BleacherCoaches.com

Well, since the TD monitors this site, I'll post my comments here.

Around six years ago, the TD sent out a survey to their carriers, asking them if they would continue to work as a carrier if the newspaper was required to be delivered at 6:00 AM rather than 7:00. I don't know how the survey ended, but it seemed obvious to me that high school kids (the primary carriers) would NOT get up at 4:30 or 5:00 so papers can be delivered by 6:00 AND THEN have to wait around the house for 1 to 1/2 hours before they go to school.

It didn't take long for alot of carriers to quit. The TD had several (30-40) positions available all the time. Their solution? We were changed to a motor route. I wonder how many other routes have been changed.

Perhaps their circulation would improve if they would address the following issues:

1 - A bagged wet paper delivered in the driveway at 6:00 AM is not the same as a dry paper inside your front door at 7:00.

2 - How "Green" is it to use cars to deliver papers when carriers use to either walk or ride bikes.

3 - I wonder if they ever did an analysis on how many new subscriptions they've received due to the new delivery time versus losses due to the poor service.

4 - If I have to get dressed and walk to the end of my driveway to get a wet paper that was delivered by a car, wouldn't I be better off just picking up a dry paper by driving down to Sheetz?

CTindian:

Thanks for posting Knopsnyders reply. He makes some points but still not an excuse for virtually ignoring the only sport (other than CC cross country) that our high school teams have excelled in on a statewide basis in recent memory. When JHS went to the PIAA AAA state final, coverage was terrible. All that college bound talent did not receive appropiate coverage. There were alot of great stories on that team that were never told. Coach Fuschina and his kids were shortchanged by their hometown paper. Same for CV and Westmont girls. CV had the best player in PA in Pollino and that was it. Coach Cruse did what may have been the best coaching job I have ever seen in high school to get that team to Hershey. Never got appropriate credit. Again alot of good CV stories went untold. Westmont girls, played the toughest schedule I have ever seen for a girls team playing a nationally ranked team, blowing out the consensus #1 team in PA on their home floor and beating several AAAA teams, yet most of their achievements went unreported by the Tribune Democrat. Alot of human great interest stories went untold on that team too.

Heck, one year there were THREE, THREE teams from Johnstown playing for a PIAA state basketball championship. When has that EVER happened? When will it ever happen again? This was a once in a lifetime opportunity yet the Tribune did nothing special for this totally unbelievable accomplishment.

I think the problems go a little deeper than Mr Knopsnyder cares to admit.

The Mirror would have had a special section of the paper for each team with stories on the kids, their backrounds, their schools and communities. Because the Mirror is a community newpaper and supports the Altoona area in a positive manner.

Now, to the Tribunes credit, last year they gave the NC girls the coverage a state finalist deserves. Fantastic job. It will be interesting to see what they will do for the next state finalist or if politics and petty jealousies come into play.

I have to agree that the altoona mirror is the standard for a quality sports section in the area with the bedford gazette being second and the tribune being last!That being said I think the tribune has to cut back a little on it's coverage area.The gazette does an adequate job but in a smaller area.It's a shame that CC didn't get the coverage they should have for a state title.I also have noticed lax coverage on some spring sports too.All in all though if you want to find out about another team from a coaching stand point and don't see them much just pick up the mirror,if the school is in there area they will do the best job.

Hey CT00, THANKS for passing on the posting to the TD. Any improvement in the coverage of a winter and spring sport will be welcome. I find that the Daily American does a much nicer job covering the basketball and baseball teams. It's a better bang for the buck.

And while we are on the subject CT, you were wondering if I was being sarcastic bout you being a contributor to the TD.
Note: If you need to wonder if there is sarcasm in my postings, then there isn't. If I don't like something, I'll come right out and call anyone on it.

You will have to work REALLY, REALLY hard to keep the CT influence out the articles....but I think you're up to it. The TD readers need more than just "Team A 54, Team B 48. Joe Basketball scored 15 for the winners."

whozisgonnab wrote:Hey CT00, THANKS for passing on the posting to the TD. Any improvement in the coverage of a winter and spring sport will be welcome. I find that the Daily American does a much nicer job covering the basketball and baseball teams. It's a better bang for the buck.

And while we are on the subject CT, you were wondering if I was being sarcastic bout you being a contributor to the TD.

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i always have wanted to be a sportswriter not sure if you were being sarcastic or not..but being a sports journalist always tops my list of dream jobs

Note: If you need to wonder if there is sarcasm in my postings, then there isn't. If I don't like something, I'll come right out and call anyone on it.

You will have to work REALLY, REALLY hard to keep the CT influence out the articles....but I think you're up to it. The TD readers need more than just "Team A 54, Team B 48. Joe Basketball scored 15 for the winners."

haha yeah....but it would probably be easier for me to cover games that didnt include CT....or really close games involving CT...but you are correct, I am very biased when it comes to giving a "neutral" review of a game

Those of us just a few districts away from Windber have come to believe that the "Somerset edition" of the Trib starts and stops in Windber. Sounds like we were wrong...they don't do a decent job for a magnitude of school districts.

Are the writers at the trib still standing at the corner of Central park--they were when I worked downtown. They should try putting some time and effort into writing some interesting articles about local athletes.

IDEA :idea: Maybe the writers should check this site for some ideas!

Can you believe this one?????????

Yesterday the Tribune Democrat spent time, effort and resources on a big story on page 2 of the paper about a girl from Richland who served drinks and shots at the playboy mansion wearing only latex paint. No coverage on high school hoops, but a prominent story on a centerfold wannabe. Great human interest story??? What a wonderful example of someone who should be held up as a role model for the young ladies of our community. What the heck is going through the minds of the people at the Tribune Democrat?

Why would this embarrassment to the people of the Johnstown area continue to mostly ignore high school basketball student athletes and waste resources on such a demeaning unnewsworthy story? I'm scratchin my head. It seems that this paper continues to sink new depths. It is really sad.

As much as i don't like The TD's coverage of basketball, I never mind hearing about girls in nothing but paint serving booze. HAHAHAHA

And when she was quoted as saying, "I'm Catholic and I'm very religious", I just about fell out of my chair. Then she said, "God puts his blessings on you no matter what you do". Is there something wrong here, or is it just me?

Hopefully it's not just you...I wonder who her pastor is?! I'd like to catch his sermon this week.