Gary Bedore, assistant sports editor for the Journal-World, has been named Kansas sports writer of the year by the National Sportscasters and Sports Writers Association.

Bedore, who has covered KU men’s basketball full-time since the 1988-89 season, shares the 2007 prize with Rick Peterson of the Topeka Capital-Journal. Bruce Steinbrock of WIBW in Topeka was named Kansas sportscaster of the year.

All three will be honored along with winners from the other 49 states at the NSSA’s annual awards ceremonies on May 3-5 in Salisbury, N.C.

Bedore is the second J-W staffer to earn the NSSA award. Former J-W sports editor Chuck Woodling was honored in 1988 and 2003.