Dan Shaughnessy, a seasoned sports columnist for The Boston Globe, formally accepted the 2026 Red Smith Award on Friday, the prestigious lifetime achievement honor presented by the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) recognizing the top career contribution in American sports journalism. The ceremony took place during the APSE Summer Conference in Arlington, Virginia.
Shaughnessy, who has spent six decades covering sports primarily for Boston-area fans, expressed humility and gratitude upon receiving the award. The APSE, a professional organization comprising sports editors and journalists nationwide, announced his selection earlier this year.
ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian, a longtime friend and former mentee of Shaughnessy, presented the award. Kurkjian praised Shaughnessy’s fearless reporting and writing, noting, “He taught me how to be a baseball writer, how to be a journalist, how to be fair and accurate and yet tough when I had to be.” He described Shaughnessy as “the toughest journalist I’ve ever met,” highlighting his unwillingness to be intimidated throughout his career.
Shaughnessy’s career milestones include 14 Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year awards and 15 top-10 columnist honors from the APSE in the largest circulation category, including recognition for work as recent as 2025. He is also a 2016 recipient of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Career Excellence Award and the author of 13 books.
Reflecting on his early career, Shaughnessy recalled starting as a beat reporter for Holy Cross’s freshman football team and supplementing his income by working for The Associated Press, where he earned $7 per game running to secure interviews in stadiums. He acknowledged moments of criticism and setbacks but emphasized persistence as key: “You gotta take it, suck it up, and move on. The most important thing? Keep getting out there. Show up.”
Shaughnessy shared anecdotes about provoking reactions from prominent athletes and coaches, including Larry Bird, David Ortiz, and Terry Francona. While he admitted never forming close personal ties with players, he recounted eventually rebuilding his relationship with Francona, leading to their collaboration on the 2013 book “Francona: The Red Sox Years.” When initially approached, Francona declined the project but later agreed after persistent outreach.
Addressing the current challenges facing sports journalism amid technological advances and industry contraction, Shaughnessy stressed the ongoing importance of newsgathering, reporting, and storytelling, despite the diminished impact of traditional media. “Adjust or perish,” he advised, acknowledging the need for journalists to embrace change.
Attendees praised Shaughnessy’s acceptance speech as memorable and insightful, underscoring his influence and dedication as a model for both current and future sports journalists.