Input sought to improve sports page
“Your sports section sucks.”
Hell of a thing, really, to have your work impugned in one bold, declarative statement. Yet such was the case Wednesday when I read the not-so-subtle critique of my work in the Daily Bee.
That the comment came from a California transplant at lunch with the Bee publisher was of little consolation. As a third generation native of Idaho, who has lived in Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Boise and Stanley, I’ve become quite immune to the air of superiority and haughty certitude that many of these fine folks bring with them upon moving to the Gem State.
As the sports editor of the Daily Bee for several years now, I’ve also developed a reasonably thick skin. The complaints are interspersed with the compliments, and at least in theory, you try and take something away from both of them.
But when such a scathing rebuke is found quoted in your boss’s column, you tend to take a little extra notice. Equal parts glad-hander, gossip and newspaperman, the publisher of a small-town daily wears many hats, ultimately entrusted with turning a tidy profit and keeping the corporate higher-ups happy.
As someone who takes pride in putting out the sports page, I have to admit the old ego took a stiff right jab to the jaw — to use a sports metaphor. After grinding my teeth for a moment, then reading the publisher’s subsequent ham handed defense of me, I was left with no choice but to ponder a few questions.
First, why such harsh verbiage? Boring, insufficient, poor, inadequate, lacking — I could probably live with those. But “sucks” is a bit tougher pill to swallow. As the sole proprietor of the page, including the writing, photography and layout, I can only hope that most of the readership doesn’t share a similar sentiment.
Secondly, why would the publisher include the quote in his column, when he’s supposed to have his newsroom’s back? Hopefully not to send a message, because if so, I can only surmise my days at the Bee may be numbered.
Thirdly, and this is far and away the most important of the questions, what can I do to make the sports page better? This is where you, the reader, can have a vested interest in what you see everyday in the sports page.
What do you want to see more of? Less of? What is lacking? Should there be more national news and less local, or vice versa? How can the page improve, or at the very least, not “suck?” I’m open to any and all suggestions.
On a final, more personal note, I’d like to thank Sandpoint graduate Paulina Gralow for the nice handwritten card she dropped by the Daily Bee recently. One of the best swimmers ever from the state of Idaho, she’ll swim next year at the University of Wisconsin, and if she keeps improving at her current clip in the breaststroke, perhaps even a future Olympics.
She wanted to express her gratitude for all of the pictures and stories on the swim team that had run over the years, noting that fellow swimmers she meets at national competitions tell her that their exploits never make it into the paper, no matter how big.
A small gesture, her thank you card, but very meaningful. Round about the time when the undesirable hours, stressful deadlines and menial pay begin to make you question your job, you get a nice reminder as to why you do it.
Eric Plummer is the sports editor of the Daily Bee. For comments, story ideas or suggestions on how to improve the paper, he can be reached at “eplummer@cdapress.com,” or by calling 263, 9534, ext. 226.