Operation: Take Back the Media

clone33 · 06-22-2006, 07:10 PM

I did some research for anybody to use in an email. Hope it helps.

I search the archives of the DSM Rag online.

Articles over the last 7 years with the keywords...

"Iowa State Cyclones" Hits: 5,217

"Iowa Hawkeyes: Hits: 6,366

Articles over the last year with the keywords...

"Iowa State Cyclones" Hits: 753

"Iowa Hawkeyes" Hits: 997

Articles over the last 3 months with the keywords...

"Iowa State Cyclones" Hits: 85

"Iowa Hawkeyes" Hits: 139

Ernie Godfrey · 06-22-2006, 07:35 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeremy @ Jun 22 2006, 08:16 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> Starting now, I am creating a new grass-roots campaign to help garner equal and fair reporting time in all of the state's media outlets. As many of you have figured out in the past, Iowa State has not always been fairly portrayed by all of the local media outlets and are often times held to a different standard than other Universities in the state (aka Iowa).

While I don't pretend to be a Hawk fan, I can also see when they are given a lot more leeway when it comes to media outlets like the Des Moines Register (aka the Hawkeye Daily) reporting on things. I can put up with bad publicity for Iowa State if it is earned or thoroughly investigated. What I don't like is how certain instances have been played out in the past and nobody has done anything about it.

One example is KCCI Channel 8's so-called investigation after Wayne Morgan and Bobby Douglas were fired. They had an on-campus "investigation" and interviewed several Iowa State students regarding the supposed minority outing of the two major minority coaches. What they failed to mention was how for a period of time 2 of the 4 major coaching positions at Iowa State belonged to a minority, something the University of Iowa can never say has happened there. Where was the investigation into why the University of Iowa has no major minority coaches at all? There was absolutely no mention of any other school in the story besides Iowa State.

Another example is as recent as today and this injustice has been done by the Des Moines Register. With the major news yesterday being about ISU's innovative and amazing $135 million renovations, they only devoted a small part to the story and it's on page 2 of the sports section. The 'top stories' are minor in comparison and are fluff stories that can be in any day's sports section.

What Operation Take Back the Media is going to do is simple. I'm asking each of you to either call or write a letter to the media outlet that commits the slanted reporting and call them out for it. We are the customers and we can demand our stories be told. If we don't speak out, how can we ever expect to get ahead in the state's fight for media coverage?

I ask everybody to take a minute to write the DM Register and request fair and balanced reporting.

No more 'supposed' scandals that they never come back and say they were wrong about, no more devoting every line of good press to Iowa instead of Iowa State, if you want us to buy your paper, why not start reporting fairly on all topics.

The only way we can get ahead as a fanbase is by requesting fair and equal press. Below is a listing of DM Register executives that can be contacted either by email or telephone. You can click on the person's name to email them. Please take a few minutes to help out in this cause.

<table border="1" bordercolor="#C0C0C0" bordercolordark="#FFFFFF" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
<tr><th colspan="3">Des Moines Register Executives</th></tr>
<tr><td><u>Mary P. Stier</u></td><td>President and Publisher</td><td>(515) 284-8041</td></tr>
<tr><td><u>Laura Hollingsworth</u></td><td>General Manager</td><td>(515) 284-8471</td></tr>
<tr><td><u>Rick Bell</u></td><td>Vice President, Circulation</td><td>(515) 284-8311</td></tr>
<tr><td><u>Susan Genalo</u></td><td>Vice President, Finance</td><td>(515) 284-8206</td></tr>
<tr><td><u>Julie Harvey</u></td><td>Controller</td><td>(515) 284-8226</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kevin R. Johnson</td><td>Vice President, Production</td><td>(515) 471-3505</td></tr>
<tr><td><u>Susan Patterson Plank</u></td><td>Vice President, Marketing</td><td>(515) 284-8261</td></tr>
<tr><td><u>Joyce M. Ray</u></td><td>Vice President, Human Resources</td><td>(515) 284-8586</td></tr>
<tr><td><u>Brad Robertson</u></td><td>Vice President, Advertising</td><td>(515) 284-8384</td></tr>
<tr><td><u>Carolyn Washburn</u></td><td>Vice President, Editor</td><td>(515) 284-8502</td></tr>
<tr><td><u>R. Dee Wilson</u></td><td>Vice President, Information Services</td><td>(515) 284-8385</td></tr>
<tr><td><u>Bryce Miller</u></td><td>Executive Sports Editor</td><td>(515) 284-8130</td></tr>
</table>
[/b][/quote]

Why do fans of each school feel the media is biased against them? I think it just sounds childish whenever a fan of either school cries about it, to go on some sort of "campaign" simply screams it.

Balls · 06-22-2006, 08:38 PM

I agree with the action. Never hurts as long as it's communicated in an ethical and professional manner.

However, I don't read the DMR mainly because it's not in my area. For those in the area, I would suggest that if you have a membership, you write a letter along with your cancellation of membership. Informing them that you will return once the coverage is fair and represents your interests as members of their coverage area. This is something they can track and measure. That can be turned into dollars. If suddenly they get 20 cancellation in a week, then they have a reason to change. Writing back every month to tell them you still haven't renewed would be a constant reminder and if enough people do it consistently, it will get noticed.

Finally, I would suggest that you buy a new membership to a competing paper and write a letter to them telling them why you became a member (hopefully everyone could choose the same one). If twenty people did that, they would probably run a story on new memberships due to their superior coverage of ISU. That will catch the attention of the DMR.

Then completely stop reading the DMR and start reading the other newspaper. It's not a immediate fix, but based on economics will lead to change assuming enough people follow suit.

Finally, I would suggest that we contact our new AD who doesn't seem scared to take action to remind them that ISU is in their coverage area and expects equal coverage. If not, then school memberships and alumni support will lessen. It's a stretch, but I bet our new AD might send the message through some outlet to make the message clear that the old days are over and repeated patterns will not be ignored by ISU and their fan base.

Those are my ramblings... out.

Jeremy · 06-22-2006, 09:14 PM

I agree with almost all of you. While fans will always feel they are mistreated and reported in an unfair manner, I am usually not one of those because I am a very analytical person. I don't take things at face value and rather investigate things before I talk.

I think the simple fact there are 20% more articles about the Hawks then there are the Clones speaks volumes. While not all of those 1,000+ extra articles about the Hawks are going to be slanted in their advantage, the fact they're being covered that much more speaks about the dedication they have to covering everything about the Hawks.

While not everybody can have a media bias, there are certain instances where it becomes obvious and I think that is the case here. I know of several instances where the local media has reported about so-called scandals and problems at ISU only to find out they were wrong and not follow up with any mention of being wrong, it just magically disappears as a story.

Now look at some of the big Iowa issues over the past few years and you're hard pressed to see nearly as much coverage of them. I used to make a note of all the times I saw something for and against the Clones and did the same for the Hawks. This was many years ago when I was in school but I know the results were startling and very self evidentiary. I am usually not somebody to make a fuss over things like these but I also recognize that if we aren't vocal about it, why would we ever expect things to change. I'm not saying the DM Register has to become Cyclone slanted, I just want it to be bipartisan and cover both Universities equally, whatever the story may be.

michaelrr1 · 06-22-2006, 09:26 PM

Truth be told, the Register has publicly acknowledged that their coverage is slanted more TOWARDS Iowa State, not Iowa. Being closer to Ames, it is the Register's strategy to favor ISU to sell more copies. ISU also has John Walters on WOI....I wonder who he leans towards? Channel 13 hates everyone, or is accused to do so at one time or another. Sorry, but you seem to be waging a war that simply doesn't exist.

CloneHead · 06-22-2006, 10:49 PM

The 10 PM sports last night on KCRG-TV (ABC affiliate in Cedar Rapids) had no mention of the ISU renovations to Hilton and JTS, they had a little bit on the 6 PM news. Naturally they had the news on the Big 10 Network with quotes from Bluder, Alford and Ferentz. They also had a snippet on a Iowa MBB transfer from Seton Hall, he is sitting out the 2006/7 season. They also had a something on Roger Clemens comeback, but nothing on ISU.

KWWL-TV Waterloo had the ISU renovations as the lead story complete with pictures of the changes.

Guess which sportscast I will be watching tonight.

CY ST8T · 06-23-2006, 01:21 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(michaelrr1 @ 06-22-06 8:26 pm) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> Truth be told, the Register has publicly acknowledged that their coverage is slanted more TOWARDS Iowa State, not Iowa. Being closer to Ames, it is the Register's strategy to favor ISU to sell more copies. ISU also has John Walters on WOI....I wonder who he leans towards? Channel 13 hates everyone, or is accused to do so at one time or another. Sorry, but you seem to be waging a war that simply doesn't exist. [/b][/quote]

Does not exist or you are not educated enough on the subject to see the bias?

Nedrick · 06-23-2006, 02:28 PM

Here's Bryce Miller's latest response…

I think the centerpiece/front-page package on ISU president Geoffroy's big role in NCAA/sports decision-making would qualify as one of those stories you're talking about.

We've also done stories such as McCarney-and-his-dad, many stories about the plans Pollard has for the future, ISU gymnastics and much more.

So I never mind criticism, as long as the scorekeeping is fair and balanced. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

Thanks. We appreciate the feedback, so e-mail or call any time.

-- Bryce

Cyclonesrule91 · 06-23-2006, 02:29 PM

This is what I sent to Bryce Miller (Sports Editor at the DMRag)

Bryce,
>
> I have always knew that ISU sports has sort of taken a back seat
to Iowa sports coverage in the DMR, but was living somewhere where other
newspapers were available to get my fill of ISU sports. I have recently
moved to Des Moines where for now the options are less limited so I have
tried to give the Register another chance.
>
> I thought it was interesting that with Jamie Pollard getting
approval for $135 million in upgrades to Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton
Coliseum, that it did not make the front page of Sports. I know there
was big stories to cover like the Cubs minor league player and the Prime
Time League having Tyler Smith playing and something else, but come on.
If that would have been Kinnick or Carver, the front 3 pages would have
been dedicated to that story. I don't have a problem with the stories I
referred to above, but I think Pollard deserves better than that.
>
> Than I got to thinking. Why isn't Corey McIntosh, or Dodie
Dunson, or Korey Johnson, or Mike Taylor being covered by DMR in the
Capital City League. They have been quite entertaining to watch and
they are right in your back yard, and yet no coverage.........
>
> Then I read the article about Iowa's Carver arena being ranked
25th in attendance this year and what a great accomplishment that was.
Then it is only briefly stated that ISU ranked 26th. That could have
been an article about the state of Iowa having basketball teams that are
drawing a great fan base, not slanting it to one side. And to know that
Iowa is coming off one of it's best BB seasons in quite awhile and being
25th, while ISU is coming off one of its most dissapointing seasons in
quite awhile and being 26th also says something, would you not
agree?????
>
> Then to top it off, I see the article Keeler wrote about Van
DeVelde. I thought it was a good article for the most part, but there
are jabs, that are not quotes, stating that Hilton could not fill the
upper deck with nationally televised games??????? Come on now. Fair
and unbiased reporting is all I ask, and this comment was not one of
them.
>
> I don't ask that ISU be made front page news everyday, and I
don't want Iowa to be thrown to the page 5 with all their news, but if
you want me and fellow Cyclone fans to continue to give your paper
reading time, I think you need to be a little more objective in your
reporting.
>
> Thank you for your time

And this was his reply to my email.....................

Brian: I've been out of town all week for work, so have not seen the
papers first-hand. But my understanding was that the ISU/facilities
story was on the front page -- just as the news of the proposal was on
the front page last week.
>
> As far as the players in the Cap City League ... I think that's a good
idea. Our reporter who normally covers that league has been busy with
golf (Hy-Vee tourney, Allianz-leaving news, etc._) so we'll likely get
there soon.
>
> Thanks, Brian.
>
> -- Bryce

He is the Sports Editor and yet does not know what is on his Sports Page???? I wonder who runs that Sports Department anyway. Hopefully we are sending a message. Keep it up Cyclones

Ernie Godfrey · 06-23-2006, 03:20 PM

He said he was out of town all week. Like many of us, maybe he took a vacation to get asway from his work and didn't read the paper. As for the story on the money for the facilities, if I recall it was on the front page of the Register (not the sports page, the main section).

Some of us are waaaay to touchy. Maybe we should call Oliver Stone in to do a film on it. Or grow up.

Nedrick · 06-23-2006, 03:38 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ernie Godfrey @ 06-23-06 2:20 pm) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
He said he was out of town all week. Like many of us, maybe he took a vacation to get asway from his work and didn't read the paper. As for the story on the money for the facilities, if I recall it was on the front page of the Register (not the sports page, the main section).

Some of us are waaaay to touchy. Maybe we should call Oliver Stone in to do a film on it. Or grow up.
[/b][/quote]

Ernie...
You seem a little defensive about this Take Back the Media project. Do you work in the media?

Cyclonesrule91 · 06-23-2006, 03:42 PM

Some of us are waaaay to touchy. Maybe we should call Oliver Stone in to do a film on it. Or grow up.
[/quote]

Oh Yea, lets bring Hollywood in on this. Sorry, I didn't mean to offend someone who must work for the DMRag, since that is the only reason why someone must feel they are flawless in Iowa Sports coverage. You aren't changing my mind........... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

monkeybrow · 06-23-2006, 03:49 PM

This thread is getting more hilarious by the minute...please wait while I pop open some chips and soda to snack on while I observe the flame out...

bottom line is.......We win more games (esp the big games in football)....ISU will get more coverage. The Hawks are the number 1 game in town right now due to their wins in "big" games.

No amount of crying or writing down in our "little black books" on conspiracies will change the bias....until we get over the hump.

Warder60 · 06-23-2006, 03:58 PM

And for those that still think the register has ISU first... just go to their website, hover over the sports link to bring down the menu, hover over college sports for that menu... See who really is "first" on their list [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img]

And on another note... 94.9 KGGO... I used to live in Cedar Rapids, and the classic rock stations I listened to over there would play snippets of the iowa fight song, and were actively pro-Iowa... if anything our classic rock station is also pro-Iowa
been an annoyance of mine during football season

Jeremy · 06-23-2006, 08:46 PM

One thing to remember is that what I first stated was that this wasn't against the DM Reg but with the media as a whole. If we don't voice concern when there is an instance where we don't feel fairly represented, we aren't going to get any better treatment. I simply was trying to make people aware that they can have a part in ensuring ISU is fairly covered and isn't made a mockery of when it isn't warranted.