Hyperlocal -- where does it stop?

And how!
And just so we're clear, I have no problem with local news, but I have a big problem with the philosophy that just because it's local, it MUST go on the front.

 

It was just a feature about the team (written because of a few squeaky wheels), but my point was that it wasn't timely, and it displaced college football in the Sunday paper.

 

OK. But if you are going to be forced into writing about a team that you "never" write about, wouldn't you try to find some interesting angle?

 

Ideally. And I'm probably not being fair to the story. The team was undefeated at the time, and the story was well done. But the whole thing was so forced. We didn't do it because it was a good story. We did it because we were told we needed a local centerpiece that wasn't game coverage.

 

Well, you aren't the first sports department to be told that.

 

I am aware. And I'm also aware that this probably won't be resolved or changed. I just needed to vent.

 

Especially if you happen to live in Podunkville where the biggest local news is some illiterate degenerate robbing a convenience store for the third time in a week.

Or aunt Susie's son's pig winning ninth place at the county livestock show.

 

Nothing wrong with a nice, well-written feature on a non-headline sport. Some of my best stories came on things like triathlon, bowling and 8-man football. The key is knowing WHEN to run it (ie, days when there is nothing much happening).

 

If the pig robbed the convenience store, you'd have something.

 

Me and some guys are starting lunchtime pickup games at the local gym. We demand coverage.

Why not?

We're real people

We have a couple of brothers and an asian guy so we are a cross section of the community. We are diverse.

A LOT of readers participate in pick-up basketball, so they will relate to the content.

We aren't covered by the national media, so it's news you can't get anywhere else.

So how about it? Our games should be covered. And when they are, I want you guys in the media to know that I'll have media availabilities THREE (3) days before each game day and not before or after. And I'll only answer questions about the next game because we take them one at a time.

Thank you.

 

You may be local, but are you hyper?

 

Yes, he is. And he's a ball hog!