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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Question for all of you journalism grads
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Alan Swank
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Posted: 12/24/2014 11:19 AM
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Sometime in the not too distant past, it seems that the layout to stories on ohiobobcats.com has dramatically changed. Check out this link:

http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/122314a...

The text seems 1) too small and 2) spread too wide. Additionally I'm not sure about the facts based approach versus a traditional story. Thoughts because I find this very difficult to read.
oldkatz
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Posted: 12/24/2014 11:22 AM
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Being a part time stringer with no repute whatsoever, I can state that I am not a fan of that format.
OUVan
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Posted: 12/24/2014 11:25 AM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
Additionally I'm not sure about the facts based approach versus a traditional story. Thoughts because I find this very difficult to read.
"- Ohio set a Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic record with 99 points -- the most since Indiana State edged Ole Miss, 87-85, in overtime in 2012."

Ummm, since the Sycamores didn't hit 99 this isn't applicable.
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 12/24/2014 11:37 AM
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Here's a question... and this seems to apply to not only the game stories on the official site, but especially all of the articles... why do we never have opposing coach/player commentary? it seems to be completely absent. Don't you have to have both perspectives? do our cover guys not attend the portion where the opposing coach speaks? Sometimes we get opposing coach for a home game, but if you went all the way somewhere to cover the team, why not get through the whole press conference and get sound/print from both sides?

Edit: to clarify, I'm talking mostly about the Mess, Post, ANews... Opponent coach and player quotes should be very prominent in these game stories and seem to be quite rare.
Last Edited: 12/24/2014 11:41:57 AM by Deciduous Forest Cat
Pete Chouteau
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Posted: 12/24/2014 11:38 AM
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This is a guess... but I think the page format is one that works well on mobile devices. If I look at your link on my cell phone, the page reformats to fit being held horizontal or vertical, and doesn't look bad doing it.

The format may be a by-product of the staff on site in Honolulu. It reads like media game notes. Given that the media notes are being prepared for an interested audience of two (Ohio radio and Nebraska radio), I don't see the reason not to use those notes for the website.

In my opinion, ohiobobcats.com is not a place I am going to go to get a news story. Any analysis is going to be from an entirely optimistic point of view. If you need an example, look at any men's golf recap: Golf finishes 13th in So-and-So Classic. You'll need to follow the link to the scores to find out that there were 13 teams in it and the winners were 84 strokes better.
Alan Swank
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Posted: 12/24/2014 12:11 PM
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Pete Chouteau wrote:expand_more
This is a guess... but I think the page format is one that works well on mobile devices. If I look at your link on my cell phone, the page reformats to fit being held horizontal or vertical, and doesn't look bad doing it.

The format may be a by-product of the staff on site in Honolulu. It reads like media game notes. Given that the media notes are being prepared for an interested audience of two (Ohio radio and Nebraska radio), I don't see the reason not to use those notes for the website.

In my opinion, ohiobobcats.com is not a place I am going to go to get a news story. Any analysis is going to be from an entirely optimistic point of view. If you need an example, look at any men's golf recap: Golf finishes 13th in So-and-So Classic. You'll need to follow the link to the scores to find out that there were 13 teams in it and the winners were 84 strokes better.
Completely agree Pete but sometimes I just want a timely and quick recap of the game. For the facts, I can click on the box score. I wasn't so much talking about content as presentation style. It recently changed and I'm just curious as to why.
GoCats105
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Posted: 12/24/2014 12:51 PM
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Press releases on websites aren't really stories Alan, they are always traditionally fact-based and are more news and information than anything, which typically is why they are called "press releases." Leave the stories to people like Arkley.

One of my graduate school classes was taught by a former ESPN anchor and current news broadcaster who taught us how to write them. She was very specific in that we couldn't put any opinion in them because they would drive down the road of column and not press release.

I am also interested why there are no opposing coach or player quotables in these releases, because that's usually something that some press releases should contain.
Last Edited: 12/24/2014 12:52:16 PM by GoCats105
Alan Swank
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Posted: 12/24/2014 2:13 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Press releases on websites aren't really stories Alan, they are always traditionally fact-based and are more news and information than anything, which typically is why they are called "press releases." Leave the stories to people like Arkley.

One of my graduate school classes was taught by a former ESPN anchor and current news broadcaster who taught us how to write them. She was very specific in that we couldn't put any opinion in them because they would drive down the road of column and not press release.

I am also interested why there are no opposing coach or player quotables in these releases, because that's usually something that some press releases should contain.
Understood but up until this year, there used to be stories after the games - now there are just a list of facts. Again, why the change?
Pataskala
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Posted: 12/24/2014 10:29 PM
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I think what's going on is that they're writing for twitter and facebook, not for real journalism. Ohio has a new communications director and things are geared more toward social media.
Recovering Journalist
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Posted: 12/24/2014 10:59 PM
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I agree with most of what's been said. I'd also add that it's easier and faster to string together notes like this than it is to build a cohesive game story. Given the fact that some news outlet (usually multiple outlets) will have the kind of recap you're seeking available for free online, I don't personally see it as a big loss. As others have said, the stories tended to be less than objective.

I've been out of the game for a long time, but I'll take a crack at the question about perspective from the opposition. I am going to guess that it's a matter of time, access and space. If you have a deadline pressing, you'll probably just grab the 3-4 quotes you need to fill out your story and run with them. If the editor has to cut something, it's probably going to be a quote from the opposing coach/player before one from the team you're audience is following.
ytownbobcat
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Posted: 12/24/2014 11:31 PM
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I trace it to the change in personal after Tom Symonds left back in September. I believe his position is still unfilled and is being covered by an assistant.

My assumption is that it is presented in the new format because of time constants or a staff preference. I agree that it is difficult to decipher.
RSBobcat
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Posted: 12/25/2014 3:05 AM
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Every thing I NEED to know is there. I'll take cherries on top - when we got 'em.............
UpSan Bobcat
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Posted: 12/25/2014 7:57 PM
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ytownbobcat wrote:expand_more
I trace it to the change in personal after Tom Symonds left back in September. I believe his position is still unfilled and is being covered by an assistant.

My assumption is that it is presented in the new format because of time constants or a staff preference. I agree that it is difficult to decipher.
Actually, it seems the format kind of changed at the start of the fall seasons. The first few football recaps were about seven sentences, with a stat of the day, quote of the day and up next. I think that's probably just the way PR is going. There are links to photos, box scores, play-by-plays and other notes for people who are looking for more. I think they are trying to do more with less help, too.
UpSan Bobcat
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Posted: 12/25/2014 8:07 PM
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Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
Here's a question... and this seems to apply to not only the game stories on the official site, but especially all of the articles... why do we never have opposing coach/player commentary? it seems to be completely absent. Don't you have to have both perspectives? do our cover guys not attend the portion where the opposing coach speaks? Sometimes we get opposing coach for a home game, but if you went all the way somewhere to cover the team, why not get through the whole press conference and get sound/print from both sides?

Edit: to clarify, I'm talking mostly about the Mess, Post, ANews... Opponent coach and player quotes should be very prominent in these game stories and seem to be quite rare.
The opposing coach rarely speaks at Ohio press conferences. I think it's usually dependent on how much "visiting team" media is there. If it's no more than a couple people, the opposing coach doesn't do a press conference. A few times when I've gone to away games, it's been the same way. The few of us who were there just did a quick standing interview with the coaches and players. I'm not sure why it's done that way.

At other places I've been to, especially for football, press conferences for home and away are held at the same time in different rooms, so media has to pick. It seems big schools especially do this. I've never been a fan of this approach, although it most cases those schools put the entire home team press conference up on the website. So I just go to the visitor's press conference and then use that. The only drawback is I can't ask a particular question if I have one.
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