Letter to the Editor
Covering Hutch
Published Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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Stumble It!May 8, 2008
To the editor:
It was with great expectation that we opened our paper May 6. Our son’s school soccer team should be in the headlines as they had won their first soccer game.
Our son is a member of Hutchison High School’s first-ever soccer team. There was a picture of a Hutchison soccer team member on the sports page, but alas, no score to be seen until we found it on the inside page. In the meantime, your sports writer stated three times under the Monroe softball picture and accompanying paragraph that Monroe’s softball team had won 7-6 over Eielson.
Stating the score three times is very, very, very redundant. We’re personally very proud of Monroe and how well they play, but Hutchison is a new start-up team and it would have been proper credit for their first serious game.
Come on, guys. It’s a big town; let’s be equally inclusive of all the teams. All the schools are trying really hard to play well.
In the future, let’s give credit where credit is due to the winning team; up front under the team photo.
Fair and balanced reporting is a good thing and the hard-working players and proud parents will be most appreciative. By the way, the winning score was 7-1 Hutchison over Monroe. Thanks for your support.
Fred and Shirley Bouse
Fairbanks
Community Discussion
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Instead of sounding like whiney parents...did you pick up your phone and call the sports director to get his side of the story? Maybe there's a good explanation. Our local sports department does a great job trying to cover as many local events as possible. Be lucky that you live in such a small town that high school sports even get a mention, much less full articles. Try not airing your laundry in the paper and go to the source of the problem first...it makes you look bad...and can put undue peer pressure on your son.
Why do so many people just come out swinging? I thought the letter was polite and just offering a suggestion. How is that whiney? They are right, Hutch is working on establishing their sports programs and they should be recognized the same as any other school. As someone who grew up here playing local sports, I can tell you it is extremely exciting for a kid to open the sports page and see their name/team name/picture. When parents and the community support these activities, I believe that reduces the likelihood of those same kids opening up and reading about themselves in the police blotter. Yes, we are fortunate we live in a small community that covers all these events, just try to provide even coverage, that is the only message here!
If only oldakcuss practiced what he preached. He constantly fills this website with hate and anger. What a hypocrite.
I agree with this article. There does seem to be an uneven coverage of the soccer games. Even with my brother and sister playing soccer, I had no idea that Hutch even won a game - so awesome job to you and your new program!
It greatly seems like the two "main" schools, Lathrop and West Valley get about 60% of all the sports and school related coverage, Monroe gets 15% and all the rest of the schools (Hutch, NP, Delta etc) have to duke it out between themselves to get any attention for anything.
oldakcuss: do you even really read these articles? Or do you just look for some stupid reason to be a jerk? This is two parents who are proud of their kid's accomplishment. If all you have is negative I'd rather you just keep your opinion to yourself. My mother taught me that when I was four.
Call the News-Miner staff and get the details on reporting your sporting events. Ask about deadline times and details on getting a photo to them for use if there is enough space. Sports writers can't get to every game in every sport we enjoy in our short summers. Parents involved can add another duty to their quality time with their children by getting the details of the sporting event to the News-Miner on time.
thewayiseeit...excellent post. If you can read what I'm really saying, my point was...instead of filling the letters to the editor with things like this...more than likely a simple call to the sports department would have answered your questions. The News-Miner is running short-staffed (and has for some time) and can not get to and cover every event. Be more proactive instead of airing your concerns like this. If more people would actually talk to those they have a problem with...far less of these types of letters would result.
I feel like I'm reading KFAR in print.
I think the News Miner does a pretty good job of reporting local sports. I hear a lot of my friends bitch about the fact that there isn’t much pro sports reporting. I say, good! I would rather read about local kids any day. If you want to get more pro stuff move to Seattle or subscribe to their paper! It was a big thing for Hutch to get their first win and it was over a 50 year old Fairbanks school. The girls team in their first year, just had their first goal get scored. The local sports section quality has come down a little the last couple years. They do seem to have fewer writers.
It seems someone missed the parents' point. The score just wasn't included with the picture. A Hutch player made the front page with no mention of the historic win. A first at anything is always a big deal...if not to all, to those involved or interested, and it is nice to have it mentioned for all to see. As a Hutch parent, I have enjoyed the support of folks from all parts of towns and parents from all schools as Hutch makes it's way as a new school, building healthy competitive sports programs for it's students. How about a few less "shots" at the parents for just asking for some accuracy a fairness. It is true, the "big" schools do get the majority of the press and the small schools get what's left, even if the small school story is the bigger story.
polarpj...I agree...but instead of dragging their concern into the press, slamming the very people they want better coverage from...a simple call to the paper would have been more than enough, and much more productive in the long run.
As a former high school coach at a small school I know that unless a reporter is there it is the responsability of the coach to call in the game. the coach may be too busy or just doesent want to call it. As a parent you could volunteer to call in the games just check with the coach and get all the statistics right.
keep in mind, it's just soccer, one step up from kids playing hackey sack.
i agree with fishtales.
also if you call the sports staff they will gladly put something in the paper the next day or asap.. remember they want to sell papers.
peace
oh yea good job hutch, now get a football team and you will have it all!
People actually read the sports page? I thought it was there to fill out the paper for eventual woodstove kindling.
In defense of oldakcuss, his username does include the words "old" and "cuss."
Remember fishnhunter, your just one step up from bear food too. LOL
True, although I've eaten bear, they haven't caught me yet...heh heh. Having trouble making your comparison though?
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