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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: A new Alexanderism?
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Pataskala
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Posted: 10/20/2014 4:36 PM
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From his article recapping Saturday's MAC games:

"And, one major upset, Western Michigan over Bowling Green, announces the arrival of a potential new maturing MAC power in the Broncos, while putting a dent in the defending MAC Champions honor."

Not only should "Champions" be possessive, but the word should be "armor," not "honor." Writer and editor should both be flogged.

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2014/10...
SBH
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Posted: 10/20/2014 5:16 PM
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In the new age of Internet-based journalism, copy very rarely gets a skilled edit before being posted. At cleveland.com, for example, there is no "copy desk." Only copy that eventually makes its way into the Plain Dealer (now a separate company) is checked by multiple sets of eyes before being approved. Cleveland.com ran this headline this morning: "Hoyer deserve's much of blame for defeat." It's sad. Same situation at ABJ, where Zips writer George Thomas is good for at least two typos or grammatical errors within every online lede.
UpSan Bobcat
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Posted: 10/20/2014 6:01 PM
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I will say its amazing the mistakes you make on things you never thought you'd get wrong when you're in a hurry, as sports journalists almost always are. Also, it's obvious most news organizations aren't doing well financially and the easiest thing to cut is the copy staff.

I'd also say any errors on the front page stories, I'd appreciate anyone with access correcting if they come across them, or if you don't have access and it's a particularly bad error, please send me a message.
OUcats82
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Posted: 10/20/2014 7:26 PM
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All I know is he seems to love going out of his way to say "Ohio University" every chance he gets. Rarely will he simply say Ohio, even when the other team in a sentence is referred to as "Akron" or "Miami."

It's usually like "Kent State ran the ball with little success against Ohio University." His frequency suggests to me that he does it on purpose because he wants everyone to know it was not Ohio State or something.

I'm probably in the minority on people who are irked by it on here, but it always distracts me while reading any of his drviel.
Last Edited: 10/20/2014 7:26:50 PM by OUcats82
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Posted: 10/20/2014 7:28 PM
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OUcats82 wrote:expand_more
All I know is he seems to love going out of his way to say "Ohio University" every chance he gets. Rarely will he simply say Ohio, even when the other team in a sentence is referred to as "Akron" or "Miami."

It's usually like "Kent State ran the ball with little success against Ohio University." His frequency suggests to me that he does it on purpose because he wants everyone to know it was not Ohio State or something.

I'm probably in the minority on people who are irked by it on here, but it always distracts me while reading any of his drviel.
You're not the only one. he's very annoying in that way.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/20/2014 7:38 PM
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Yes, it bugs me . . . as does Steve Mix for the same reason. And, there are others, too, who do this . . . it does seem particularly prevalent in the greater Cleveland metroplex for some reason, which is kind of strange given the high number of OHIO graduates in that area. The situation is, even more surprisingly, much better in Cowtown in general these days. Perhaps sportscasters and reporters in the Capital City are sensitive to this issue because of the publicity during the late AttackCat suit.
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Posted: 10/20/2014 8:12 PM
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For some reason there seem to be more Bobcats in Cowtown's media than in Cleveland's.
Pataskala
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Posted: 10/22/2014 12:41 PM
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His credibility is pretty well shot. Today he mistakenly said that UMass plays T'erd this weekend (they're not scheduled to play at all this season) and seemed to identify Blake Frohnapfel as T'erd's QB:

Still, the games count, and UMass has won two straight to remain on the fringe of the East race. Next up is Marshall and transfer quarterback Blake Frohnapfel (2,483 yards, 18 TD passing), a tough chore for anybody, then comes a cross-division game at Toledo, the only undefeated team in MAC play this week.

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2014/10...
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 10/22/2014 1:26 PM
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Accompanying Alexander's story on the MAC East is a photo of Solich wearing an OHIO cap and an OHIO jacket. Yet Alexander's story once again references OHIO as Ohio University.

A few years ago I emailed him, observing that in the context of MAC articles it was unlikely that any reader would confuse Ohio with Ohio State. I added that AP, ESPN, The Dispatch and other news orgs were calling Ohio Ohio.

Alexander did reply. He said he called Ohio Ohio University because that's what the school calls it self on an everyday basis.

I replied, saying that many if not most universities call themselves by, for example, University of Akron, Bowling Green State University on an everyday basis or outside the context of sports. Heck, I observed, a certain school in Columbus was calling itself The Ohio State University.

Alexander didn't reply.

I continue to think it's possible he remains employed by The PD only because he enjoys protection from the guild.
OUcats82
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Posted: 10/22/2014 4:33 PM
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Mike Johnson wrote:expand_more
Accompanying Alexander's story on the MAC East is a photo of Solich wearing an OHIO cap and an OHIO jacket. Yet Alexander's story once again references OHIO as Ohio University.

A few years ago I emailed him, observing that in the context of MAC articles it was unlikely that any reader would confuse Ohio with Ohio State. I added that AP, ESPN, The Dispatch and other news orgs were calling Ohio Ohio.

Alexander did reply. He said he called Ohio Ohio University because that's what the school calls it self on an everyday basis.

I replied, saying that many if not most universities call themselves by, for example, University of Akron, Bowling Green State University on an everyday basis or outside the context of sports. Heck, I observed, a certain school in Columbus was calling itself The Ohio State University.

Alexander didn't reply.

I continue to think it's possible he remains employed by The PD only because he enjoys protection from the guild.
He really has a loyal following......

Elton Alexander, The Plain Dealer's stats
Posts 3686 Videos 0
Comments117 Followers 4
Photos 0 Following 0

I think we should bombard him with "We are Ohio, drop the University after everything!" emails.
Last Edited: 10/22/2014 4:34:14 PM by OUcats82
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/22/2014 8:00 PM
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Good idea. To facilitate this campaign, can you post a mailto: link to his email address? Thanks.
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 10/22/2014 8:43 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Good idea. To facilitate this campaign, can you post a mailto: link to his email address? Thanks.
His email address: ealexander@plaind.com
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/22/2014 9:44 PM
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Thanks, Mike, I just sent a message to Mr. Alexander. Now, BAers, please do the same. Flood him with these emails. Maybe he'll get with the program.
Steve
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Posted: 10/23/2014 12:46 PM
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He's well aware of the school's wish to be called Ohio. He's calling us Ohio University on purpose because he hates us. I've seen him call us Ohio U. He's doing this intentionally. He's not going to change.
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Posted: 10/23/2014 1:56 PM
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If it's any consolation, I think every fan base in the MAC hates his reporting, including his alma mater's.

The hard truth is that until we (collectively as MAC fans) actually move the needle with pageviews, comments and subsequent ad revenue on stories, whatever EA says in his articles is not very important to anyone. If the O$U quarterback stubs his toe on a coffee table, the article generates hundreds of comments on cleveland.com. EA's last 10 MAC articles combined generated 11 comments thus far.

He may be a lousy reporter, but by every measure that matters to his bosses he's on a lousy beat.
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Posted: 10/23/2014 1:59 PM
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This whole topic seems silly. The school's name is Ohio University. He has chosen to use that name. I'm perfectly OK. Why sink to the level of petulant OSU fans?
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 10/23/2014 2:02 PM
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When emailing Alexander, I suggest you cc his boss, Bud Shaw.
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Posted: 10/23/2014 2:10 PM
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SBH wrote:expand_more
This whole topic seems silly. The school's name is Ohio University. He has chosen to use that name. I'm perfectly OK. Why sink to the level of petulant OSU fans?
Here we go again.

The school's media guide specifically asks people covering the team to refer to the team as "Ohio." It has said that for years. Disregarding that request repeatedly is irritating at best and disrespectful at worst. He doesnt add "University" to any other school in the MAC, so it sticks out even more.
SBH
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Posted: 10/23/2014 3:38 PM
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You'll have to fill me in on when journalists started following directions provided to them by PR people. I own a PR agency and that sure as hell isn't the case with the media folks we work with. He doesn't have an obligation to call us Ohio; he does have an obligation to use the proper name. Ohio University is the proper name. And if I'm not mistaken, the media guide asks them not to use Ohio U, which I don't recall him using in some time.
Last Edited: 10/23/2014 3:42:24 PM by SBH
Ted Thompson
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Posted: 10/23/2014 3:39 PM
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Recovering Journalist wrote:expand_more
If it's any consolation, I think every fan base in the MAC hates his reporting, including his alma mater's.
Where did he go to school? A buddy of mine worked there for awhile and he told me he thought Alexander went to Central State.
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Posted: 10/23/2014 4:45 PM
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SBH wrote:expand_more
You'll have to fill me in on when journalists started following directions provided to them by PR people. I own a PR agency and that sure as hell isn't the case with the media folks we work with. He doesn't have an obligation to call us Ohio; he does have an obligation to use the proper name. Ohio University is the proper name. And if I'm not mistaken, the media guide asks them not to use Ohio U, which I don't recall him using in some time.
That's a valid point about not being able to force a journalist what to do, but in a league with 13 teams, his insistence on doing so is amateurish. Going off memory, our media guide specifically says, "Ohio, please."
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Posted: 10/23/2014 4:46 PM
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Ted Thompson wrote:expand_more
If it's any consolation, I think every fan base in the MAC hates his reporting, including his alma mater's.
Where did he go to school? A buddy of mine worked there for awhile and he told me he thought Alexander went to Central State.
Based on message board vitriol from Kent State fans, I always figured it was Akron, but I can't find a basis for that (or for any other school) anywhere online.
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Posted: 10/23/2014 7:07 PM
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I want to say he either went to BG or one of the Michigan MAC schools.
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Posted: 10/23/2014 11:30 PM
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SBH wrote:expand_more
You'll have to fill me in on when journalists started following directions provided to them by PR people. I own a PR agency and that sure as hell isn't the case with the media folks we work with. He doesn't have an obligation to call us Ohio; he does have an obligation to use the proper name. Ohio University is the proper name. And if I'm not mistaken, the media guide asks them not to use Ohio U, which I don't recall him using in some time.
Stop it. Ohio University is our proper name, but not in this (athletic) context. For example, imagine hearing "Ohio State University did a great job of running the the ball against that Michigan State University defense in the first half, Frank. Let's see if Michigan State University can make adjustments in the second half, as they did in last week's game against The University of Notre Dame."
Last Edited: 10/24/2014 5:15:13 AM by RPO R6V
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 10/23/2014 11:33 PM
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SBH wrote:expand_more
You'll have to fill me in on when journalists started following directions provided to them by PR people. I own a PR agency and that sure as hell isn't the case with the media folks we work with. He doesn't have an obligation to call us Ohio; he does have an obligation to use the proper name. Ohio University is the proper name. And if I'm not mistaken, the media guide asks them not to use Ohio U, which I don't recall him using in some time.
University officials asking for us to be referred to as "Ohio" hardly strikes me as PR.

It's rather rude not to refer to someone or something as they wish to be called, so long as the request is not otherwise prejudicial.

What harm could it do for the guy to refer to us as "Ohio?"

Isn't the proper name Ohio Statue University (add 'The' if it please you). Does he always refer to them that way? Or does he say 'Ohio State.' If the latter, he should grant us "Ohio."
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