I've provided various email addresses and feedback forms for the newspapers in Chicago. I'd like to suggest that people use these to contact the papers and let them know that you want more coverage of the Fire and national team. There is no reason for them to provide much coverage of something they don't think has an audience. So let's show them there is an audience. Tribune Sports Editors: BAdee@tribune.com - Bill Adee GKnue@tribune.com - George Knue (ChicagoSports.com) TABannon@tribune.com - Terry Bannon (Associate) KPaxson@tribune.com - Ken Paxson (Associate) LCGordon@tribune.com - Lee Gordon (Assistant) Jack McCarthy is the individual that does the most articles on the Fire for the Tribune. His are all specials to the Trib, and I could not find an email for him. Sun-Times mcooke@suntimes.com - Michael Cooke, Editor in Chief Feedback Form sports@suntimes.com - Sports Department lziehm@suntimes.com - Len Ziehm, Sports Reporter for the Fire Daily Herald Feedback Form Kent McDill is the regular Fire man for the Daily Herald. No email for Kent as well. -jim
Sent a few requests in. Think that something like this could be thrown into a MLS forum to generate a larger response, or do you think the huge influx of letters might lead them to the inevitable conclusion? [Not that soccer is incredibly popular, but that a "ballot stuffing" campaign has been perpetrated]
i dunno at the moment, i had just figured to do something with the fire faithful i was even thinking of doing this in other forums, for their local fans... as most every paper could probably improve their coverage (there are places that do better coverage than what is deserved though... doesn't mean you can't bitch for more ) i know colorado doesn't get great rep, either...
Why not try to get a hold of Jay Mariotti, he writes for the Tribune (or was it the Sun Times) and he is on the horrible show "Around the Horn" on ESPN everyday, since he gets airtime if he "wins" the show, see if you can get him to say something.
because i wouldn't watch around the horn even if it was devoted to soccer it's an incredibly horrible show
Number of columns Mariotti's devoted to the Fire: 1 Number of positive columns by Mariotti about Fire: 1 Positive Percentage: 100% Average Percentage among other teams in city: 1.4% Let's not ruin things.
thanks liam... although i'm a bit bothered that no one caught the error there's no reason for coverage to increase if they don't know that there are readers who want more
has anyone received any word back from anyone? i haven't if no one bothers to let them know you want more coverage, you will get your wish of no more coverage
eMail Campaigns I don't think sending a few eMails re: increasing coverage is going to do anything. It never has. If we go to the games and WATCH them on TV so the ratings increase. THEN, you'll see more coverage. When the MLS ratings are always so low, the major media markets are justified in not expanding coverage. They're in it to make money. And they'll go where the audience is. It seems we support the MLS by attendance pretty well, but not enough people are watching the MLS on TV.
Re: eMail Campaigns But it couldn't hurt, and it's not like we've been sending them in everyday for the past years. Send some off. If a reporter gets word that people are upset with the amount of coverage of the Fire, they could increase to to sell more papers. But a local newspaper (Trib, Sun-Times) will not pay attention to MLS as whole ratings wise. If a lot of people watch the opener with Galaxy @ Crew, it doesn't guarantee that the Fire will get more coverage. They need to know that readers are interested in the Fire. Then you'll get more coverage.
On ratings. I have never truly understood how ratings work. Don't they just count people with special boxes in their house or something? I've never liked that system. It's all about odds. What if, by chance, there just aren't a lot of soccer loving Nielson families. Doesn't mean that no ones watching. I could be wrong. But isn't that how they get ratings numbers?
Re: eMail Campaigns hardly the case writing letters, emails, and calling represents numbers to papers and politicians writing a letter represents more people than anything because it takes the most effort to do... you have to physically write it and then physically mail it, including purchasing a stamp but emails and calls count too they get enough notices, they realize that each of those represents a certain number of people... if people are wanting something they aren't providing, they will think about working for those people it's in their best interests to keep their customers happy
http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/oped0314oliu.html from paul oliu "2. That we continue to work to make headway in the mainstream sports press by soliciting and encouraging increased coverage. And for those of us who are capable of being nice, take it a step further and counter the dwindling number of soccer-challenged writers. If, on the other hand you are incapable of controlling your wrath, leave it to those who can be nice. If it worked for Dalton, it can work for us. Now see if you get that reference…."