Spring Practice Day #3: Thurs. March 8, 2018

[LeMoyneCuse]

Minimal mention of Shy or Fagan.

Obviously, no one on the team is going to say a bad word during interviews. But I wonder what the story with Fagan is.

 

[PhatOrange]

Bailey and Mink are excellent reporters. Team is fortunate to have two full-time beat writers. They’re conscientious and factual. Just because you don’t like or agree with what they report does not make them bad reporters. It’s ridiculous when the forum wades into criticizing legitimate journalists, instead of focusing on the team. Final thought: For all those who think covering a team is easy, try it sometime. It takes enormous skill to do it well, and Bailey and Mink demonstrate that on a daily basis.

if people are free to criticize Gottlieb and Katz and the slew of other journalists we don't like then the two substandard journos are fair game as well.

 

[PhatOrange]

Minimal mention of Shy or Fagan.

There really wasn't much substance in the article to start speculating. Fagan was mentioned a few times as the backup. I think as long as Fagan is at practicing and practicing that's all good.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

if people are free to criticize Gottlieb and Katz and the slew of other journalists we don't like then the two substandard journos are fair game as well.

1) Gottlieb isn't a journalist. He's a talk radio host. Big, big difference.

2) There's a difference between bashing national personalities or out-of-market guys like Hunt and local guys, especially when the local guys are just about all the access we get. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

3) What makes them sub-standard? You're making the claim, so back it up. Please cite specific articles and why you think they're bad. Or show us some other college football beat writer and how they're better.

 

[cuseincincy]

Bailey and Mink are excellent reporters. Team is fortunate to have two full-time beat writers. They’re conscientious and factual. Just because you don’t like or agree with what they report does not make them bad reporters. It’s ridiculous when the forum wades into criticizing legitimate journalists, instead of focusing on the team. Final thought: For all those who think covering a team is easy, try it sometime. It takes enormous skill to do it well, and Bailey and Mink demonstrate that on a daily basis.

Thanks for chiming in Stephen.

 

[Pearl309]

Whigham’s really seeming like a natural.

Whig hams been awesome all week. Hope he sticks around for a long time

 

[Pearl309]

I said it half jokingly... obviously Dungey sailing some balls into the 3rd row is something to report on when you're only there for 10 minutes. Didn't mean to ignite a fire .

Ya when our starter is launching spaceships in the 20 throws they get to see, it’s worth mentioning.
No problem with it.

 

[SU68]

Bailey and Mink are excellent reporters. Team is fortunate to have two full-time beat writers. They’re conscientious and factual. Just because you don’t like or agree with what they report does not make them bad reporters. It’s ridiculous when the forum wades into criticizing legitimate journalists, instead of focusing on the team. Final thought: For all those who think covering a team is easy, try it sometime. It takes enormous skill to do it well, and Bailey and Mink demonstrate that on a daily basis.

Agree. Go to the Rutgirls forum and see how they eviscerate their beat reporters who also do a good job!

 

[Chip]

Whig hams been awesome all week. Hope he sticks around for a long time

Is that a nickname or an autocorrect. Because if a nickname, I dig it.

Might just use it regardless of how you answer.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Mink doesn't even like Bailey.

 

[TheCusian]

Obviously, no one on the team is going to say a bad word during interviews. But I wonder what the story with Fagan is.

Not sure I follow. He was mentioned as competing for the SAM spot

 

[TheCusian]

3) What makes them sub-standard? You're making the claim, so back it up. Please cite specific articles and why you think they're bad. Or show us some other college football beat writer and how they're better.

Ha - you know there are legit criticisms of them. I've brought them up a lot over the years.

- Lack of empathy for the local fan (they speak honestly, but not with an understanding of how it will land) - You can say hard to hear stuff to fans without being defensive
- Complaining about access on twitter is dumb and leads to ... less access
- They ask silly questions they already know the answer to (injuries is a prime example)
- Not their fault, but sometimes the headlines don't match the substance

There is a lot I like about stuff they've written over the years too and I've been trying to do a good job here of praising when warranted. Not perfect - and signs of getting better. But probably should be careful in making it seem like they are without fault or above all criticism.

 

[Pearl309]

Is that a nickname or an autocorrect. Because if a nickname, I dig it.

Might just use it regardless of how you answer.

Both

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Ha - you know there are legit criticisms of them. I've brought them up a lot over the years.

- Lack of empathy for the local fan (they speak honestly, but not with an understanding of how it will land) - You can say hard to hear stuff to fans without being defensive
- Complaining about access on twitter is dumb and leads to ... less access
- They ask silly questions they already know the answer to (injuries is a prime example)
- Not their fault, but sometimes the headlines don't match the substance

I'm not saying they're perfect. But you listed a bunch of minor things.

The fan base want more positive stories. So do I. The fan base wants more insights. So do I. The fan base wants the program to have a more positive perception. So do I.

Unfortunately, there's only so much can be said between doing nuts and bolts reporting (those injury questions you love so much), getting meaning and good quotes out of 30 minutes to interviews a week, giving interesting stories that will drive readership, and trying to give a peek behind curtains that are super-glued shut. All while trying your hardest to be objective and not speculative.

 

[OttoMets]

...

3) What makes them sub-standard? You're making the claim, so back it up. Please cite specific articles and why you think they're bad. Or show us some other college football beat writer and how they're better.

Well I try to avoid local sportswriters whenever possible, but that Dungey tweet was pretty poor - "not at his sharpest today"? If you're a beat writer looking to caption a video, that's unnecessarily editorializing something that reader-viewers ought to come to their own conclusion on.

They're undertrained and totally unedited. We get it. No need to beat that dead horse. So I don't intend to jump into the fray in criticizing the local writers. But since it came up...

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[CuseLegacy]

 

[TheCusian]

I'm not saying they're perfect. But you listed a bunch of minor things.

The fan base want more positive stories. So do I. The fan base wants more insights. So do I. The fan base wants the program to have a more positive perception. So do I.

Unfortunately, there's only so much can be said between doing nuts and bolts reporting (those injury questions you love so much), getting meaning and good quotes out of 30 minutes to interviews a week, giving interesting stories that will drive readership, and trying to give a peek behind curtains that are super-glued shut. All while trying your hardest to be objective and not speculative.

It’s death by a thousand cuts - not one big thing. But make no mistake - it all adds up to “not great”... and maybe that’s fine. Maybe that’s life as a 2nd tier program in a small market.

But it is 100% wanting.

(Plus - many of us remember coverage prior to dumping salary and hiring the kids)

 

[RMH44]

It’s death by a thousand cuts - not one big thing. But make no mistake - it all adds up to “not great”... and maybe that’s fine. Maybe that’s life as a 2nd tier program in a small market.

But it is 100% wanting.

(Plus - many of us remember coverage prior to dumping salary and hiring the kids)

Not "just hiring the kids", but hiring the kids that have difficulty securing a similar position in another market.

 

[hungrychuck]

Well I try to avoid local sportswriters whenever possible, but that Dungey tweet was pretty poor - "not at his sharpest today"? If you're a beat writer looking to caption a video, that's unnecessarily editorializing something that reader-viewers ought to come to their own conclusion on.

They're undertrained and totally unedited. We get it. No need to beat that dead horse. So I don't intend to jump into the fray in criticizing the local writers. But since it came up...

And I'm sure you make this comment based on your own wealth of training and extensive editing experience.

 

[hungrychuck]

It’s death by a thousand cuts - not one big thing. But make no mistake - it all adds up to “not great”... and maybe that’s fine. Maybe that’s life as a 2nd tier program in a small market.

But it is 100% wanting.

(Plus - many of us remember coverage prior to dumping salary and hiring the kids)

For the 100th time, it is not their job to have "empathy for the local fan."

Good lord. That is such a snowflake take.

 

[bnoro]

Not "just hiring the kids", but hiring the kids that have difficulty securing a similar position in another market.

Stephen Bailey would be able to work in any other market. He's a very good beat writer.

The issue here is the people that believe a beat writer's job is to be a "fan of the team" and only provide positive coverage. Bailey has been pretty balanced with his coverage of the program.

 

[hungrychuck]

Stephen Bailey would be able to work in any other market. He's a very good beat writer.

The issue here is the people that believe a beat writer's job is to be a "fan of the team" and only provide positive coverage. Bailey has been pretty balanced with his coverage of the program.

Absolutely right. There are too many who confuse the role of a beat writer with that of the sports information director, marketing staff, athletic department staff, etc.

We have people on payroll to do the things that some of the ill-informed expect the beat writers to be doing.

 

[CuseLegacy]

It’s death by a thousand cuts - not one big thing. But make no mistake - it all adds up to “not great”... and maybe that’s fine. Maybe that’s life as a 2nd tier program in a small market.

But it is 100% wanting.

(Plus - many of us remember coverage prior to dumping salary and hiring the kids)

Y'all should see what the coverage is for other teams in the conference. You would be begging for the coverage that the PS provides.