Old School Andy: Embracing the new media world is pretty, um, wicked

COMMENTARY – We all want to be heard, from the frustrated 3-year-old who can’t get his mom’s attention to the frustrated sports fan who can’t believe the state of officiating at the recent football/basketball/baseball game.

When I was sports editor of this city’s local newspaper a decade and a half ago, the average sports fan had no voice. What was a guy to do. Write a letter? No one would read it. Complain to the local radio or newspaper guy? Well, there was no local sports radio and the sports editor was so dad-gummed busy that the complaints would fall on deaf ears.

My how things have changed.

Now you have local radio, blogs, Tweets, comments sections, Facebook, Tumblr, MySpace … need I go on?

More so than even your average citizen, the sports fan is empowered. At Joe Fan’s fingertips is a myriad of public outlets. With a veritable click of a mouse, Joe can offer his opinion on officiating, coaching, effort, the designated hitter or whatever tickles his fancy.

High school, college and professional sports are being covered like never before. Fans are getting to know players like never before, with almost immediate access and insight through one of the aforementioned personal and mass media devices.

When you finish reading this column, you can click to comment and immediately offer a counterpoint.

At halftime of a ballgame, you can offer your opinion via Twitter or Facebook through your smartphone.

For the most part, this is a good thing.

In many ways it blows me away. I am “Old School.” I was trained in journalism before any of these options existed. I prefer keeping score by hand. Instant replay was for the fan, not for the officials, to review a call. I prefer my hair buzzed and my body tattoo-free.

But I must admit, this new media – I guess it’s not “new” anymore – is very cool. During the past hoops season, I managed to view Tweets from players, both college and high school, who had just finished playing a game that I had covered.

That kind of access provides insight never before gained. It provides perspective. It provides knowledge.

So, here’s a pledge to you: We will be there, using this media to bring you the very best, the most insightful and knowledgeable coverage of local sports available.

We welcome your comments, your Tweets, your texts, and your Facebook posts. In fact, we hope everyone who reads STGnews.com and has something to say finds a way to let us know.

Email us at [email protected]. Tweet me at @oldschoolag. Comment on stories. Text me: 435-467-5842.

We at STGnews.com, are absolutely a journalistic media outlet. We will not write a story with unsubstantiated quotes or open media hearsay. We operate proudly with a set of strong media ethics. That has not gone away, nor will it anytime soon.

But our readers, with their thousands of eyes and ears, can make STGnews.com the best media source southern Utah has ever known.

And even for an Old School guy like me, that’s pretty dope!

 

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright 2012 St. George News.

 

 

 

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