(07-18-2017 10:33 AM)tigergreen Wrote:  

(07-18-2017 08:28 AM)BengalBurger Wrote:  You're both "wrong" - Geoff's job is to write stories that generate interest and sell advertising. Right now, his job also includes getting out of the "writing for newspapers business" and is using his content as a resume for his next job - because the "writing is on the wall" in his current industry.

This. Contrary to popular belief, it's not his or any other columnists' job to wave the flag for the local university.

The pressure added to Calkins from Gannett being in charge at the CA now certainly is not going to help matters - they are all about bottom line click numbers - one of the worst in the biz.

Perfectly stated. Been screaming this for a decade, and people still don't get it.

It's his job to be the columnist for the local newspaper, not to "cast the University in a positive light."

(07-18-2017 01:10 PM)HornLakeTiger Wrote:  

(07-18-2017 10:33 AM)tigergreen Wrote:  

(07-18-2017 08:28 AM)BengalBurger Wrote:  You're both "wrong" - Geoff's job is to write stories that generate interest and sell advertising. Right now, his job also includes getting out of the "writing for newspapers business" and is using his content as a resume for his next job - because the "writing is on the wall" in his current industry.

This. Contrary to popular belief, it's not his or any other columnists' job to wave the flag for the local university.

The pressure added to Calkins from Gannett being in charge at the CA now certainly is not going to help matters - they are all about bottom line click numbers - one of the worst in the biz.

Perfectly stated. Been screaming this for a decade, and people still don't get it.

It's his job to be the columnist for the local newspaper, not to "cast the University in a positive light."

It's his job to sell newspapers. He might sell more with the positive light.

it's his job to sell newspapers without selling his soul

That's hard these days

(07-18-2017 10:33 AM)tigergreen Wrote:  

(07-18-2017 08:28 AM)BengalBurger Wrote:  You're both "wrong" - Geoff's job is to write stories that generate interest and sell advertising. Right now, his job also includes getting out of the "writing for newspapers business" and is using his content as a resume for his next job - because the "writing is on the wall" in his current industry.

This. Contrary to popular belief, it's not his or any other columnists' job to wave the flag for the local university.

The pressure added to Calkins from Gannett being in charge at the CA now certainly is not going to help matters - they are all about bottom line click numbers - one of the worst in the biz.

Yeah. How is that working for them. Making money? Growing base? Wouldn't even know he wrote a "column" anymore if it weren't for posts here.

Pull my finger.

(07-18-2017 07:36 PM)bluebacker Wrote:  Pull my finger.

I'm amazed by the number of folks who will still do it

eww to both of yew

Pull my finger.

So many newspaper experts.

He is a jag off, get over yourselves.

(07-18-2017 08:40 AM)TG4 Wrote:  Thomas J. Carpenter is now and will forever be the bane of Memphis Football.

I'd like to think Shirley Raines is right up there with him...if not on his level...maybe a fingernail away.

We can trace our success back to Tommy's rant years ago...
So let's revisit one of his topics.

The CA IS our local paper. Would it not help the local team by writing some things in a more positive light?
Let's face it...whether you like or dislike Geoff...he has his finger on the pulse of average fans. If he writes something...its usually something that is on their minds. I know...because I consider myself an average fan...and I cannot count the number of times the guy has written a story that accurately depicted my own feelings about something to do with the football program.
When he has had to 'gripe' about a subject....stuff gets changed in a hurry.
Couldn't that be tapped to help the home team?

(07-19-2017 11:43 AM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  We can trace our success back to Tommy's rant years ago...
So let's revisit one of his topics.

The CA IS our local paper. Would it not help the local team by writing some things in a more positive light?
Let's face it...whether you like or dislike Geoff...he has his finger on the pulse of average fans. If he writes something...its usually something that is on their minds. I know...because I consider myself an average fan...and I cannot count the number of times the guy has written a story that accurately depicted my own feelings about something to do with the football program.
When he has had to 'gripe' about a subject....stuff gets changed in a hurry.
Couldn't that be tapped to help the home team?

You know most of our opinions is just a strange agglomeration of what our friends think. There's plenty of research that backs this up.

So maybe, just maybe, the average fan just regurgitates what the media thinks.

Calkins is not a destination read for me.

Calkins is one of the breed of sports writers confusing the cause of his popularity. He believes he is the primary reason people read and listen but in reality it is the position he holds that grants him an audience. Few would care about Calkins' opinions without his connection to the CA.

(07-20-2017 06:45 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  Calkins is not a destination read for me.

Calkins is one of the breed of sports writers confusing the cause of his popularity. He believes he is the primary reason people read and listen but in reality it is the position he holds that grants him an audience. Few would care about Calkins' opinions without his connection to the CA.

I agree. And this could be said for *most* sportswriters. The evidence of this is now with social media many of these guys abuse their followers with their personal views (Twitter, etc). No one follows them for that, and it's inconsiderate to make followers have to wade through it as they watch for more appropriate, relevant information. Case in point is Calkins Trump tweets or just last night Parrish liked a vulgar and profane tweet from some person about Ann Coulter. I don't care what your politics are one way or the other, people aren't following them to see that stuff.

Calkins is the main reason I read the CA anymore (along with the football/basketball coverage). I mean I gave up my subscription...cuz its now just a shell for the USA Today franchise...but I can still read it thanks to android...and I'd read it a lot less if he weren't writing for them.

I miss the old CA.

Whatever it is now is sad.

(07-20-2017 12:41 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  I miss the old CA.

Whatever it is now is sad.

ditto

Miss the overall quantity of newspapers altogether. But...as people started reading them lesss, of course they had to downsize. Then those same people who stopped buying them complained about their downsizing.

Result was...well...catastrophic in many ways.

(07-20-2017 03:04 PM)Mimi Wrote:  Miss the overall quantity of newspapers altogether. But...as people started reading them lesss, of course they had to downsize. Then those same people who stopped buying them complained about their downsizing.

Result was...well...catastrophic in many ways.

for the most part they had bad content...and never listened to their readers.
For instance Wendi Thomas. People had been telling the CA to ditch her for years.
Instead of trying to craft stories that would invite discussions between white folks and black folks in Memphis to find some type of common ground...you had constant hate mongering almost every article she wrote.
Just one example.

After all of the above, you are singling out Wendi Thomas?

Dude.

The issue is not whether you liked her or disliked her, or really any writer, or perceived idea that a paper was ignoring readers...let alone the somewhat transparent agenda by assailing Wendi Thomas.

The issue with newspapers was the Internet and then the I phone. Anecdotal examples gin things up, but had little to do with the big picture.