Operation: Take Back the Media

[Jeremy]

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>

[monkeybrow]

All for it Jeremy...as long as the emails sent are in good taste and class.



Worthless attacks with nuggets such as "you cover the Pukeyes more then us!" and " Quit attacking us you liberal Woodward and Bernstein!" just smacks of whining and will not do ISU any favors.



Please be articulate people!

[Jeremy]

Exactly, good point to bring up.

My problem with the Register (in this instance) is that they just aren't equal in their reporting. I don't care so much that they report on so called scandals and things for ISU (if they would Iowa as well) but there are countless times where ISU has won a big game but it is on the second page while an Iowa loss is on the front page as the headline. That isn't fair to the readers, regardless of school orientation.

I understand my loyalties go towards ISU and I am more likely to see things portrayed towards Iowa, but I think you could find enough statistical and evidenciary exmaples to prove it is a true bias towards the Hawks.

I just feel that it is one thing to see it and recognize it, it's even better to try and do something about it.

Please make sure if you contact the media, be polite and courteous but also make sure they know that people are keeping score and the scoreboard won't lie.

[Nedrick]

Looks like Sports Editor Bryce Miller is out of the office until Monday.

Here's the general sports dept. email:

sports@dmreg.com


By the way, here's what I wrote:

I'm writing to ask that you and your sports department make a better effort to offer balanced sports coverage of college sports and especially ISU. Today's Register has several stories on the front page of sports with much less impact than the story about ISU's facility expansion project - a story you buried on page two with just one photo. I believe it this was a story about the University of Iowa, you would have splashed it all of the front of the sports section with several photos/drawings.

Please try in the future to offer more balanced coverage.

[monkeybrow]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Nedrick @ Jun 22 2006, 07:54 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> Looks like Sports Editor Bryce Miller is out of the office until Monday.

Here's the general sports dept. email:

sports@dmreg.com


By the way, here's what I wrote:

I'm writing to ask that you and your sports department make a better effort to offer balanced sports coverage of college sports and especially ISU. Today's Register has several stories on the front page of sports with much less impact than the story about ISU's facility expansion project - a story you buried on page two with just one photo. I believe it this was a story about the University of Iowa, you would have splashed it all of the front of the sports section with several photos/drawings.

Please try in the future to offer more balanced coverage. [/b][/quote]



Good email Nedrick!

[TheHelgo]

I think this is a great idea, and I wish you Iowans the best in pulling it off. As a resident of STL, I will have to endure the ravings of Mizzou and Illini fans no matter what I do. Good luck on getting adequate coverage for the Cyclones in Iowa!

[cycloneworld]

I just wanted to give another example which really pissed me off a couple of weeks ago. And I will be writing to them about this.



There was a side story with the Headline "Iowa Finishes in Top 25 for Attendence" refering to the basketball season. The say how Iowa had one of their most successful seasons and how it paid off in attendence and how they consistantly finish in the top 25. The very last line in the article was: Iowa State finished 26th.



This is outrageous! Let's talk up the Hawks about their great season and attendence and oh yeah, if you care, ISU finished 26th. No mention about how ISU had one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory yet still almost beat Iowa in attendence and Iowa has a bigger arena and was in the Top 25 all season!!!!

[dornstar44]

Did anyone else happen to notice that the Register's article on ISU's facilities expansion was written by the Rag's Iowa City correspondent?

[URBCLONE]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dornstar44 @ Jun 22 2006, 09:47 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> Did anyone else happen to notice that the Register's article on ISU's facilities expansion was written by the Rag's Iowa City correspondent?

[/b][/quote]



Sorry if I am being repetitive with this. But according to the Rag,what was the biggest news story in the state yesterday regarding sports? Here are your options:

1. The Chicago Cubs latest minor-league prospect.
2. Tyler Smith’s first PTL game in Coralville.
3. The new Big Ten TV network
4. The announced plan of $135 million in facilities enhancements to the ISU sports complex.

Well, according to our beloved DM Rag, the top sports story is #1! That’s right, $135 million in facilities improvements at ISU is a lesser story to them than the latest Chicago Cubs minor league phenom or Tyler Smith’s first game in the PTL. Funny isn’t it, Kinnick renovations are announced and it is all we hear about. Now both JTS and Hilton are being renovated and it barely rates first page sports coverage. We get one blurry little drawing on the second page. Correct me if I am wrong here, but I thought that a paper 30 miles from Ames might want to provide a little more coverage on the biggest facilities plan at ISU in the last 30 years.

[JJ4ISU]

Mary Stier is a University of Iowa grad and Laura Hollingsworth went to Michigan State. Just an FYI...

[MNclone]

So I was doing a little research for my e-mail to the Rag, here is what I found.
There was an article on proposed changes to Kinnick in November of 2002
In December of 2003, the plan went to the Regents, a similar place to where we are today. On December 10, 2003, one week before it went to Regents, UI unveiled their proposed plan. There were three seperate articles in the RAG that day talking about it.
There was another article on the 17th when the Board actually approved the first state.
So all in all, pretty close to our second page blurb.

[Chris]

Jeremy,



Have you thought about copying emails to DMR advertisers too? ISU alumni have the choice in buying products and services and you can get additional attention to this lack of fair and balanced reporting buy also targeting the newspapers advertisers.

[CY ST8T]

I got a response back from Bryce Miller saying he was out of state and would check the story out when he got back. But I think that all of us raising a fuss and demanding more will at least get them talking and maybe thinking if that is possible.

[Nedrick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CY ST8T @ Jun 22 2006, 03:16 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
I got a response back from Bryce Miller saying he was out of state and would check the story out when he got back. But I think that all of us raising a fuss and demanding more will at least get them talking and maybe thinking if that is possible.
[/b][/quote]


Here's what he replied to me:

"I'm out of the state at a convention, so I haven't seen the paper the past two days. My understanding, however, was that we staffed the story and were planning on images of the upgrades -- and ran a major front-page story a week ago when the initial news broke.

I return to Iowa on Monday, however, and will see papers then if you want to check back in again.

Thanks, -- Bryce"

[clone33]

I've got another example of Media trouncings we get. KCRG TV9News out Cedar Rapids said the day before the ISU-Iowa womens basketball game, "And up next for the Hawkeye women are the Cyclones of ISU"

Why not "And now ISU and Iowa women face off tomorrow"? or something like that? Nobody else probably noticed it but it kinda torked me off.



On another note, i will would advize us, as CycloneFanatic, a group in support of Iowa State Athletics, should send an email to all of the media outlets in question, as a group. a group in support of soemthing is always more powerful than individual people.



I also think we should send an email out to local businesses in Ames and des moines to askfor support from them.