Hurray! A reporter that understands FIRST!

[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!

Fortunately, the reporter Mr. Jeffery Kurz, really understands the impact of FIRST. His commentary column on Friday, March 10, during the competition shows that we really can get the public to understand what FIRST is trying to do. Read his column here, quickly!

Everyone, please take a moment to contact Mr. Kurz and thank him for his insightful column. Also, drop the paper a quick editorial comment asking the Record - Journal to cover FIRST events more thoroughly in the future. Please don't blast the editors or the paper, we need to be positive to make FIRST grow. I'm sure if the paper starts getting feedback from people around the country (and the world) they'll take notice and we'll all get better coverage in the future.

Remember this IS part of Dean's homework!

[Jay H 237]

I just want to mention that the Sunday Republican-American had a photo spread of the competition on page 5B. No story, just captions under the photos which included teams 237, 999, and 1071. It is nice to see it got in more than one local paper.

Unfortunately that's also all I got to see of the UTC comp since I've been sick since last Wednesday.

[nobrakes8]

Originally Posted by Jay H 237

I just want to mention that the Sunday Republican-American had a photo spread of the competition on page 5B. No story, just captions under the photos which included teams 237, 999, and 1071. It is nice to see it got in more than one local paper.

Unfortunately that's also all I got to see of the UTC comp since I've been sick since last Wednesday.

It seems like all the Waterbury-Republican cares about is when a team wins.. Anytime 237 wins it's in the newspaper.. When 1071 won.. It was in the newspaper.. And even those interviews are very small and hard to find.. Last year after we got back from Atlanta we tried getting a reporter to do an interview with us and it was like pulling teeth to make them show up... Finally we did get a picture and a small article, but even that was pethetic.. I don't mean to sound ungracious for the attention we did get, but for an area that has 5 teams, and a VEX team at Kennedy High School, its really pethetic that they give us no attention at all.. How can we keep our sponsor's attention if nobody else cares?

I have a few ideas for the 5 teams around waterbury to work together for attention and possibly sponsorship, except I need to think the idea through and talk it over with an engineer on 1071 first.. But I blurted out the general idea and he seemed a little bit interested so if the idea holds merit I'll send e-mails to the teams for their input.

[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.

[Stu Bloom]

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!

Fortunately, the reporter Mr. Jeffery Kurz, really understands the impact of FIRST. His commentary column on Friday, March 10, during the competition shows that we really can get the public to understand what FIRST is trying to do. Read his column here, quickly!

Everyone, please take a moment to contact Mr. Kurz and thank him for his insightful column. Also, drop the paper a quick editorial comment asking the Record - Journal to cover FIRST events more thoroughly in the future. Please don't blast the editors or the paper, we need to be positive to make FIRST grow. I'm sure if the paper starts getting feedback from people around the country (and the world) they'll take notice and we'll all get better coverage in the future.

Remember this IS part of Dean's homework!

Thanks so much for pointing that out Art. I just sent Jeffrey this short note:

Thanks for your great article on the FIRST Robotics competition in Hartford (http://www.record-journal.com/articl...z/kurz919.txt). I mentor one of teams here in Indianapolis and we all appreciate whenever someone "gets it" about this organization. I wish there were more like you. FYI, this year there are 32 regional competitions over 5 weekends all across the country (even two in Canada and one in Israel!), culminating in the Championship event April 27-29 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, where about 340 teams will battle it out for top honors. If you could make it I am sure you would appreciate all of the talented teens and the great atmosphere and competition.

[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.