University of Alabama beat writer: The Birmingham News

I was just kidding with the 'thanks for stopping by bit.' You know, toeing the company line?

Sorry to kickstart the firestorm.

Good discussion, FWIW, though, and the lad from Clarion has my kudos as well.

 

I'll agree with the first part of that statement. Big-time underachiever.

Top 3-4? Don't know about that.

 

They have the resources to do it. What they don't have is the pro presence of, say, KC and Palm Beach, which hurts badly in contest. Mostly what they lack is the vision and motivation, IMO. They play it too safe and predictable. They don't do enough enterprise. Their centerpieces too often are news of the day vs. taking initiative to plan. Very little in the way of design pop, either. They don't do much to inspire or improve the writers they do have, which is actually a pretty solid stable. They are solid all around, though. Just could be so much better with some effort.

Their goal every day should be to be a top 5 section.

 

And as someone else said, letting Jon Solomon do what he's capable of could do much to cure that.

 

I don't find that surprising at all.

ALSO: I want to add what seems to be a cursory plug for Ian R. I think he's going to be a winner, and it's a very positive development for the News. I don't understand why he wasn't the top guy all along. I really don't.

 

SportsJournalists.com's newest member.

Awaiting the first post with bated breath

 

He was lurking previously, sources indicate.

 

Check the most recent APA awards and see if the B-ham News is dominant. Notice the total of awards for sports the Huntsville Times took compared to B-ham and the number of first place awards Huntsville won. Then someone tell us with a straight face, how dominant the News is.

 

Well, here's a link to the award winners. Decide for yourself.

http://www.alabamapress.org/uploads/06%20BNC%20Press%20Release.pdf

 

To the sender of the personal message and for everyone else's info, NO I DO NOT WORK AT THE HUNTSVILLE TIMES.

 

Journalist. Preacher. Mutually exclusive?

 

I'll make it very easy for you since there are only five cetagories for sports.

Category 3 — Best Sports Page
Division A
1st place Press-Register (Mobile)
2nd place The Birmingham News
3rd place The Huntsville Times

Category 18 — Best Sports News In-Depth Story or Series
Division A
1st place The Tuscaloosa News for “Cottrell alleges three-way conspiracy” by Christopher Walsh
2nd place The Tuscaloosa News for “Jury selection starts Monday in Young trial” by Christopher Walsh
3rd place The Birmingham News for “Playing and Praying” by staff

Category 19 — Best Sports Single Event Story
Division A
1st place The Birmingham News for “Shula gets first signature win as Tide routs Gators” by Steve Kirk
2nd place Montgomery Advertiser for “Auburn bolts to big early lead, blows by Crimson Tide” by Jay G. Tate
3rd place The Tuscaloosa News for “Where do we go from here?” by Christopher Walsh

Category 20 — Best Sports Feature Story
Division A
1st place Press-Register (Mobile) for “The Battle of Murder Creek” by Mike Herndon
2nd place The Birmingham News for “People love to hate him, but he knows they’re listening” by Bob Carlton
3rd place The Tuscaloosa News for “Family Circus” by Christopher Walsh

Category 21 — Best Local Sports Column
Division A
1st place The Huntsville Times for “Regardless of verdict, Logan Young already has lost” by Mark McCarter
2nd place The Birmingham News for “Culpepper left hanging by judge and jury” by Kevin Scarbinsky
3rd place TimesDaily (Florence) for “Ward’s stay with ‘Cats too short” by Gregg Dewalt