Pushing the Mainstream Media for More MLS Coverage
By: Laurie | April 10th, 2007A comment I got yesterday from “GalaxyFan:”
Laurie,
Great Blog, finally a regular update blog about all things Galaxy and I don’t mind the Victoria Beckham photos. Actually more would be nice. I want to start a email barrage to the LA Times for their lack of MLS Preview this year. Are you interested? I will be sending them an email as a subscriber and hope other Galaxy fans will be doing the same.
I’m 100% in agreement here. The US media’s coverage of soccer is pathetic, particularly before the season starts.
But papers are in the business of covering what their readers want to read. So GalaxyFan is 100% correct. How will they know that there are soccer fans in this country if we don’t let them know? Change is tough, but I’m seeing it happening in the next few years. But only if soccer fans MAKE it happen.
So what can you do?
1. Galaxy and Chivas fans: Write a letter or e-mail to the LA Times. Here’s the link to t.he Times.
This does require that you provide identifying information. But if something’s important, it’s worth putting your name to. You can also e-mail them directly at letters@latimes.com.
2. Send a link to that site — or better yet, to this post (what can I say, I want the hits) — to all of your soccer-loving friends, family, acquaintances and total strangers.
3. As the season progresses, keep contacting the media. Compliment them on the coverage they do provide, request more coverage, and point out the things you’ve read or observed that you believe deserve to be covered.
4. Contact any advertisers who are associated with anything MLS-related and let them know how much you appreciate their support. Buy from them when you have the choice. Money talks. (I suppose this could even include Herbalife. But I’m not willing to go that far yet myself.)
Change comes slowly, and the media resists it. But with enough pressure (and financial incentive), they’ll have to cave.
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Comments
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You beat me to it Laurie(I am still planning on a scathing article directed at the media and its pathetic representation of teams other than “Super Teams”)…this is something that I think we really need to address. The two of us should unite in our efforts to combat this….actually if we can get the blogosphere to work together we have a large enough voice to make a change.
Posted from
United States
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This is something all MLS bloggers should think about, depending on the local coverage. The Chicago Tribune actually does a good job (incidentally they also own the LA Times) as their soccer reporter has his own Fire blog. The Chicago Sun-Times is less good - their Fire blog was embarassingly empty for weeks recently.
Posted from
United States -
The main thing is to ignore the soccer bashers who only want you to write in with angry rants and to respectfully contact the decision makers at the various media outlets. Some are actually open to ideas and appreciate the contact. Others, not so much, but they still need to hear our voices.
Posted from
United States -
I have never been a fan of the LA Times coverage. Time to right a letter. And maybe they should get a new writer.
Well at least this ESPN AM station is moving in the right direction, so give this guy hits and email him with comments. http://www.710espn.com/article.asp?id=380876
Posted from
United States
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