Suggestions on getting MLS noticed by the Philly Inquirer

[SoccerPrime]

First off is the Inquirer the biggest paper in Philly? If not who is?

Anyway, I've emailed the news of MLS coming to Philly next year to several Philly Inquirer reporters, most of whom have written some soccer articles recently.

However when I check the paper today I can find no reference to this news.
Why don't they get something out there!?

BTW here is the website for Inquirier's sports page:
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/

I welcome any and all suggestions. If anyone has a friend or long lost bro-in-law that works at the Inquirer, now would be a good time to call in a favor.
We need to get this information out there and have the general masses aware of it.

Thank you!

[CyphaPSU]

Can we simply bombard them with e-mails asking for news coverage on the local MLS soccer news?

If several of us do so, it might open them to the idea.

What about the Daily News?

[Sundevil9]

Yes, the Inquirer is the largest paper. The Daily News is #2, but it's owned by the same company. Though the new owners are looking to sell them off. (They're part of Knight-Ridder).

Did you shoot off an email to John Smallwood? He just wrote probably the best Inquirer originated soccer piece in years. If Nowak's concerned about player performance in the thin air, http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/columnists/14487173.htm

Other than that, there's a couple of factors that make this an uphill battle.

1. The Inquirer, like most Philly sports media, has always been slow to pick up soccer news.

2. The team will wind up in South Jersey. As much as we've talked about there being a mental wall for fans to cross the river, the wall is 10 times higher for the media.

But if we get one or two writers/sportscasters on board that would be incredible progress.

As, I'm not in Philly anymore, what's the TV Sports landscape like now. Could we get any of the backup sports anchors or lesser stations involved?

[Looper121]

Not to nitpick but Knight Ridder sold them a while ago to the McClatchey Group, who in turn is trying to sell the Inqy and Daily News...

But I disagree a bit, there are a couple writers on the staff who would pick up on the MLS beat if there were one. I know that NOBODY from WIP ever, ever, ever will say anything positive about. Thank Glen Macnow!!! Douchebag repeatedly rips on soccer for no reason. Other than that I usually like what he has to say...anyway speaking of beating dead horses...

[CyphaPSU]

Other than that I usually like what he has to say...anyway speaking of beating dead horses...
http://www.bjacked.net/LuvToHunt/forums/phpBB2/modules/gallery/albums/album01/Beat_Dead_Horse.jpg

:D

[SoccerPrime]

Email sent to John Smallwood. If anyone knows any other reporters at the Inq that might be soccer friendly, please let me know.

Thank you

[CyphaPSU]

Email sent to John Smallwood. If anyone knows any other reporters at the Inq that might be soccer friendly, please let me know.

Thank you
I will send one to Smallwood, as well. I will also thank him for his article this week on the USMNT.

[Goofy]

How about a nice soccer brawl?:)

[Sundevil9]

Not to nitpick but Knight Ridder sold them a while ago to the McClatchey Group, who in turn is trying to sell the Inqy and Daily News...



The sale hasn't gone through yet, but they're going to get dumped by the new owners. Maybe that'll open the door for new blood in the editorial ranks?

[dcajedi]

mike jensen is the man for this stuff (so is bob ford) but both are at the kentucky derby at the moment (won by another philly horse, woo)... so maybe wait a couple days to bombard them?

[SoccerPrime]

mike jensen is the man for this stuff (so is bob ford) but both are at the kentucky derby at the moment (won by another philly horse, woo)... so maybe wait a couple days to bombard them?
Good advice. Does anyone know Bob Ford's email address? I have Jensen's.

Keep the ideas coming. SOMEONE has to take notice!

PS The Chamber of Commerce emailed me again, I really think we are close here!

[okiebear]

Email sent to John Smallwood. If anyone knows any other reporters at the Inq that might be soccer friendly, please let me know.

Thank you

Don't send emails to the Philly papers. Send unmarked bills in plain envelopes. And, also, locate the team in South Philly. And also, if possible, make the reporters' work as easy as possible. Some will even let you write their stories for them. But first....the cash.

[okiebear]

The sale hasn't gone through yet, but they're going to get dumped by the new owners. Maybe that'll open the door for new blood in the editorial ranks?

Probably not new blood. Probably no blood. The best thing for a buyer of the Inky and Daily News would be to shut down the papers and keep the only valuable part of the aquisition, the printing plant in Lower Merion, for job printing of local and national papers.

[mdelrossi1]

anyone notice Convey and Albright on the back page of the daily news?

[MasterShake29]

The best way to get MLS noticed is to have the team actually start playing.

Or at least have a definite announcement that the team will be named X and will start for the 200Y season.

[dcajedi]

anyone notice Convey and Albright on the back page of the daily news?

certainlty caught my attention while bleary-eyed.

[Adam Zebrowski]

it should be noted smallwood works at the daily news...

stan hochman is a longtime soccer fan too, all the way back to his Lighthouse days...

odd part about the inquirer is they used to do far more soccer stuff than they currently do, having a weekly soccer column, much like the other sunday departments....

mike jensen used to even go to qualifying matches...

suspect some editorial change has occurred...

want some fun..e-mail stephen A about soccer....

[dcajedi]

suspect some editorial change has occurred...

why bother suspecting? it's well known.

[Rickster]

why bother suspecting? it's well known.

I'm curious, was it truly editorial (as in, nobody cares about soccer and we won't cover it, nomatter what) or was it financial (as in, we'd love to send Mike to Germany, but we have no money for it)?

[n4100]

Anyone see the article and backpage breakdown of the 32 teams in today's Inqy? Of course they've got their facts wrong (Rooney is one to watch for England {how could he be, he probably won't play?}, Costa Rica qualified out of South America). Nice to see it, shame it sucked.