I would like feedback from everyone on this...

[PalmettoStatesport]

I am toying with the idea of having media days sponsored by my paper for the high schools. The high school teams would get together at one centralized location, and we'd knock out pictures and interviews.
what does everyone think? Good idea or is this something to stay away from??

 

[Ace]

I am toying with the idea of having media days sponsored by my paper for the high schools. The high school teams would get together at one centralized location, and we'd knock out pictures and interviews.
what does everyone think? Good idea or is this something to stay away from??

Usually teams call media days not the other way around, but if you can get the teams to participate -- maybe spring for pizza or something -- it sounds like it may save some time. Be a great way to get mugs of everyone.

 

[Shaggy]

We always do mugs and team photos at the same time the teams have team photo days set up with the professional photographer.

I have heard of media days, though, and it has worked.

 

[Football_Bat]

If you have 31 teams like we have, it's not feasible. It's better to do them in twosies and threesies over 3 weeks.

 

[PTSportsWriter]

I cover prep basketball in a county thats part of a 6 county district/region at the Class AAA level.

The paper in one of those counties has circulation in all 6 of those counties (and this area also includes several more high schools who are not in the big District in the area). That paper did a basketball media day this year, where they invited all of the teams in the area from Class A to AAA.

All of the coaches showed up and brought 2-3 players and they had sort of a stage set-up like a major presser and each team had about 15-20 minutes on the stage.

Now while I focus on only one school, this was a great benefit to learn of the other teams, find storylines, and a good way for each team to get exposure.

I hope the same event is being planned for football this year.

 

[Oz]

I am toying with the idea of having media days sponsored by my paper for the high schools. The high school teams would get together at one centralized location, and we'd knock out pictures and interviews.

what does everyone think? Good idea or is this something to stay away from??

Depends on how many high schools you're talking about here.

 

[Idaho]

Everyone? there are like 6,000 members here. You want that much feedback?

 

[fishwrapper]

I'm holding my advice until we hit 4,027 posts.

 

[shotglass]

I think it's a great idea, if feasible.

Attacking it from the other angle, I've been thinking that when we hit our 48 schools for football mugs, we should also arrange to have the school's top three boys' and girls' basketball players, top three wrestlers, top three soccer players, etc., at the school at the same time to shoot them, too.

 

[PalmettoStatesport]

we are talking three high schools here. wasn't looking for the smart ass comments, but rather serious input.

 

[SCEditor]

I'll answer, but PalmettoStatesport knows me and knows our paper conducts a statewide media day.

It's good for us, because we get a ****load of schools to come and usually many of the state's top prospects. In Palmetto's case, I don't think it's a bad idea. But springing for pizza or something might make the kids want to come.

P.S. You could just have them come to our media day if you want! We're not serving pizza, but we'll only charge you $20 for admission. ;D

 

[chazp]

Do it. In our county, the high school coaches got together and came up with their own Media Days. 30+ teams, it works great, generates copy and helps you lay the ground work for the upcoming tab for that sport.

 

[JayFarrar]

an old shop used to have a seasonal luncheon.
One of the banks picked up the check and it was for five or six schools. The head coaches, top assistant and couple of the best players.
The bankers liked to mingle with the coaches and players, plus it was super easy to get mug shots and knock out some copy.

 

[buckweaver]

We always do mugs and team photos at the same time the teams have team photo days set up with the professional photographer.

I have heard of media days, though, and it has worked.

Ditto. Our photog always stood in line with the "official" photographer and they went through the line.

"Step to the left", shoot, "step to the left", shoot. ... They get their good shot, we get our mug. Easy as pie.

 

[BillySixty]

We did one for football and it went off without a hitch. We have 14 schools, and offered two different times for coaches and players to come. It was more for intereview purposes for the tab, but we took a few mug shots, too.

 

[PalmettoStatesport]

I'll answer, but PalmettoStatesport knows me and knows our paper conducts a statewide media day.

It's good for us, because we get a ****load of schools to come and usually many of the state's top prospects. In Palmetto's case, I don't think it's a bad idea. But springing for pizza or something might make the kids want to come.

P.S. You could just have them come to our media day if you want! We're not serving pizza, but we'll only charge you $20 for admission. ;D

SCEditor, I love you man, and thanks for the tips over the weekend. As you know, I would just knock it out at your media day, but my tab is printing in three weeks, and we all know kids from my county ain't coming to that...

 

[outofplace]

we are talking three high schools here. wasn't looking for the smart ass comments, but rather serious input.

You think that you can get serious input without the smart-ass comments on this website? Wow, you need to pay better attention to how this crew works.

Seriously, if you can get them to show up and you have so few schools to deal with, it sounds like a nice convenience for you. The only question I have is if it would leave them waiting around a lot for you to get what you need. If your process irritates the kids and the coaches, it might make for some lousy interviews.

 

[shotglass]

We were just talking about the possibility of making adjustments in this, and our football writer came up with a good idea.

Forget about August for these media days. First, some of the kids are going to be vacationing. Second, you're going to catch the football players shirtless, with five days' growth of beard, etc.

Instead ... think about pulling this off in the final weeks of the previous school year. Have an underclassman photo day for each school. Coordinate it with the athletic director; tell him you want to get athletes A, B, C, etc. at the school library or the lunch room at a certain time. They'll be dressed for school, and you'll get a better shot. And there's less chance of the kids blowing you off.

One other thing we're going to suggest to our photogs. We want each one of them to have a mini-blackboard. Each kid will write his name on the blackboard before the head shot, then hold it down in front of their chest. The photographer will get that blackboard into the photo ... and no mug shot should ever be mis-identified again.

 

[LiveStrong]

wasn't looking for the smart ass comments, but rather serious input.

good luck with that.

Oh, and I think that's a pretty good idea, especially with the small number of teams.

 

[Eagleboy]

One other thing we're going to suggest to our photogs. We want each one of them to have a mini-blackboard. Each kid will write his name on the blackboard before the head shot, then hold it down in front of their chest. The photographer will get that blackboard into the photo ... and no mug shot should ever be mis-identified again.

I just have to say, that's an incredible idea. I'll make sure to pass that one on whenever it's needed.