Letter & Response from Chronicle's Hinkelman

bobcatmaniac · Post by **bobcatmaniac** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:34 pm

GFGriz wrote:CatFamily started this out by demanding that a newspaper reporter be a positive Bobcat "fan." Hink properly replied that he is a reporter, not a fan. Fans, by their nature, are not objective. A reporter shouldn't be disrespectful of anyone, but if he or she has an agenda, i.e., a favoratism underlying his or her writing, readers won't get news or facts, they'll get spin, whether it's sugar-coating facts that are bad, or bad-mouthing when things are good. Reporters who are "fans" are generally covering up for the fact they are bad reporters.

In your little speech, you easily explained what is behind all of the slanted journalism in this state, with those grads of the dUMb school of journalism leading the way. They can't write, report or edit, so they sugar-coat all of the news especially the sports to spin it in their direction. The worst of all is the Montana SubStandard.

Post by **kmax** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:36 pm

rtb wrote:
GFGriz wrote:CatFamily started this out by demanding that a newspaper reporter be a positive Bobcat "fan." Hink properly replied that he is a reporter, not a fan. Fans, by their nature, are not objective. A reporter shouldn't be disrespectful of anyone, but if he or she has an agenda, i.e., a favoratism underlying his or her writing, readers won't get news or facts, they'll get spin, whether it's sugar-coating facts that are bad, or bad-mouthing when things are good. Reporters who are "fans" are generally covering up for the fact they are bad reporters.
Definately he did reply how he is a reporter not a fan, but his lack of respect and lack of class are what is bothering everyone. We all know that Jeff Welsch isn't a raging Bobcat fan, but he does a great job of covering the Cats, remaining objective, and remaining respectful of fans. "Hink" showed no class with his article and and even less class with his response.

We aren't asking him to be a fan, we are asking him not to be a JERK.

And furthermore, I feel his response and the fact that he feels the need to "call out" fans goes against his stated notion of being objective. It is like he is trying to overcompensate to prove he is going to report in an unbiased fashion, but in doing so he is coming off no better than the fans he is chastising. Again I will state, he is a journalist, the topic of fan feeling toward Hauck is one born of a heated rivalry I just don't see the connection between the two and why he felt it necessary to make this the underlying point of his introduction to a new readership.

kcatz · Post by **kcatz** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:18 pm

"It is a common misconception that the hometown newspaper should be a mouthpiece for the local sports teams. I, nor will anyone else at the Chronicle, go out of our way to be "positive" about the Bobcats, Icedogs, Hawks or any other team we cover, "

Sorry morons, but I purchase my "local" paper and watch my "local" evening news casts so that I can read/hear about my "local" community. If this is a common misconception then why have local papers?

I don't want to read articles that appear skewed or in support of the Grizzlies/Ducks/Beavers/who the hell ever. I WANT to read stories about my hometown teams AND I do not want those stories to be negative. Last time I checked I was the one speding the money and that gives me the right to demand better coverage.

I grew up north of Missoula and worked in Missoula for about 2 years, I am very familiar with the Missoulian and know that their sports coverage is very slanted. I understand that is what I am going to get when I purchase/read the Missoulian. But I do not expect to see the Chronicle slanted against my local teams. I will go somewhere else for my sports coverage if this continues!

Oh by the way I don't really think that Jeff Welsch is that great either!

BobCatFan · Post by **BobCatFan** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:42 pm

Hink

You can write what you want. But I do not have to pay for it. Maybe this is why readership all over the country for newspapers is heading lower. You might think you are better then the average "fan" but you better be willing to place your job on it. The "fan" ultimately pays your salary. What will the paper do if you pi$$ off enough readers that advisting revenue goes down. I think you will know what will happen. From the response on this board, you have pi$$ off most of the serious Bobcat Fans. Why should they ever purchase the Comical when the GF paper does a better job in covering the Cats and the GF paper does not pi$$ off their readers or the fans that read their paper. I think you should go back to college and learn some respect or do they not teach that in college any more?

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:07 pm

I'm sorry Hink, but it doesn't matter what you think. It doesn't matter what you think of us. What matters is what we think of you, because as it has been stated several times already, we pay your salary. I don't have a paper subscription, but when I go out to a diner to eat, I buy a paper sometimes. I used to buy the Chronicle a lot, but then I switched to the Tribune because they had a better coverage of the Cats. Welsch improved it, but if you are any indication of the future articles of the Chronicle, my readership will still be devoted to the Tribune.

I respect your views and wanting to hold your own integrity, but telling us readers how we should act and what we want to read isn't going to get you far at all.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:23 pm

This is pretty simple. All you have to do is write what we want to read and we'll continue to buy your paper--which does a tremendous job on Saturday and Sunday with your coverage of the Cats and the other Valley teams. Piss us off and we'll ask Scott Mansch to provide even more coverage and see if the Great Falls Tribune doesn't make a dent in your subscriptions and newstand sales.

Come across as a closet Fizzlie in Bozo under the guise of "impartial" reporting or other such b.s. much more and I'd bet we can help your circulation manager pinpoint where your employer first noticed declining sales--unless he's a dUMb "graduate" and we all know they're number impaired anyway. Probably the same a--hole that gave the comical the >gomontana< URL anyway...

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:45 pm

hink..

you are a moron...why dont you quit the bozeman daily chronic and try out for the new york times, your "skills" are better suited there

wait...i bet that you probibly wont be able to get hired on by the daily interlake again

once again another reason why i dont read the bozeman paper, never have never will

IrishBobcat · Post by **IrishBobcat** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:10 pm

I haven't ever had a problem with the first article. I thought it drab and boring in it's attempt to be controversial.

That points to a larger problem about chronicle sports. The coverage in Sunday's coverage about the weber comeback was terrible. The article on hastings had already been 90% written and was published in the preseason info that Welsh had already printed. The game recap was a standard play by play piece (required but boring).

The coverage was wanting...

1. What did Kramer think of the performance?
2. What are the keys to taking care of the teams problems (how do we get to 100% on offense)?
3. How do the coaches intend to take care of penalties and lack of effort and execution?
4. How do we get a great team to act like it?

Hint to Hink and Welsh: If you are having a hard time believing or admitting that this is a great football team, you might be a griz.
Many of us fans know more about the bobcats than the sports reporters. Please surprise us with something new!

MSUcantouchus · Post by **MSUcantouchus** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:20 pm

Irish is dead on. That was not an interesting artical at all and what sports fan didn't already know about his little list.

I am not quite sure why we are all waisting our fingers energy typing about his boaring artical.

One more thing maybe just maybe we should reserve a bit of judgement for a while. I admit he sounds like a bit of a fool but that was his first artical and he may come around. Probably not if he is reading these posts.

Welsh started off a bit rough but I think he is coming around.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:53 pm

What an absolutely ridiculous and condescending response! "Hinks" can take that Bozeman Daily Chronicle, roll it up, and shove it right up his ass as far as I'm concerned. Don't feel the need to patronize all of us Bobcat fans, Hinks, I'm quite sure we have the ability to think for ourselves.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:03 pm

Hell's Bells wrote:hink..

you are a moron...why dont you quit the bozeman daily chronic and try out for the new york times, your "skills" are better suited there

wait...i bet that you probibly wont be able to get hired on by the daily interlake again

once again another reason why i dont read the bozeman paper, never have never will

If we're going to slam a writer, let's at least try to make sense.

Any journalist would give his right arm to work for the New York Times. It is one of the best (and most prestigious) newspapers in America (regardless of what Rush and a truckload of dittoheads who have never read it themselves might think).

Now back to the bashing....

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:20 pm

If you are going to criticize, BAC, you shouldn't take potshots while you are doing so. I can't say that I know this as fact, but I would guess with some certainty that Rush does (or has) read the NY Times. If he doesn't any longer, it is probably because of what they print. I'm not trying to knock the Times, they are a very prestigious paper who make little attempt to hide their liberal slant. I agree that many reporters would give their right arm to get a job there.

Back to this point, I believe this is applicable in this thread. Readers stop buying and reading papers when they don't like the reporters writing for said paper (hint Hinks)...

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:51 pm

BozoneCat wrote:If you are going to criticize, BAC, you shouldn't take potshots while you are doing so. I can't say that I know this as fact, but I would guess with some certainty that Rush does (or has) read the NY Times. If he doesn't any longer, it is probably because of what they print. I'm not trying to knock the Times, they are a very prestigious paper who make little attempt to hide their liberal slant. I agree that many reporters would give their right arm to get a job there.

Back to this point, I believe this is applicable in this thread. Readers stop buying and reading papers when they don't like the reporters writing for said paper (hint Hinks)...

I wasn't saying that Rush didn't read the Times, just the dittoheads who take his (and all of the other talking point messengers) party line word for it and parrot the message.

Granted, the "and" makes my intent a bit confusing.

GFGriz · Post by **GFGriz** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:52 pm

rtb wrote:
GFGriz wrote:CatFamily started this out by demanding that a newspaper reporter be a positive Bobcat "fan." Hink properly replied that he is a reporter, not a fan. Fans, by their nature, are not objective. A reporter shouldn't be disrespectful of anyone, but if he or she has an agenda, i.e., a favoratism underlying his or her writing, readers won't get news or facts, they'll get spin, whether it's sugar-coating facts that are bad, or bad-mouthing when things are good. Reporters who are "fans" are generally covering up for the fact they are bad reporters.
Definately he did reply how he is a reporter not a fan, but his lack of respect and lack of class are what is bothering everyone. We all know that Jeff Welsch isn't a raging Bobcat fan, but he does a great job of covering the Cats, remaining objective, and remaining respectful of fans. "Hink" showed no class with his article and and even less class with his response.

We aren't asking him to be a fan, we are asking him not to be a JERK.

Listen, I don't mind discussions, but don't start lying. This whole topic started with a letter to "Hink" demanding that he be a "positive" Bobcat "FAN". FAN. And now that he's pointed out what would be obvious to any half-brain, that is, that true reporters can't be "fans", and has made the unforgivable sin of saying that Bobby Hauck is not the demon child you have invented, you State fans revert to form and throw at him the same crap you throw at Hauck: he just doesn't show "respect" and doesn't have "class." The next thing you know, you'll be making up lunatic tales about how "Hink" had lunch in Livingston sometime, and therefore "hates" Bozeman and refuses to support its economy. Hink has enough class and respect for the truth to tell it to you the way it is. You're just too immature to listen.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:02 pm

GFGriz does make a good point. The intial email did demand (I'm not sure if that is the right term, but it's probably how Hink read it) that he be a "positive Bobcat fan" or something along those terms. In that regard, he was right to point out that he isn't supposed to be a Bobcat fan, he's supposed to be a journalist. I think we can all look to the Griz radio broadcast team and realize that there can be problems when someone is a fan as opposed to a professional journalist/broadcaster. Bozeman and MSU deserve writers who aren't merely superfans, but rather good journalists.

However, I do agree with the many people who are pointing out that Hink's desire to "call out" some MSU fans as an opening shot really isn't the best approach. He really should be neither pro nor anti Bobcats or the Bobcat fanbase, at least for the first week or two.

In that regard, I think he stubbed his toe when he went for the sarcastic shots on the fansbase (and exposed the fact that he obviously reads this message board way too much -- funny how so many sports stories regarding MSU now pull info and impressions directly from here. Kinda cool ... but also kinda scary. The extreme positions tend to find their way onto the internet, and shouldn't always be confused with something mainstream or even noteworthy).

I will proactively state that I don't think that GFGriz is really on the right track with the "immature" thing. I just think people are talking past each other a bit as opposed to agreeing to agree on the points that are agreeable. Agreed?

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:07 pm

Cat Grad wrote:Probably the same a--hole that gave the comical the >gomontana< URL anyway...

Or spells out "Chronicle" in maroon on the front page of every edition? Anybody else ever find that curious?

iaafan · Post by **iaafan** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:11 pm

How many years does he have in the newspaper business? Couldn't it just be a case of someone get caught up in themselves? He's only been there for a couple weeks, I think, and he's already writing columns. Just my opinion, but I think a writer needs a lot of seasoning before taking that leap. I bet he understands that now. Youth must be served.

GFGriz · Post by **GFGriz** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:32 pm

Bay Area Cat wrote:I will proactively state that I don't think that GFGriz is really on the right track with the "immature" thing. I just think people are talking past each other a bit as opposed to agreeing to agree on the points that are agreeable. Agreed?

My problem is when folks post these amorphous charges about someone, in this case a journalist, not showing "class" or "respect" when he notes the fixation State fans have on the Griz, or what Coach Hauck did or did not do years ago, or whether he utters the supposedly divine words "Montana State Bobcats". Every objective observer who's wandered into the Gallatin Valley in the last few years has noticed this and reported it. The Sportsnetwork wrote about it a couple of years ago after a visit to MSU. I'm a Griz fan, but the 'Cats are my third-favorite Montana team, and so I come over hear to get some insights, and I find myself in this bizarre place where a stranger might really believe the name of the MSU football team is "Not-The-Griz", and that the team's coach is "Not-Hauck". Quit acting like that, and Hink wouldn't be writing about it.

Oh, and by the way, the bit about the Griz announcer's is true. They aren't journalists. I doubt they even think about it. They remind me of a line from a movie in which Peter O'Toole shouts, "I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!"

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:34 pm

Ahhhh, you've got to love GFgriz. Nothing for weeks, but at the first sign of anything at all being said about Hack, he has to jump right in and again (and again, and again, and again...) try to convince us what a nice gentleman and upstanding citizen old Bobby really is. And, for that matter, anyone who dares to stand up for him.

The truth of the matter is that this conversation has absolutely nothing to do with Hack, has nothing to do with a journalist being impartial to the Cats, and has nothing to do with his former job as a griz reporter. None of those things bother me even one little bit. The outlash on this board has everything to do with the condescending cheap shots he took at Bobcat fans in his initial article. I don't know too many people who try to get a job by insulting their would-be boss during the interview.

BTW, GFfriz, I could care less if Hinks wants to run over to Livingston for lunch. In fact, I recommend everyone go over to L-town sometime for lunch or dinner, there are a number of great restaurants over there. Perfect after a day of fishing on the Yellowstone.

I don't think the "fact" that Baby keeps his team over in Livingston is akin to "making up lunatic tales," though. The only lunatic part of this conversation is you. Go chase an ambulance.

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:37 pm

Moved to page 3.