RIP: Print media guides in the ACC

[Cape_Fear]

The Missouri Valley is doing this starting this year as well.

I'm of the tech age, but even though it broke my back covering two teams lugging the books around I liked having the books in hand because it was a lot quicker to look something up.

 

[pseudo]

From last month's PFWA newsletter:

There is a trend across all major sports to shift from a printed media guide to a digital product. Several major colleges are cutting printed media guides this year, not o­nly to cut costs but to go green. I hear the NBA has mandated that all teams be digital by 2010. MLB reported in February that it was cutting the printed copies of the red and green books, saving the league $100,000.

I have had conversations with the NFL and with o­ne team PR director. NFL teams likely will produce fewer copies of guides this year, and o­ne or two teams will experiment with not printing o­ne at all.

The league will send a memory stick to national writers with guides from all 32 teams included in PDF bookmarked form. Clubs also will get a small number of these sticks from the league to distribute.

 

[JBHawkEye]

Since most "media" guides anymore include mostly details that have little use to the media, if they want to give me a memory stick with everything I need, that's fine with me. My bag will be a lot lighter.

 

[jfs1000]

The only problem you will have is it's harder to thumb through a PDF than a book. That's about it.

 

[SockPuppet]

Think the point should be made that this is the conference doing away with printed media guides. The schools will continue to print out their recruiting guides. However, the NCAA is considering legislation that would do away with all media guides but that won't take effect (if it's passed) until the 2009-10 season.

Also, with a PDF guide you can do a search for a name or stat; it's sometimes easier than looking it up in the guide.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

http://www.jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida_state_seminoles/2009-05-13/story/acc_considers_cost-cutting_measures

In one of the league's cost-cutting moves, media guides will only be available online or with memory sticks using PDFs. That includes all individual sports and league media guides.

I know that, for the most part, I've been looking up information on the Web sites of schools. But there are times when you are in a hurry and are familiar with the print version of the media guide that you can find a fact faster with the print edition.

This move surprises me a bit. I've always thought that schools looked at these things more as a recruiting tool than a media guide.

How else is John Swofford going to give himself a bonus in Greensboro?

 

[zagoshe]

What is going to happen to the recruiting bullshirt stuffed in the current paper media guides (you know, the "we are...." "first rate facilities" "top academics" "first-rate support staff" "meet the coaches" crapola?

Are schools still going to publish them in some fashion?

 

[JBHawkEye]

What is going to happen to the recruiting bullshirt stuffed in the current paper media guides (you know, the "we are...." "first rate facilities" "top academics" "first-rate support staff" "meet the coaches" crapola?

Are schools still going to publish them in some fashion?

Oh yeah, they won't give that up.

 

[zagoshe]

Has anyone seen any of these full-blown "recruiting guides" which are accompanied by a supplement full of statistics and whatnot? I think Texas A&M was the first school I saw to do this -- but I'd actually prefer this -- give me the stats and history in a no-frills way and keep the other shirt to yourself.

 

[John]

Since most "media" guides anymore include mostly details that have little use to the media, if they want to give me a memory stick with everything I need, that's fine with me. My bag will be a lot lighter.

Agreed.

I've already received about a dozen spring media guides, all of which went into the recycling bin. I can't fathom the amount of money that some of the major programs spend on mailing media guides and other info to FWAA members. I've covered an FCS program for the past two seasons so virtually everything I've received has been of no use to me.

 

[zagoshe]

Since most "media" guides anymore include mostly details that have little use to the media, if they want to give me a memory stick with everything I need, that's fine with me. My bag will be a lot lighter.

Agreed.

I've already received about a dozen spring media guides, all of which went into the recycling bin. I can't fathom the amount of money that some of the major programs spend on mailing media guides and other info to FWAA members. I've covered an FCS program for the past two seasons so virtually everything I've received has been of no use to me.

How much do you think some of the most expensive media guides -- like Georgia's football one a year or two ago with the hologram on it or like Louisville's hard backs -- how much do you think the ones like those cost?

 

[John]

No idea, but it's about $5 a pop to mail each one out.