Media Rumblings
Hello all, this is a day or so late, but I wanted to address the editorial posted by Mike Kuhn over at his fan blog Down the Byline. Check out the full article here. First of all, we'd like to thank Mike and the rest of our fans for caring. Obviously we appreciate the support of all of our fans and want you all to be vocal about issues like this. Next, I'd like to say that the only way to affect change is to contact the right people at the Kansas City Star and the local TV stations.
In the PR department, we are always striving for more and better coverage, though we appreciate all that the Star does. The Star provides a bylined story for each game, home or away, and stories about the Wizards are often atop Page 3 in the sports section, a very good place. If that is not enough for you, the best thing a fan can do is to contact the Star directly and ask for what you desire. Newspapers are very cognizant of their readers' needs and will almost always respond favorably if a large enough block of people make their wishes known.
I will provide the contact info of the correct decision-makers at the Star and local TV stations below. Emails are great. Phone calls are worth more than emails, and hand-written notes/letters make a much higher impact than phone calls.
KC Star-
Holly Lawton-Sports Editor
hlawton@kcstar.com
(816) 234-4350
Chris Fickett-Soccer Editor
cfickett@kcstar.com
(816) 234-4354
Dan Peak-KansasCity.com General Manager (blog questions)
dpeak@kcstar.com
(816) 234-7901
Fox 4-
Online comment page.
Frank Boal-Sports Director
Frank.Boal@wdaftv4.com
KCTV 5-
kctv5@kctv5.com
KCTV5 programming- (913) 677-7150
KCTV5
P.O. Box 5555
Kansas City, MO 64128.5555
(don't forget, Metro Sports produces the KCTV 5 sports segments)
KMBC 9-
Online comment page.
KMBC 9
Sports
6455 Winchester Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64133
Main Phone Number: (816) 221-9999
Len Dawson-lead sports
ldawson@hearst.com
NBC 41-
NBC Action News
Sports
4720 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO 64112
sports@nbcactionnews.com
(816) 932-0717
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
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So you're basically saying it's the fans fault we don't get more coverage? Cause that's what you're making it sound like by saying WE (the fans) need to contact these news stations.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that's what he's saying at all.
ReplyDeleteThat is not at all what I'm saying. I'm saying that a PR department asking a newspaper for something is totally different than a large group of readers asking for something. Obviously the PR department has agendas that editors have to consider. Readers pay the bills.
ReplyDeleteDo you have contact information for the sports radio stations around town as well?
ReplyDeleteI think that getting the Wizards on 810 and 610 more would have a hugely positive effect.
Well after 12 yrs, One MLS Championship and the Wizards are still not considered Major league in this town. Most of the Sports media ignores the team unless the team buys the radio time or print time. That is what happens when you can't sellout a 10,000 seat stadium and are struggling to score goals. 0-0 draws don't get you much attention especially after all the talk of attacking soccer.
ReplyDeleteAnon3-oops...email is krogers@kcwizards.com.
ReplyDeleteAnon3- Shoot me an email and I'll give you that info. We have pretty good relationships with those stations already, but you can certainly contact them.
ReplyDeleteOle- No idea honestly...shoot him an email and find out ;)
Spoon- Can't sellout is a little harsh, seeing as we've sold out four games already this year. The four we haven't have been in freezing weather, against a KU final 4 game or a Thursday night match. Not bad. They don't ignore us, they just don't talk about us as much as some other sports teams in town with longer track records. Get a hold of them and tell them why you want to hear more about the Wizards, if you in fact do.
By the numbers sure, we are at 50% for the season. But actual butts in the seats is another thing. 2 legit sellouts imo this year. Home opener #2 against the Crew and the Blanco boost. In the end, you are still only playing in a 10,000 seat stadium It should be sold out every week, probably by Weds at the latest.
ReplyDeleteYour comment doesn't address why the Star and other KC media outlets are not even attending the press conference.
ReplyDeleteWe can call and complain, sure. But if they are not even gonna bother to show up and ask any questions or even tough questions. What's the point?
Has OnGoal's leaders (not the PR dept) called the Star publisher anbd head of sports dept and asked them why they don't show up for a press conference?
Your blog entry seems satisfied by the Star coverage. Do you think it is ok for them not to show up?
To Spoon - dude, since when does the team get to determine whether someone uses thier ticket. A sellout is when all tickets are SOLD...it has nothing to do with no-shows. Instead of arguing with hillcrest about this why not spend the time telling the Star to buck up and act like a real newspaper and attend the conferences. Do you really think the FO hasn't pushed for more coverage? Read hillcrest's first comment, if the Star's readers are demanding more coverage, its more likely they will give it. If no one takes the time to complain, why should they change the status quo???? That means you too markadams!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't read the paper I could care less. I gave up asking the star for coverage along time ago when I [b]used [/b] to have a subscription. It is just not the print media. Sports radio dominates this town. Sure there is Jimmy's Show and CO is on BTL sometimes. In the end the team is an afterthought by all local media. You don't even get a mention of the scoreline the day after a match during WHB Sportcenter's.
ReplyDelete