Hurray! A reporter that understands FIRST!

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by skimoose

After writing a great, front page, article on our team in the local newspaper before the UTC Hartford Regional, the reporter was not allowed to cover the event, even though five teams (155, 195, 228, 999, & 1071) within the paper's circulation area were competing. The editors didn't think the regional competition was news-worthy enough!

I haven't read it yet as I am in a rush now, but it has to be better than the Hartford Courant's article that said the max size was 60"x60"x60".

Oy.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

I haven't read it yet as I am in a rush now, but it has to be better than the Hartford Courant's article that said the max size was 60"x60"x60".

Oy.

It is. 28x38 only applies at the start.

[skimoose]

its really pethetic that they give us no attention at all.. How can we keep our sponsor's attention if nobody else cares?

That's part of my point. We lost a major sponsor last year and have been struggling to make up for the loss this entire year.

If we as a group start supporting each other, we can make big improvements in media coverage. If you write to my local paper when they do (or don't) cover an event, and I do the same for you, papers will start to realize that there are a lot of people interested in what going on in FIRST.

If 5% of CD members wrote to papers or TV stations on a regular basis, I'd bet they'd pay more attention to FIRST. Remember media executives don't really care what makes it into print, or onto the TV, they just care that papers are selling and viewers are watching.

Wouldn't you like to see Championships back on ESPN like back in the day?

P.S. Thanks Stu for helping start a media push! If you make the papers let me know, I'll back up my words by writing to your press.

[chrisinmd]

Many thanks to skimoose for sharing this article with everyone. Great article!
Our team has been in the local paper a few times over the years, but there is still limited recognition of FIRST, and we are the only team in the county (Howard), so that doesn't help either. I always keep a few pictures on my camera of what we do in the shop, or of a regional, to show people who ask about robotics.

Keep getting the word out!!

-Chris

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by GaryV1188

It is. 28x38 only applies at the start.

Eh.. I knew someone was gonna bring up that technicality..
I read it as wrong, but it's technically right.. lol Oh well. No biggie.

[MattD1Drift]

That would have been in my paper! Very good article, except for the american-made cars part, that always makes me mad.