Chronicle sports page discussion w/Jeff Welsch

Jeff Welsch · Post by **Jeff Welsch** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:58 pm

OK, I'm a little slow, but I think I'm on to something here ... and that's that most of you get your news online.

This is an area where I'm pushing for a major overhaul at the Chronicle.

I'm assuming this because of Catdad39's comments.

Here's what the Sunday Chronicle looks like the morning after Game Day:
* Almost entirely 'Cats on the front page, with photos and a story and a column by yours truly.
* Complete statistics package, including all tackles, along with a notebook
* Full page of color photos
* In all, nearly three full pages devoted to MSU (though you wouldn't know this if you follow online).

Thanks again for all your input. We're a work in progress, and you've given me some ideas for how to improve our section, especially online.

-- jeff

94VegasCat · Post by **94VegasCat** » Wed May 18, 2005 6:40 am

SOLD

I just became a subscriber to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle!!! I was going to anyway, but you sold me Jeff. Thank you for being the man. I am really impressed by how you grabbed the bull by the horns on BobcatNation.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Wed May 18, 2005 7:59 am

Great. Those of us that were a part of the migration out of the state during the 80s and 90s really missed our school and all the news associated with it. Some of us had the opportunity to move places and see college athletic programs revitalized along with the local economy and for us, it's pretty special to be witness to the same dynamic in Bozo. Your sports page really gives visitors to the area their first, lasting impression of the community. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us.

mchammer · Post by **mchammer** » Wed May 18, 2005 8:13 am

For track, the thing most needed is complete results the day after the meet, for both indoor and outdoor seasons. There are usually errors in the reporting. For example, today (Wed.) the winning scores indicated that WSU won the women's BSC Championship instead of NAU, a major error. I do appreciate the stories that precede the meet, and the photos. I think that the football coverage was very good.

Mike

Robcat · Post by **Robcat** » Wed May 18, 2005 8:32 am

Jeff, living outside of Bozeman, can I subscribe to the Sunday addition only?

mquast53000 · Post by **mquast53000** » Wed May 18, 2005 9:17 am

When I was in town for the Cal Poly game last year I remember seeing the sports section the following Sunday, and I was very impressed with the vast improvement that took place in less than 3 years! The Chronicle as a whole is improving, and I think that Jeff will really do a great job with the sports section.

Bobcat4Ever · Post by **Bobcat4Ever** » Wed May 18, 2005 1:43 pm

Jeff, thank you and Mike Kiefer for the Lacie Titmus article this morning. The focus on a new signee is always welcome and we often save these articles so we can remember more about who we'll be watching. Your efforts are much appreciated and I hope that Sports gets the attention at the Chronicle that it deserves. At our house section A is just something to keep the Sports section from getting wet

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Wed May 18, 2005 1:50 pm

you know I would love it if the editor would at-least have a bit of an anti-griz bone in him since he works for a bozeman paper....

Jeff Welsch · Post by **Jeff Welsch** » Wed May 18, 2005 3:58 pm

1. Sunday only is via mail east of Big Timber. It's $13.25 per month, $39.75 for three months, and should arrive by Tuesday or Wednesday.

2. We're going to reduce silly errors ... guaranteed.

3. Had to chuckle, but sorry, no anti-Griz sentiment here. If I did, how could I provide an honest assessment of what's happening during 'Cat-Griz games? (I know, I know ... some of you don't want that).

Credibility, which is 95 percent of this business, is enough a struggle (see item No. 2). Seeing MSU as the paragon of all virtue and UM as the embodiment of evil -- and vice versa, if you're a Griz -- might be fun for fans, but it clouds the credibility of anything we write.

For example: Does anybody really believe any radio announcers when they harp on one-sided officiating? It might make frustrated listeners feel good briefly, but down deep you must wonder whether the officiating is really one-sidedly awful (it usually isn't) or the game is merely being viewed through blue-and-gold (or copper) glasses.

My hope is that when I write that the officiating for MSU's game at Utah Valley State was awful, which I did because it was, readers who weren't there can say it must be true because Welsch views games through objective glasses.

Just my 2 cents, FWIW.

-- Jeff

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Wed May 18, 2005 4:35 pm

Officiating in the Big Sky is horrible, hands down.

Pinnacle of this was when they missed 2 delay of game calls vs PSU.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Wed May 18, 2005 5:07 pm

Probably should be a separate topic, but Big Sky officiating is terrible. Fullerton used to complain about it when he was AD- now he's in charge, but nothing has changed & I'm not being partisan. I've attended FB & BB games at almost every venue in the Big Sky Conf. and the general feeling everywhere regarding the officiating is the same- they suck!

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Wed May 18, 2005 10:32 pm

Enough already. You ever read the goofball that writes the column in the Mazzolian? His disdain for your home and the school you're about to make (or break) your career is apparent in each and every column he writes. As Bobcats, we expect the same (and don't call it biased) coverage for our favorite team. Heck, he even includes stories about pick up basketball games in that pig stye they call a gym in Mazzola--naturally glorifying his exploits on the court. Disgusting. Not that we would question your manhood and abilities on the court or on the field with our kids...

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Wed May 18, 2005 10:33 pm

Could you take him one-on-one?

Hell's Bells · Post by **Hell's Bells** » Thu May 19, 2005 1:40 am

[quote="Jeff Welsch"]
3. Had to chuckle, but sorry, no anti-Griz sentiment here. If I did, how could I provide an honest assessment of what's happening during 'Cat-Griz games? (I know, I know ... some of you don't want that).
quote]

I am not asking you to tint your paper with a good side/dark side tint...just that...you work for a bozeman paper and i really think that it should come out in your articles a bit that we are the good side...

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Fri May 20, 2005 9:08 am

Jeff,
Good job this morning with the Mike Bass/Zach Wolf update, and with the story on Dusty trying out with the Giants.

Keep up the good work.

WYCAT · Post by **WYCAT** » Fri May 20, 2005 9:30 am

Hell's Bells wrote:
Jeff Welsch wrote: 3. Had to chuckle, but sorry, no anti-Griz sentiment here. If I did, how could I provide an honest assessment of what's happening during 'Cat-Griz games? (I know, I know ... some of you don't want that).
quote]

I am not asking you to tint your paper with a good side/dark side tint...just that...you work for a bozeman paper and i really think that it should come out in your articles a bit that we are the good side...

Besides, that isn't much of stretch since it is 100% true!

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Fri May 20, 2005 9:32 am

Hi Jeff,

Answer me this: How come after a lot of rain or snow, with creeks and streams threatening to spill their banks, and mud up to our knees-does the Chronicle feel obligated to print a headline saying something to the effect "All this water doesn't help the drought!" (see today's front page) It's really quite maddening.

Oops sorry, the above wasn't sports related. Try this: How come my nephew's little league baseball game didn't get any coverage last week? He hit a spectacular inside the park homerun-yet nothing from the Chronicle!

Now for real-I've always liked how the Spokane Spokesman-Review (or whatever) covers Washington State. Game day is huge and the day after game as well. Granted-their sports section is probably bigger than the entire Chronicle edition-and MSU isn't a Pac-10 school, but I really like what they do.

On the positive-We MSU fans should feel fortunate-We enjoy much better media coverage than most Big Sky schools-given MSU's big fish in a small pond status in Montana.