Does AP have to be better?

You know, Dean Singleton was involved with AP at one point. Scary, scary thought ...

That newspaper want more from AP and want it for less is insane. AP's writers are already pushing a mind-blowing amount of content into newspaper's databases as it is and many of them work standard journalism hours.

Those of you who think cutting off AP altogether and hiring more writers is going to cut it at a daily paper is insane. I worked at a shop for a spell that had AP copy but not AP photo. For 9-11, they were trying to shoot an image from a television with a camera. Thank GOODNESS I wasn't there to watch that lunacy. On those other days, filling up sections with 18- and 20-inch auto accident stories and overly drawn-out pieces on the spitfest at the city council meeting was terrible. And it happened far too often ... "local, local" can be a massive mistake. For a place without AP photo, try getting the lazy photog to shoot your basketball game when he's not made to be available by the ME. When your section front and visual elements stink to high hell, update us on how that "No AP" edict is working out for you.

Newspaper should strive to be one-stop spots for information. Why take the attitude that they can read some national or international copy anywhere? For the reader who picked your newspaper, reward them for that choice.

 

From where? Did the agate fairy bring you the information?

 

OK, so what do you do for national events like the Super Bowl, NCAA tournament, bowl games, World Series? If a team outside your market makes a big trade or a player like Brett Favre retires, do you just ignore it? What about roundups? Or events that aren't necessarily worth staffing but should be mentioned, like a championship fight or the Australian Open or something like that? Where are you getting those stories?

 

he just types the agate.

 

yeah, exactly?

aside from typing MLB, NBA and NFL agate, are you also digging deep into your own pockets and paying those employees' health care benefits and unemployment and supplying them with computers and softwear? do you even have an idea how much those items cost a year?

 

Was? I believe he is the chairman right now.

 

If you ask the Yankees PR department, they'll call in the box every night. But sometimes they don't have first names for the opponent's players.

 

Buck's right. Most papers rely on AP for previews, gamers, etc. of all major events they can't staff. No way it gets eliminated. Sport sections across the country would shrink.

 

Just wondering how there's going to be enough advertising in a 4-page section to save the jobs of you and your fellow agate clowns

 

come on, man. it's the wave of the future. climb on board or be left behind.

 

There are other wire services and you can, in fact, get boxscores and press releases from every major sporting event for free.

But basically anything that we considered important was covered by freelancers or staff.

I hate to break this to you guys but no one is buying your papers to read the same AP story they can read for free on their cellphones and RSS feeds.

 

Apparently, PHINJ takes full advantage of yahoo and foxsports.com for boxes.