Charlotte Observer coverage

I don't believe anyone can reasonably argue that both basketball and football are not the "producers"....and based on what you said, the interest level drives their attention. But spring sports interest level is driven by pockets and we feel that our pocket is bigger than others in the spring.

However, you feel differently and I have learned the golden rule principle. The man with the gold makes the rules. I guess what confuses us is when it comes to spring sports, the CO chooses to spread the wealth in coverage, yet small town newspapers, like the Salisbury Post, dominate their prep coverage with baseball stories with tidbits of lacrosse, track, softball, swimming, s****r, etc. Does it bother those readers that enjoy those sports? Probably, but they must be small in voice.

So why is baseball popular in those communities (which is the majority of newspapers), yet in Charlotte we are pooled in interest with badmitton?---not that those people aren't fervent in their support.

EDIT: Oops, I see that you have addressed this

 

Langston, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. As I said I don't (never have) lived in Meck Co. So if your truly wondering what you can do to improve coverage, I guess all we're asking is for "more".

I know the other sports are important too, and Lord knows if my daughter played s****r, or if I had a son playing tennis, I'd want more coverage for them sports too. But this is a baseball forum, theres been a TREMENDOUS number of talented baseball players (and teams) in Meck Co in recent years, and we just see it from the fact that baseball has always been America's pasttime. Numbers-wise I know things are changing.

Again thanks. We agree on the Salisbury Post's prep coverage (best in the state), but I give you guys props for HS football coverage too, you get no complaints from me there. Football is indeed king (don't I know it), the town I live in don't know nothing BUT football, but I enjoy it too. Best wishes.

 

However, you feel differently and I have learned the golden rule principle. The man with the gold makes the rules. I guess what confuses us is when it comes to spring sports, the CO chooses to spread the wealth in coverage, yet small town newspapers, like the Salisbury Post, dominate their prep coverage with baseball stories with tidbits of lacrosse, track, softball, swimming, s****r, etc. Does it bother those readers that enjoy those sports? Probably, but they must be small in voice.

So why is baseball popular in those communities (which is the majority of newspapers), yet in Charlotte we are pooled in interest with badmitton?---not that those people aren't fervent in their support.

I can't speak to why the other papers produce coverage the way we do, but we have some very strong communities of interest in some of the other spring sports and we have to address that demographic.

Again, what are we missing with our baseball coverage? What could we try to ramp up to get it closer to where you all think it should be?

 

We could probably use more coverage of the new I-Meck conference. In it's inagural year we had a very close 5 way race for the conference championship. We had two 3-A schools move up to 4A and were very stong contenders right from the start. We also have a new high school that will be opening up which will greatly impact the region.

Also, our local newspaper also did a story about the Hopewell vs. North Meck rivalry, compared it to the Duke vs. Carolina rivalry and said it's one of the fiercest rivalries in the state.

Those are just some ideas - there is alot going on at the baseball diamonds up here. Thanks for participating in this thread!

 

Langston, man oh man do you just want me and Braves to come work for you? Two hotdogs a day and we're there.

Ok to be specific, you did one video preseason poll this year and it was great, really was. Set a video poll a week as your goal next year, if you don't have time for that, just do several for the year (instead of just one), get a coach to do it with you like you did this year, that was good. You built us up this year with that video, but then oh that long dryspell.....

Other thing, HS kids like to pick up the paper and see their names in the paper. It don't matter how you get their names in the paper, you have a boxscore section now, just get someone to put more effort in the boxscores. I realize the 100 schools you have, but you say you can do football because its all on one day (Friday),,,,, so if you can't cover baseball 5 days a week, pick 2 or just pick 1. Pick one day a week and let CO readers know that every Wednesday there will be good stories about several HS baseball games played the previous Tuesday. When people see it comes out every Wednesday like clockwork, your credibility will be there and I believe folks would be more understanding of the CO having other obligations.

You say you did 30 some games this year, but slipping them in every now and then just don't work, nobody knows when to look for it. Another thing you may consider is each week highlight a different conference, go into more depth with a different conference each week.

Hope this helps, honestly I appreciate your interest. Btw, Cliff Merhtons (sp?) was good last year, I can remember him posting on TBR and often asking questions about specific players/teams when doing his Sweet 16 polls. Where is Cliff nowadays?

 

I hope our members take advantage of this invitation.

This is the perfect question to ask. I've tried two tiimes to reply and timed out--LarryD must not like us addressing the Charlotte Observer .

What I'd like to see is for you to feature a Game of the Week that has a backstory. Let me give you an example: East Meck vs Hopewell

This is a very sexy story because it features two rival conferences. But this game features ex- EM Coach Chet Greeson facing his former players in what is their biggest game in their lives. Then you have Hopewell, one of the most talented teams in the state, having to play, not only between the lines, but against the emotions of the coaches and former players. This is a game that you can feel the intensity when you park your car. There are games like this every week in Charlotte. They offer stories of interest that goes beyond just the game.

The second item is something you like as well. Human interest stories...I love them! But quite frankly, I spent a lot of time trying to get the story told about Will Dicus, but to no avail. It simply was one of the best stories ever! Does that mean I will stop pushing for stories....nope....but no one likes to feel dejected or rejected when offering them.

By the way, this is how it played out: http://www.thisboardrocks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161571&highlight=Dicus

 

Very good job tj...good ideas! I take back some of the things i've said about you.

 

you guys need to quitcherbitchin

if you lived in Guilford County and your life depended on the Greensboro News & Record for baseball coverage you would be dying a slow and painful death. Box scores are about all you get – hopefully. Maybe one or two human interest stories a year. Maybe a brief game recap on a game or two a year. And it’s not really much better during football or basketball season. Football is okay but that’s about it.

I realize it’s not as big as the Observer, and has a similar issue of having a lot of schools to cover, but it’s pitiful. Most schools in the area may go an entire, successful baseball season and never see a word of newsprint.

In Jamestown we are lucky to have a small weekly paper with a great editor (Ogi Overman) that has a dedicated fan/reporter in Mike Ellis that covers Ragsdale baseball, football and basketball. Not sure if Mike gets paid or if he just loves to do it, but he does a great job. My daughter takes pictures for the paper when she can, gets no money but does enjoy seeing her work published. Coverage is almost always on line and even though you have to wait a week to read at least it’s there.

Of course the Southwest Guilford fans complain they are also in Jamestown area and get no love in the paper, but if they had a Mike Ellis willing to write up reports Ogi would publish it.

Count your blessings.




http://www.womacknewspapers.com/jamestownnews/

 

Very VERY good points TJ!!!