(08-21-2014 12:33 PM)Cyniclone Wrote: [ -> ] (08-21-2014 07:23 AM)EverRespect Wrote: [ -> ] (08-20-2014 08:31 PM)Mr.BigBlue Wrote: [ -> ]They should just prioritize a little better. For example...running an article about VT basketball, that hasn't been relevant for YEARS, at the start of College football was just plain stupid.
This. If they cut ACC pieces by 10% and put that effort into covering ODU, there would still be countless ACC articles and everyone would be happy. As I said earlier, it isn't like it would take a Herculean effort to have a meeting with someone at ODU once a week and give a recap of that meeting. I'm not asking for a full entourage to follow the team around the country. I get it, they don't have the resources and it wouldn't be profitable to invest in them... but a couple of paragraphs per week they can and should do.
10 percent more coverage wouldn't amount to much. Maybe an extra feature or two? You gotta remember, covering a program is more than just going to the games and occasionally talking to the coach or a kid. It's going to all the games (or as many as the travel budget will allow), a bunch of practices, developing relationships with the coach, the coaching staff, the support staff, the administrative staff, the players -- and most of that happens outside the game or a scheduled interview session.
Honestly, if I were running a sports section, I'd take a s**t or get off the pot approach. If we couldn't, for whatever reason, go all in on coverage, we wouldn't bother, because there's little gained by doing it halfway. By going only to home games, or by not hitting the mid-week press conferences, or by not having a consistent weekly presence on site or in the paper, you'd just tick off readers who expect full coverage, while not moving the needle for casual readers who may or may not read the ODU story, because they went to the paper or the website for the Hampton-Phoebus game or the Virginia Tech coverage.
It's difficult to explain, but sports journalism is a lot more intensive and convoluted than a lot of people realize.
I have never been in the newspaper business and I understand your principal position of all or nothing. However, It really doesn’t translate to the model of how they presently are doing their sports coverage. Using your logic they would never report on U of R, Mason, VCU or any A-10 schools for basketball. They would not have an interest in reporting any coverage on the Hampton Pirates, W&M, JMU, or any of the CAA football programs. After all they cannot dedicate a staff to full investigative reporting and resources to attend every game, go to mid week press conference talk to coaches, players or dedicate a 100% commitment to those programs. If they followed that business model for their coverage across the spectrum they would be so one dimensional they would lose any value as a news service. I assumed a newspapers mission is to report on topics that are news worthy and have the most direct impact on the citizens in the community they serve, whether that is national, regional, local topics of interest or sports. Again the world of sports is such an integral part of our lives; they have to have some balance to serve the consumers in the community. If that is their mission/model "all or nothing" they should shut their doors now. The genius of making this work is finding the niche to make it profitable.
If for many years I was a broker, and the market dictate that I sell a product that was out of my comfort zone, I would have found a way do it. I may have two other assistance, one may have concentrated the better part of their life selling DC Bonds and commodities and a 2nd that concentrated 20 years or more selling futures and stocks for Northern VA companies. But when the market changed and people expressed an interest in the NEW Dominion Power Shares, I would never had said, sorry I cannot concentrate all my attention to the research required to sell the new and upcoming investment offerings. There may be potential there, and it may even make me money, but, sorry I don’t have the resources to spend all my time on it. After all it has not been proven yet, so I will stick with what I have done for 25 years because I have an all or nothing policy. That would have been crazy and sounds ludicrous to me. I would have found a way to continue to service my proven money makes and diverted some assets and time to look into the new investment tool.
I clearly understand what you are saying and I do appreciate it. I know there has to be a line regarding what, who and how much they are able to cover. But personally I think more coverage of ODU Football would be a benefit for both. IMO, some is better than slamming the door and saying it is "all or nothing" go away!
Sometimes it is just a matter of perspective.............
(08-24-2014 06:18 AM)BigTribe Wrote: [ -> ]Virtual lack of Tribe football coverage in The Daily Press...almost every day coverage of UVA, Va Tech and, ye gods, ODU.
W&M Football: Following JMU into irrelevance
Finally some serious hard core Old Dominion football news. Thanks, this is what we are talking about.
(08-24-2014 09:29 AM)ODUalum78 Wrote: [ -> ]Sometimes it is just a matter of perspective.............
(08-24-2014 06:18 AM)BigTribe Wrote: [ -> ]Virtual lack of Tribe football coverage in The Daily Press...almost every day coverage of UVA, Va Tech and, ye gods, ODU.
See, if anything I'd be more frustrated were I a Hampton or W&M fan. Sure, they're not on the same level as ODU any more, and likely they never will be. But the Daily Press is their paper of record. And with the exception of the DP-owned Virginia Gazette (someone on the Penisula: do they still do W&M coverage?), that's about the only news source likely to consistently cover them, outside of the college paper/radio station.
But when you have 15 holes and seven pegs, you do what you can to place the pegs where they get the most bang for the buck.
Always give credit where credit is due... The Daily Press hasfinally over the last week or so gave ODU the coverage it deserves. Well done Daily Press !
I count 8 pieces showing today on their sports page. That's strong! Looks like they are responsive after all.
Anyone that complained ought to show them some real love with plenty of hits on those. If we can keep the numbers up, perhaps we can get more and more coverage.
(08-24-2014 09:27 PM)paintedblue Wrote: [ -> ]Here is the best article I have read to date about Taylor Heinicke. Dave Fairbank did a great job with this one!
http://touch.dailypress.com/#section/-1/...-81163088/
Man, that is one hell of an article!
He even went as far as to interview his professor and give the professor multiple quotes.
Now that is in depth! I retract my negative statement towards the daily press, that is as well written of an article as any I've ever read in the pilot!
Well done.
(08-24-2014 09:01 PM)FearTheLion Wrote: [ -> ]I count 8 pieces showing today on their sports page. That's strong! Looks like they are responsive after all.
Anyone that complained ought to show them some real love with plenty of hits on those. If we can keep the numbers up, perhaps we can get more and more coverage.
Eight pieces in one day. Hmm. Could you call that an "ODU Blitz"?
Amazing ODU football coverage by the Daily Press. Thanks again. Mabey what Josh Billings wrote in 1890 was true, "The Squeaky Wheel is Always Getting the Grease", and popularized by James Taylor in a song.
Great article about Taylor, you come away knowing what a special player we have.
Complaining works sometimes.
The Daily Press preview features the best Bobby Wilder biography EVER!
http://www.dailypress.com/sports/college...full.story
I think this is the motto I'm adopting for the season:
"Well, when you've doused yourself in whale oil and set yourself on fire to get warm, Conference USA doesn't seem so tough."
Fantastic! Let's go bowling!
I am sharing this because I have discussed some of my other correspondence in the past and felt I should send an email to the DP acknowledging the change in coverage. I am certain there have been many others.
August 26, 2014
Mr. Digby Solomon,
President / Publisher
Daily Press
Dear Mr. Digby Solomon:
As a fan of Old Dominion University and a proud supporter of Monarch Nation I would like to extend my appreciation for your recent "increase" in coverage of ODU Football (Dave Fairbanks). There are many fans that live and work here on the peninsula. For many of us, over the years you have provided our community the opportunity to look through a window and get a glimpse of the world because of stories and columns you offer to the readers. Whether it is local, regional or national stories, many have had an impact on our lives. I, like many have been affected over the years and need the Daily Press to serve the community and help us support and connect with others.
Athletics and sports are no different. From our youth, through adulthood and even our aging years, athletics are interwoven into our daily lives and become an important part of our world. We all have been deeply affected by watching, supporting and even cheering our sons and daughters, as well as family and friends. We all tend to bond and become part of a “sports family” that we share a common interest with. When our little ones are baptized into youth sports programs, middle school, high school and at the college level our love affair continues and most of the time grows stronger. The people of Hampton Roads are effected by our passion for sports every day and most become emotionally connected to the games and teams we love and cheer because we are linked together in some way.
Recently the Daily Press came under examination and scrutiny by Monarch Nation because of the lack of coverage of ODU football. ODU has an increasing and growing sphere of football fans and supporters, many of which live on the Peninsula. There is no doubt these ODU fans have an enthusiasm, desire and need for more coverage, It is quickly becoming a growing segment of residence that live and work on this side of the water. We appreciate your increased coverage and like many ODU fans and members of Monarch Nation, we hope that this trend continues. ODU fans are starved for more coverage and especially on the peninsula, where many of us live and call home.
Most Sincerely,
Also CC: to Dave Fairbank
(08-24-2014 11:53 PM)Razor Ramon Monarch Wrote: [ -> ] (08-24-2014 09:27 PM)paintedblue Wrote: [ -> ]Here is the best article I have read to date about Taylor Heinicke. Dave Fairbank did a great job with this one!
http://touch.dailypress.com/#section/-1/...-81163088/
Man, that is one hell of an article!
He even went as far as to interview his professor and give the professor multiple quotes.
Now that is in depth! I retract my negative statement towards the daily press, that is as well written of an article as any I've ever read in the pilot!
Well done.
Agreed Our pride is showing!
Aim High
I have to add my full agreement to all that has been said about the TH article written by Dave Fairbanks. He did his research and added insight to a success story that we fans would not have known without his article. If they give prizes for sports reporting, Mr. Fairbanks has my vote.
(08-25-2014 10:16 AM)ODU Oldtimer Wrote: [ -> ]I am sharing this because I have discussed some of my other correspondence in the past and felt I should send an email to the DP acknowledging the change in coverage. I am certain there have been many others.
August 26, 2014
Mr. Digby Solomon,
President / Publisher
Daily Press
Dear Mr. Digby Solomon:
As a fan of Old Dominion University and a proud supporter of Monarch Nation I would like to extend my appreciation for your recent "increase" in coverage of ODU Football (Dave Fairbanks). There are many fans that live and work here on the peninsula. For many of us, over the years you have provided our community the opportunity to look through a window and get a glimpse of the world because of stories and columns you offer to the readers. Whether it is local, regional or national stories, many have had an impact on our lives. I, like many have been affected over the years and need the Daily Press to serve the community and help us support and connect with others.
Athletics and sports are no different. From our youth, through adulthood and even our aging years, athletics are interwoven into our daily lives and become an important part of our world. We all have been deeply affected by watching, supporting and even cheering our sons and daughters, as well as family and friends. We all tend to bond and become part of a “sports family” that we share a common interest with. When our little ones are baptized into youth sports programs, middle school, high school and at the college level our love affair continues and most of the time grows stronger. The people of Hampton Roads are effected by our passion for sports every day and most become emotionally connected to the games and teams we love and cheer because we are linked together in some way.
Recently the Daily Press came under examination and scrutiny by Monarch Nation because of the lack of coverage of ODU football. ODU has an increasing and growing sphere of football fans and supporters, many of which live on the Peninsula. There is no doubt these ODU fans have an enthusiasm, desire and need for more coverage, It is quickly becoming a growing segment of residence that live and work on this side of the water. We appreciate your increased coverage and like many ODU fans and members of Monarch Nation, we hope that this trend continues. ODU fans are starved for more coverage and especially on the peninsula, where many of us live and call home.
Most Sincerely,
Also CC: to Dave Fairbank
Well done Oldtimer. Some of your best work yet.