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Washington Post: "Marty Schottenheimer, NFL coach whose teams wilted in the postseason, dies at 77"

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Kolchak, Feb 9, 2021.

  1. Kolchak

    Kolchak Active Member

    [​IMG]

    They have since edited the headline. But the URL still had the headline in it. They have since changed that too. So far they have not returned any requests for a comment.
     
  2. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    One of the best sports sections in the country and has been for a long, long time.

    This was not their best moment and I'm willing to bet they're well aware. Wrong place for a head like that.
     
    Liut likes this.
  3. Hot and Rickety

    Hot and Rickety Active Member

    Obits are not handled by Sports. It's a separate department.
     
    Liut likes this.
  4. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    OK - take what I said about sports and apply it to the paper. One of the best papers in the country, has been for a while.
    Not the best moment, that's for sure.

    And thanks for the info
     
    Liut likes this.
  5. Twirling Time

    Twirling Time Well-Known Member

    Does the Post use a universal desk where copy editors assign heds to any and all categories? The obit writer may add a suggested hed, but I doubt they would have the capacity for that amount of snark.
     
    Liut likes this.
  6. Kolchak

    Kolchak Active Member

    We handle sports obits unless they're going on A1.
     
  7. sportsfan22

    sportsfan22 New Member

    This seems too crazy to be true. Outrageous.

    How about Marty Schottenheimer, 615 winning percentage, took 3 franchises from last to first, 200-plus wins, passes away.
     
    WriteThinking and Liut like this.
  8. Alma

    Alma Well-Known Member

    Did Marty get a Post obit (handled by a separate department!) because of his one year in Washington?
     
  9. sportsfan22

    sportsfan22 New Member

    As someone else pointed out, and those of us here who wrote headlines for a living, you have to go out of your way to write a terrible headline like that. That wasn't a mistake or poor judgment.

    So when Bud Grant dies, it'll be Bud Grant, whose teams were outscored 95-32 in 4 Super Bowl losses, dies?
     
    maumann and Liut like this.
  10. maumann

    maumann Well-Known Member

    Yeah, nothing like one of the largest papers in the country hitting a dead man's family below the belt. Nobody needs to be fired over it. But there should be a teachable moment involved for everyone who handles obits there, from the print to the online folks. You just can't be that callous.

    Can you imagine what that person would have done to Billy Buck?
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2021
    Liut and wicked like this.
  11. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Wouldn't take too much effort to reach out to someone in Sports and test that hed for tone.
     
    exmediahack and Liut like this.
  12. Elliotte Friedman

    Elliotte Friedman Moderator Staff Member

    It will if Poindexter writes the headline. Subhead will say -- Vikings: always garbage in football's biggest game
     
    Liut and HanSenSE like this.
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