View source for 2020 Press Archive

These press articles and releases appeared in 2020.

* October 26, 2020: [https://www.si.com/more-sports/2020/10/26/how-scrabble-blew-its-big-moment Sports Illustrated] looks at the tournament scene.
* September 5, 2020: [https://www.decorahnews.com/news-stories/2020/09/26320.html Decorah News] reports on Iowan [[Mike Johnson]] being named a [[Player Titles | Scrabble Expert]].
* August 6, 2020: [https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/scrabble-records-highest-scoring-words-170015056.html Yahoo! Life] discovers some high-scoring words on the NASPA [[Records]] page.
* July 29, 2020: The [https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/coronavirus/pandemic-presses-pause-on-over-decade-of-scrabble-play-for-attleboro-competitor/article_af53c9e6-bf94-57ef-abc3-59f57e4fafc5.html Sun Chronicle] interviews expert player [[Bradley Whitmarsh]].
* July 18, 2020: [https://www.sportsdestinations.com/sports/individual-sports/inside-events-north-american-scrabble-players-asso-18949 Sports Destination Management] interviews [[John Chew]] about NASPA and our championship.
* July 6, 2020: [https://www.yorktonthisweek.com/opinion/columnists/association-promotes-scrabble-1.24165523 Yorkton (SK) This Week] interviews [[John Chew]] about the organization of tournament Scrabble.
* The inclusion of slurs in the lexicon
** December 21, 2020: [https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/scrabbling-for-cover-in-the-culture-war-of-words/news-story/726e29b8b47f178a31c325c516ddf012 The Weekend Australian] comments on the removal of slurs.
** October 5, 2020: [https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/games/122960034/scrabble-squabble-over-offensive-words Howard Warner], the president of the New Zealand Association of Scrabble Players, looks at the impact of the issue on international play.
** October, 2020: NASPA Grandmaster [[Scott Appel]] writes about the decision to remove slurs in his monthly column - Your Word Against Mine - in [https://gamesmagazine-online.com/ Games World of Puzzles].
** August 31, 2020: [https://thepurpleevolution.buzzsprout.com/1098347/5220589-episode-12-tim-bottorff-interview-sex-slurs-scrabble The Purple Evolution] interviews [[Timothy Bottorff |Tim Bottorff]] about the decision to remove slurs.
** July 16, 2020: [https://open.spotify.com/episode/03BjDHrNxQohxvIydtme4V?fbclid=IwAR0Y33amK8kFsgJXnqt5pgY5iVmQPRTIyMcx7H8NbrbV3ViN2008YB1Yspk Openly] interviewer Oscar Lopez speaks to [[John Chew]] about the decision to remove slurs. Interview begins at 23:50.
** July 16, 2020: [http://www.mandatory.com/culture/1550975-scrabble-bans-racial-and-ethnic-slurs#1 Mandatory] discusses the decision to remove slurs.
** July 16, 2020: [https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/examining-taboo-words-as-scrabble-tournaments-ban-racial-slurs/ The Great Courses Daily] examines what makes words taboo in light of the decision to remove offensive slurs.
** July 16, 2020: [https://associationsnow.com/2020/07/scrabble-players-group-removes-racial-ethnic-slurs-from-tournament-word-list/ Associations Now] interviews [[John Chew]] about the decision to remove slurs.
** July 16, 2020: Julie Rose interviews Arkansas player [[Josephine Flowers]] on [https://www.byuradio.org/episode/bc6f788a-43fc-4138-83a4-e8c3478d8184/top-of-mind-with-julie-rose-coronavirus-update-microaggressions-migration Top of Mind] on BYUradio. The interview occurs about 1 3/4 hours into the episode.
** July 14, 2020: [https://www.kkoh.com/news/scrabble-players-are-taking-racial-and-ethnic-slurs-out-of-the-game/ News Talk 780 KOH] announces the decision.
** July 14, 2020: [https://www.languagemagazine.com/2020/07/14/scrabble-removes-racial-ethnic-slurs-from-official-word-list/ Language] reports on the decision to remove slurs.
** July 14, 2020: [https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2020/07/scrabble-removes-236-slurs-derogatory-language-from-official-word-list.html Mass Live] recaps the issue.
** July 12, 2020: [https://clicklancashire.com/2020/07/12/scrabble-to-ban-slurs-other-offensive-words-from-official.html Click Lancashire] reports on the decision.
** July 12, 2020: [https://www.thegamer.com/scrabble-racial-offensive-words-ban-competitive-play/ The Gamer] covers the issue.
** July 12, 2020: [https://www.irishpost.com/news/irish-term-culchie-may-be-banned-from-scrabble-for-being-offensive-or-derogatory-188935 The Irish Post] discusses the possible removal of CULCHIE.
** July 11, 2020: [https://kildare-nationalist.ie/2020/07/11/culchie-gives-way-to-gobshite/#.Xw4BUecpBPY Kildare Nationalist] comments on CULCHIE as one of the offensive words.
** July 10, 2020: [https://slate.com/culture/2020/07/scrabble-offensive-words-ban-player-reaction.html Stefan Fatsis] reports on the drama following the decision in Slate.
** July 10, 2020: [https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/scrabble-is-for-psychos Miles Klee] writes an essay about the decision in Mel.
** July 10, 2020: [https://mix931fm.com/scrabble-has-banned-236-offensive-words-that-are-racially-insensitive/ Mix 93.1] covers the decision.
** July 10, 2020: [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-race-lgbt-trfn/war-over-words-us-scrabble-leader-overrules-panel-to-ban-slurs-idUSKBN24B1NT Reuters] reports on the decision.
** July 10, 2020: [https://www.irishcentral.com/news/irish-word-culchie-banned-scrabble Irish Central] summarizes the NEWSTALK interview about CULCHIE.]
** July 10, 2020: [https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-moncrieff/scrabble-updates-rules Newstalk FM] host Sean Moncrieff talks with [[John Chew]] about the offensiveness of CULCHIE.
** July 9, 2020: [https://unherd.com/2020/07/why-the-woke-are-coming-for-scrabble/?fbclid=IwAR2yu3oHSJqBYZj9j3lUyOjTarmaWoNtZEu0KYWUmMMg4Bgv1JgDfqNGDOQ Sam Leith] offers his opinion in Unherd.
** July 9, 2020: [https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2020/7/9/21318572/scrabble-official-word-list-ban-racial-ethnic-slurs Deseret News] outlines the issue.
** July 9, 2020: [https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/scrabble-association-bans-racial-ethnic-slurs-official-word-list/MGSSH33PFBFXRNUPZCAGP5CPNE/ Cox Media Group] outlets report on the decision.
** July 9, 2020: [https://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/virginia-blackburn/1307315/race-debate-scrabble-black-lives-matter-white-house Express] columnist Virginia Blackburn offers her opinion.
** July 9, 2020: [https://www.nova.ie/pejorative-derogatory-term-culchie-facing-scrabble-ban-180704/ Nova] reports that CULCHIE might be removed.
** July 9, 2020: [https://www.prdaily.com/hasbro-and-scrabble-association-ban-slurs-united-airlines-might-lay-off-up-to-36000-employees-and-51-of-pr-pros-are-burned-out/ PR Daily] wrapup quotes Hasbro press release and [[John Chew]]'s letter to members.
** July 9, 2020: [https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/09/us/scrabble-slurs-ban-trnd/index.html CNN] interviews [[John Chew]] about the decision to remove slurs.
** July 8, 2020: [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/08/baldie-jew-fatso-among-words-set-banned-us-scrabble-competitions/ The Telegraph] reports on the issue. An edited version of this article appeared in Canada the following day in the [https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/scrabble-association-prepared-to-remove-offensive-words-from-board-game National Post].
** July 8, 2020: [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2020/07/08/scrabble-tournaments-ban-racial-ethnic-slurs/5396727002/ USA Today] recaps the New York Times article.
** July 8, 2020: [https://wild949.iheart.com/featured/crystal-rosas/content/2020-07-08-scrabble-is-getting-rid-of-racial-slurs-and-offensive-words/ WiLD 94.9] reports on the issue.
** July 8, 2020: [http://abcnewsradioonline.com/national-news/scrabble-to-ban-slurs-other-offensive-words-from-official-to.html ABC News Radio] interviews [[John Chew]] about the issue.
** July 8, 2020: [https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/07/08/889246690/scrabble-association-bans-racial-ethnic-slurs-from-its-official-word-list NPR] reports on the decision to eliminate slurs.
** July 8, 2020: [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53339659 BBC News] reports on the debate.
** July 8, 2020: [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8504117/Everyday-Ageism-FEMAIL-columnist-CHRISTA-DSOUZA.html Daily Mail] columnist Christa D'Souza frets that WRINKLIES may be removed.
** July 8, 2020: [https://wingedexpress.com/scrabble-will-ban-racial-and-ethnic-slurs-from-tournaments-and-match-principles/ Winged Nation] summarizes the debate.
** July 8, 2020: [https://gaynation.co/scrabble-looking-to-ban-lgbtphobic-words/ Gay Nation] looks at the issue from the LQBT perspective.
** July 8, 2020: [https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/scrabble-players-association-considers-banning-slurs-from-official-tournaments-174248621.html Yahoo! Sports] reviews the issue.
** July 8, 2020: [https://mashable.com/article/scrabble-slur-naspa-racism-hasbro/ Mashable] discusses the debate.
** July 8, 2020: [https://www.kotaku.com.au/2020/07/scrabble-bans-hundreds-of-offensive-words-from-competitive-play Kotaku] reports on the decision to remove slurs.
** July 8, 2020: [https://globalnews.ca/toronto/program/the-john-oakley-show The John Oakley Show] interviewed [[John Chew]] from 15:35 to 15:45.
** July 7, 2020: [https://www.out.com/news/2020/7/07/scrabble-may-remove-racist-homophobic-slurs-dictionary Out] reports on the issue.
** July 7, 2020: [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/07/sports/scrabble-racial-slurs-tournaments.html The New York Times] interviews [[John Chew]] and NASPA members about the inclusion of slurs. Hasbro announces that NASPA has agreed to remove all slurs.
** July 6, 2020: [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-entertainment-lgbt-racism-trfn/no-more-n-word-scrabble-players-look-to-bar-racist-or-homophobic-slurs-idUSKBN2472D2 Reuters] reports on the debate.
** July 6, 2020: [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/scrabble-censorship-dispute-over-banning-offensive-terms-hj9jnr5ks The Times] interviews [[John Chew]] and WESPA Chair [[Chris Lipe]] about the removal of slurs.
** July 5, 2020: The [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8492639/Scrabble-community-discusses-banning-racial-slurs-game-amid-Black-Lives-Matter-protests.html Daily Mail] recaps the debate on removing slurs.
** June 29, 2020: [https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-5-calgary-eyeopener Calgary Eyeopener] host Rob Brown interviewed [[John Chew]] about removing slurs from the NWL.
** June 25, 2020: Article about [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/the-n-word-has-no-place-in-our-game-competitive-scrabble-player-wants-slurs-removed-from-play-1.5626891 CBC As It Happens] interview includes additional comments from NASPA member [[Frank Tangredi]].
** June 24, 2020: [[John Chew]] appears on [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-wednesday-edition-1.5625419 As It Happens] on CBC. Interview begins at about the 28-minute mark.
** June 24, 2020: [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-terrible-word-play-should-slurs-swearing-and-offensive-terms-be/ The Globe and Mail] interviews NASPA CEO [[John Chew]].
** June 18, 2020: [[Stefan Fatsis]] discusses the debate on the inclusion of slurs in the lexicon in [https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/06/scrabble-players-debate-slurs.html Slate].
* June 2, 2020: The [https://www.gazettenet.com/Scrabble-HG-060320-34576562 Daily Hampshire Gazette] interviews NASPA Member and Youth Player Jack Carpenter who placed 2nd in last weekend's online School Scrabble Championship (OQuaSSA). 
* May 11, 2020: [https://themontclarion.org/entertainment/montclair-surgeon-mina-le-takes-a-stab-at-jeopardy/ The Montclarion] recaps the appearance of NASA member [[Mina Le]] on Jeopardy!
* April 26, 2020: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouZTO4tUrnM The Saige Jones podcast] interviews [[Joe Edley]] about his life (and Scrabble career) and the impact of meditation.
* COVID-19 Coronavirus
** March 18, 2020: The [https://calgarysun.com/news/local-news/on-a-cruise-to-nowhere-during-covid-19-scrabble-skills-and-humour-go-a-long-way/wcm/9f6788ec-1b9a-4514-a2b3-fc954c5559f2 Calgary Sun] reports that [[Siri Tillekeratne]] and [[Albert Hahn]] continue to play Scrabble while on a cruise ship unable to dock anywhere because of COVID-19.
** March 14, 2020: [[Stefan Fatsis]] discusses the impact of COVID-19 on organized Scrabble activity in [https://slate.com/culture/2020/03/playing-scrabble-coronavirus-pandemic.html?fbclid=IwAR09AKSKilIm7el46-a4QCB8bceiiLawGGRd-5Pzr2B7d9iFkFLmvX1oDv4 Slate].
* March 7, 2020: [https://getpocket.com/explore/item/does-scrabble-need-to-be-fixed?utm_source=pocket-newtab&fbclid=IwAR0U2Nv-xOuMBSKslYAukBXcigzRWCNu7wTeI_lyCe9fqaRaDLWvniqE3kU Nautilus] reports on the role of tile values and luck in Scrabble - including quotes from [[John Chew]], [[Stefan Fatsis]], and Lynda Woods Cleary.
* February 5, 2020: The [https://www.standard-freeholder.com/news/local-news/cornwall-hosts-the-annual-ottawa-montreal-scrabble-challenge Cornwall Standard-Freeholder] reports on the Montreal vs. Ottawa tournament held on February 1.
* January 29, 2020: [https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/seattles-scrabble-club-is-definitely-not-words-with-friends-but-there-are-words-and-friends-and-some-supersmart-competitions/ Pacific NW Magazine] visits Seattle (WA) NASPA Club #253.