalie. In addition to writing his first book, Odyssey:From Blue Collar, Ohio to Super BowlChampion, Smith works as a freelance writer, writing for various publications and businesses.
To contact Aaron for freelance writing or other
work, use the information below:
The Associated Press Society of Ohio (APSO) judges referredto Aaron M. Smith as “easily the best writer in his class” at the 2004 APSOAwards Banquet for his work as sports editor and writer at the Port Clinton(Ohio) NewsHerald. During that year, Smith took first place in every writing andproduction category in which he was nominated (four categories). He won forbest sportswriter, best game story, best special sports section, and best dailysports section. Smith also took second place in the best game story category asthe judges said his articles were “well-written by a journalist with greatreporting and writing skills.”
To contact Aaron for freelance writing or other
work, use the information below:
