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Post by uwmfan on Oct 24, 2005 8:41:48 GMT -6
Naive question here, but can anyone explain to me why there hasn't been any better coverage to the Panther season, given the success of last year? Not to point fingers across town, but that "other" school changed conferences, warranting 3-4 days of coverage.
Hello?? We went to the Sweet 16, won our McCafferty Trophy for the third of the last five years and none of us are screaming at the J/S to have at LEAST a bit of coverage?
Clue me in if I've missed some stories, or if you know of something still to come. Simply pathetic otherwise....not just the J/S, but all of us for not making some noise about it too.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2005 8:51:19 GMT -6
uwmfan, I already emailed let Bobbi Raquemore of the JS to let her know of my displeasure. Maybe we need more of that. I agree that our coverage in the JS is BS.
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Post by Hack on Oct 24, 2005 9:14:02 GMT -6
Get ready for another disappointing season of coverage I'm afraid. I try to understand the JS point of view (even to the point of playing devil's advocate here), but she isn't the type of reporter to go above-and-beyond than the bare minimum.
Time for UWM fans to light a fire under her ass. Nothing but a stupid fluff piece from the Fantastic Friday so far.
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Post by uwmfan on Oct 24, 2005 10:12:35 GMT -6
Hack,
I agree a fire needs to be lit....however, I think it needs once again to be lit at a higher level. Again, there needs to be a paradigm shift such that our fans make noise on a regular basis to warrant continued coverage.
Garry Howard and above need to know about our displeasure. Advertisers for the J/S also need to know that we are displeased.
Email Garry Howard at ghoward@journalsentinel.com Martin Kaiser is Editor and Senior VP... mkaiser@journalsentinel.com
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2005 10:14:23 GMT -6
Hack, I agree 100%.
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Post by Pantherholic on Oct 24, 2005 10:56:14 GMT -6
don't you ppl realize the importance of almost daily updates on how Marquette is gearing up to be the new bottom-dwellers of the Big East?! on a serious note i saw on GB's board that apparently Matthews and McNeal got hurt during a scrimmage recently. McNeal a bad sprain and nothing specific on Matthews besides he was "limping".
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Post by BBFran on Oct 24, 2005 11:16:46 GMT -6
I expect there to be some significant coverage as the season draws near and will be disappointed if there isn't. That having been said, it's always appropriate to "light a fire" as some have said, but it needs to be done in the context of understanding the marketplace and the newspaper business. You need to understand that sports is not news, it's entertainment programming. The media's only interest in it is as an information commodity that sells. Marquette has been getting a lot of press recently with the conference move (and also with their bizarre self-flagellation over the mascot issue) for the simple reason that it's still much more of a name brand than UWM. People recognize it and will read about it. It's essentially the same reason Marquette games themselves still have more interest in the general (i.e. non-affiliated) fan community locally. People just don't know the Panther program as well. Of course, that's starting to change, but it's not just because of the fabulous quality of the team the last few years.
Indeed, the mere fact that UWM has had the better team (than MU) for the last two years (and almost certainly will again this year) won't really drive the coverage, and can't be expected to. It's not a "fairness" issue. Nevertheless, I have been a UWM (and early on a Marquette) fan for well over 30 years, and I can see that a change is happening, slowly but surely. Why? As much as the program changing, it's just as important that the general familiarity with and perception of the University is changing. I'm in the Downtown business community, and what I've noticed in the last 25 years is that the number of UWM grads who hold very important business and political and legal positions in this town is exploding. Not only that, but people aren't shy about associating themselves with UWM. Back when we were going to UWM, it truly was a "commuter" school. Turns out it was a damn good one, judging from the grads and what we've accomplished. And at the same time, UWM is becoming more of a "destination" school, especially for kids from other parts of Wisconsin who simply prefer Milwaukee to Madison.
All a long-winded way of saying that the pressure for more press ultimately will come from the developing power of a strong, influential, active, broad, proud alumni base in Milwaukee and throughout the state. It will happen. In the very long run (say twenty years) there's little reason coverage of Marquette and UWM won't be essentially equal.
In the meantime, any press is good press, and with the team on a roll the iron is hot. So go ahead and send those e-mails -- but my suggestion is that when you do, point out the number of people who attend UWM as compared to that little school on Wells Street. UWM is Milwaukee's great university, folks.
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Post by uwmfan on Oct 24, 2005 12:59:01 GMT -6
All well said, Fran...I appreciate your comments.
As you stated at the end, write those letters, express thanks for coverage to date, share info such as the numbers of grads in high level positions, and tell a friend/alum to do the same! We can certainly "nudge" the press in that direction Fran suggests. I agree it will take time.....time for growth, but also time and commitment from our fans.
Keep it up!!
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Post by PantherLou on Oct 25, 2005 9:07:45 GMT -6
Excellent point Fran. I agree that the process of changing years of stigma about UWM will likely take years to complete. In order to speed things up, I do suggest that we all take an active role in getting the word out there. In addition to emailing the JS, may I suggest the following:
1. Call the local sports talk radio shows and talk about the Panthers.
2. Buy season tickets, and invite people to games
3. Talk about the Panthers to your friends, family, co-workers, etc. Word of mouth can do wonders.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2005 9:26:13 GMT -6
PantherLou, Your second point is interesting, because a firend and I have two sets of tickets and we planned on using the other set to invite others to the games with us. Good point.
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Post by BBFran on Oct 25, 2005 12:56:54 GMT -6
I myself bought season tickets this year for the first time. I'm sure my wife and son will go to many of the games with me, but whenever possible I'll be taking people who wouldn't otherwise see the Panthers. As was said -- this is a great way to get the message out.
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