Beacon Story

[Blue & Gold]

I, as well as most others in the Nation, like to vent about the pathetic Zips coverage given us by our very own Akron Beacon Journal. Quite frankly, I find the almost complete lack of quality coverage highly insulting. But the question is often posed as to what we, as Zips fans can do to encourage increased Zips coverage by our local paper. Well, here's a little something we can do (the least we can do?) Today Patrick McManamon wrote one of his first pieces as the BJ's new lead sports columnist and his topic was... the UA Zips!!! I scrolled down the page (I had read the article in the paper already this morning) and left a comment to his story. I figure we complain about the lack of coverage enough that I'd show Patrick that people do in fact care enough about Zips coverage to leave a comment on his piece. Unfortunately, as of 2:15 this afternoon, I was the only person to have left a reply. Think about that, the only person in the entire greater Akron area to leave a freaking comment about a Zips front page story!!! What are the BJ editors and writers to think? I write a piece on the Zips and get ONE reply; I write a piece on the Browns and get 60 replies; I write a piece on the Buckeyes and get 80 replies. Perhaps it doesn't take a rocket scientist afterall to figure out this mystifying lack of coverage?So let's make a rule: no one is allowed to EVER AGAIN gripe about the BJ's lack of coverage UNLESS you go to Ohio.com and leave replies and comments regarding the various Zips stories that they do publish. So take 3 minutes, and go over to Ohio.com and read McManamon's insightful article AND LEAVE A RESPONSE!!! Don't just bitch about a lack of coverage, but do a little something about it! Get over there and show our new lead sports columnist that there is a substantial audience to be had in the greater Akron area that is indeed interested in any Zips knowledge they can drop!

[Dr Z]

Good idea.Here is the link to the story

[g-mann17]

So let's make a rule: no one is allowed to EVER AGAIN gripe about the BJ's lack of coverage UNLESS you go to Ohio.com and leave replies and comments regarding the various Zips stories that they do publish.

I will gripe as much as like about the lack of coverage because I have called, written, e-mailed and every other form of communication you can have with the paper about the lack of coverage. From the time I was a freshmen in college until this very day. I have met Pluto and Morgan personally on numerous occasions, and complained to their very faces.But I must be the only one who complains to anyone. Trust me the lack of coverage is not because someone hasn't posted a comment following an article on Ohio.com (a practice that has really only been around for about 2 years.)

[ZachTheZip]

Pluto and Moragn and whomever else they apparently force into writing Zips articles against their will don't decide the amount of coverage that the Zips get. They only decide the quality and work put into it (which is, itself, lacking). The page designer and the sports editor choose what gets published where, or if it even gets published at all. They are the two people that need to be complained to, but I have had trouble finding out how to contact them or even what their names are. Complain to them, but also give positive feedback on the stories that do get printed. That's the way to do it.

[Captain Kangaroo]

So let's make a rule: no one is allowed to EVER AGAIN gripe about the BJ's lack of coverage UNLESS you go to Ohio.com and leave replies and comments regarding the various Zips stories that they do publish.

I complained to the Sports Editor - Larry Pantages - a few years ago. Although I did so constructively, his response was not so professional. I canceled my subscription.It is not worth my time to write any more emails to the ABJ. They apparently know what sells papers. Who am I to tell them differently? That said, it doesn't mean I don't realize the negative impact of their stance regarding Zips athletics. And it doesn't mean I can't call them out on occasion.

[Blue & Gold]

G-mann, I feel your pain. We've all payed our dues and have the right to complain. Let's just start checking Ohio.com for Zips articles that we can respond to and then let's respond to them! UAkronkid said it well when he said we should also be positive toward the Beacon. I've written and emailed too! In fact, I think a number of years ago one of my letters was published in the sports section - didn't the sports section used to have an editorial area once or twice a week?I was just over there and there are 8 responses now! That's respectible! (Of course, 2 are from me!)On a side note: the difference between DLM and Rasor is that covering the Zips is a job for Morgan; it's a passion for Rasor. If you can get a job doing what you're passionate about, you never have to "work" a day in your life! Thus, Rasor's pieces on the Zips come naturally; Morgan has to sweat over them. Sadly, this is far from ideal when your beat writer doesn't have a passion for the team he's assigned to. Morgan said it himself over the past 2 days, he's a Browns fan and a YSU fan. Rasor is a Zips fan. Could we do a little switcheroo? Man, how I wish the Akron Beacon Journal were passionate for Akron! How sad is it that we have to wish for something like that?!

[g-mann17]

For the heck of it:Sports Editor Rich Desrosiersrdesrosiers@thebeaconjournal.com330-996-3521Community Relations/Marketing Director Rita Kelly Madick330-996-3160rmadick@thebeaconjournal.comVice President and Editor, Bruce Winges330-996-3858bwinges@thebeaconjournal.com

[Zipgrad01]

You answered your question right there why they don't print more articles. People aren't clamoring for it and they don't show the interest. 60 responses for the Browns and 80 for the Buckeyes, yet 1 for Akron. These threads pop up time and time again and it is always the same thing over and over again.I hate sounding negative all the time, but what don't you guys get about it? You can't have zero demand for a product and expect the abj to spend the resources on covering it. It is just simple business 101.

[Dr Z]

You answered your question right there why they don't print more articles. People aren't clamoring for it and they don't show the interest. 60 responses for the Browns and 80 for the Buckeyes, yet 1 for Akron. These threads pop up time and time again and it is always the same thing over and over again.I hate sounding negative all the time, but what don't you guys get about it? You can't have zero demand for a product and expect the abj to spend the resources on covering it. It is just simple business 101.

Oh now I get it, thanks

[g-mann17]

To put things in perspective:Of the OSU articlesBuckeyes on bottom in 3-team race (no comments)YSU fan Tressel to take a day off (2 comments)Big Ten fans might miss TV network (61 comments) (by the way, mostly gripes about evil TWC)Lawrence Wilson ready for breakout season at OSU (no comments)What to expect from OSU (1 comment)Football follows pro baseball debut (1 comment)OSU to hold open football practice ... (no comments)So as you can see, OSU isn't very big on Ohio.com either. The Big Ten network article drew the most and that was just a b*tch session about greedy Time Warner. Other then that there are 4 comments on the Buckeyes on the website articles. So yeah everyone is OSU hungry.

[Buckzip]

Marketing 101. Basic supply and demand.If you have 100 people wanting Browns, Indians, Cavs, and OSU information, and you have 5 people wanting UA information, guess where most of your efforts will go?With the lack of support that this program has, I am surprised that the BJ gives us as much attention as they do.As Mr. Spock says, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.Whether you want to believe it or not, UA is not really cared about in the community.It is up to the team to change that.Like I said before, look at this board. It is game week and very few is here.Go to one of those other teams internet sites. They get more action in 1 single day than this board gets in a month.Please don't tell me that people don't know this board exists. We all found it, didn't we?If people are interested, they will find it.Blaming the BJ is simply blaming a sympton. The problem is that this team has never done anything to get the community excited. I hate the BJ as much as anyone else. However, when UA won the MACC and was in the Bowl game, the BJ did cover it fairly well.Look at the Indians. The old stadium got 10,000 people to games. Then came the new stadium and winning and there were sellouts. Well, the stadium is no longer new, but the team is looking pretty good right now. No, they aren't selling out, but they are still getting good crowds.Those of us on here are not the problem. There is no reason for us to disagree. We are all on the same team.The people I hold responsible for this are the students. We have over 20,000 students, yet ost of them have never even attended a game. They should be ashamed of themselves. Goint to a college football game is part of the ultimate college experience.I am sure the new stadium will help. However, that's just another excuse. If students wanted to attend the games, they would find a way.

[Captain Kangaroo]

To put things in perspective:Of the OSU articlesBuckeyes on bottom in 3-team race (no comments)YSU fan Tressel to take a day off (2 comments)Big Ten fans might miss TV network (61 comments) (by the way, mostly gripes about evil TWC)Lawrence Wilson ready for breakout season at OSU (no comments)What to expect from OSU (1 comment)Football follows pro baseball debut (1 comment)OSU to hold open football practice ... (no comments)So as you can see, OSU isn't very big on Ohio.com either. The Big Ten network article drew the most and that was just a b*tch session about greedy Time Warner. Other then that there are 4 comments on the Buckeyes on the website articles. So yeah everyone is OSU hungry.

STOP POSTING DAMN FACTS!!! THEY RUIN PEOPLE'S PREJUDICIAL RANTS EVERY TIME!!

[g-mann17]

STOP POSTING DAMN FACTS!!! THEY RUIN PEOPLE'S PREJUDICIAL RANTS EVERY TIME!!

Aww. My bad So all you bias people out there, pretend i never did that

[Captain Kangaroo]

The people I hold responsible for this are the students. We have over 20,000 students, yet most of them have never even attended a game. They should be ashamed of themselves. Going to a college football game is part of the ultimate college experience.

A big portion of the blame falls on the University for that. Until the AK-Rowdies, the U did little more than hope students showed up. They were lazy in fostering student involvement in athletics. That cost us a couple decades worth of alumni.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Go to one of those other teams internet sites. They get more action in 1 single day than this board gets in a month.Please don't tell me that people don't know this board exists. We all found it, didn't we?

A few years ago, after I would return from a week's vacation, there might be 7-8 new posts on our board. We get that, and more, every hour now-a-days. Our board activity is excellent for a non-BCS school. And it continues to improve with every passing month.We will upgrade things soon, and that will also help grow the ZipsNation. As the fan base continues to grow, so will we.

[Buckzip]

Go to one of those other teams internet sites. They get more action in 1 single day than this board gets in a month.Please don't tell me that people don't know this board exists. We all found it, didn't we?

A few years ago, after I would return from a week's vacation, there might be 7-8 new posts on our board. We get that, and more, every hour now-a-days. Our board activity is excellent for a non-BCS school. And it continues to improve with every passing month.We will upgrade things soon, and that will also help grow the ZipsNation. As the fan base continues to grow, so will we.

Don't take that as an insult to the board. That was not meant.This board is great and I appreciate you doing this. I jus tfeel it is depressing that we have so few fans...

[skip-zip]

I have a few comments about newspaper coverage....Most newspapers, and I am sure the ABJ is no different, have writers that go out and try to get stories. These writers are assigned to areas that they deem to have the most interest to readers. They then submit their material to the editor, who decides what goes in the paper.So, obviously, since more writing staff is assigned to OSU, the likelihood that an OSU story gets in the paper before an Akron story is much higher. I'm not sure if expressing our comments to the editor does any good. Heck, it's worth a try. But I think that real change will only occur when the ABJ can SEE WITH THEIR OWN EYES that the Zips following is on the increase.Once again, it all depends upon us to fill the Bowl and fill the JAR. Someone compared this to supply and demand economics. It's true. The more demand they think there is for a product, the more supply that will be provided.

[ZachTheZip]

Someone compared this to supply and demand economics. It's true. The more demand they think there is for a product, the more supply that will be provided.

There are several ways to show them. One is to comment on all Zips-related articles on Ohio.com and another is to go to the games, obviously. Another way is to have more Zips-related gatherings like pep-rallies, but that's up to the University (if anyone with connections feels like suggesting this to the right people to make it happen, please do). Do something to grab the attention of the students, especially, like give out "$5 off books next semester" coupons to every student that passes through the gates. These things will get people interested. More people going to the games should mean more coverage, if the supply/demand theory is to be believed.We have to attack this problem head on, and encourage the University to do so as well.

[Buckzip]

Guys, I am a big of a sports fan as there is, and I never go to Ohio.com.I am sure quite a few can say the same thing.

[zen]

Marketing 101. Basic supply and demand.If you have 100 people wanting Browns, Indians, Cavs, and OSU information, and you have 5 people wanting UA information, guess where most of your efforts will go?

COMMON SENSE 101Iraq War, Gay Politicians soliciting sex in airport stalls, and the anniversary of Princess Diana's death are all more interesting than an event at Stan Hywet, Blossom, Akron City Hall, or the Air Show, but they are LOCAL AND REGIONAL stories and you cover them anyway.... which the paper does, on occasion. You can turn on CNN or buy USA today for national/world news. You pick up the local paper for LOCAL MOTHERFREAKING INFORMATION as well as the regional/national/world stuff!!!So, cover the Browns, and even the Bucks, but don't pretend there isn't a University in town.

[uafan]

Build it (a consistently good team) and they will come!

[Z-P]

What CK just said.You newbies have no idea how stong this board has become. You (we) are the envie of the Penguin fans, the dirty bird fan, and others I am sure.............only OU has anything nearly as active (as far as I have learned in 8 years).CK............what are you guys going to do with the bd?