The Tribune-Democrat

[Eric_Knopsnyder]

As a casual reader of BleacherCoaches, I know there are plenty of well-informed sports fans in the Laurel Highlands. And I know many of you have opinions about how our sports coverage at The Tribune-Democrat could be improved.

Well, here’s your chance to be heard on both of those fronts. We’re looking to step up our coverage both in the newspaper and online. To do that, I need more writers throughout our coverage area, which includes all or parts of Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.

Mainly, I’m looking for help covering Friday night football games. I’m particularly interested in writers from the parts of our coverage area outside of Johnstown - southern Somerset County, northern Cambria County and Bedford County, etc. But we’re always looking for strong writers, so don’t let a Johnstown zip code keep you from contacting me.

And while football dominates the fall sports scene, we also welcome writers who feel more comfortable covering other sports, such as soccer or volleyball. Or, in the more immediate future, AAABA or Legion baseball.

Most freelance work will be straight game coverage – in other words, the writer’s opinions shouldn’t be a part of it – but in some instances we might consider guest blogs on http://www.tribdem.com.

So if you’re interested, or if you simply have ideas for improving our coverage, please contact me at [email protected].

Eric Knopsnyder,

Tribune-Democrat Sports Editor

[say_oww]

Hmmmm..... so you need some freelancers to cover games that they will not be able to read - unless they subscribe. Good luck with that Eric. The Mainline, Indiana Gazette, Altoona Mirror, and Somerset Daily American provide a lot more coverage of amateur sports than your paper. And with the exception of the Mainline, its all available online and free. And in case you didn't know, a lot of us go there first for our information. Some advice - add more sanldot, and rec league coverage like they do and maybe you will get a few more readers. A few extra football games a year isn't going to make up for the fact that you send a guy 250 yards down the street every night to cover two watered-down AAABA league games when there are dozens of other games going on in Cambria, Somerset, Blair, and Bedford counties. In case you missed it, there are at least 20 legion teams, and almost two dozen federation and teener teams out there. By reading the Trib you'd think that the only kids that played baseball were the four Johnstown AAABA teams and Somerset and Claysburg in legion. But then again, you guys probably don't care because someone from the Generals might have just been traded and you better make sure you get a story on that.

[Eric_Knopsnyder]

Thanks for the feedback say_oww. Company policy prohibits me from engaging in debates on forums such as this, but I will say that we'll continue to provide the best coverage we can for our readers with the resources that we have.

[Crusher grad 98]

Daily American is the best paper around hands down (:

[say_oww]

Thanks for the feedback say_oww. Company policy prohibits me from engaging in debates on forums such as this, but I will say that we'll continue to provide the best coverage we can for our readers with the resources that we have.

When you chose to advertise for free on bleachercoaches you should have expected at least a little "feedback". I thought my comments were on the mild side. You actually got off pretty easy. This site is dead during the summer, just wait until football season.

[Manfred]

I agree w/ say oww, Mr. K. I subscribe to your daily to read crime reports, births, deaths,key news of a local interest. I get really frustrated when I turn to the "local" sports page only to not see a report on whatever I was looking for. I get my best sports fix on a daily basis by stopping on my way to work and buying an ALTOONA MIRROR. Their sports coverage makes the Trib look sad. Remember, Sir, HALF of the teams in the LHAC lie beyond a 15-20 mile radius of Johnstown. Not only is coverage lacking, the Mirror hits the newsstands hours before the Trib. I realize indirectly, the economy has a factor in all this. You are somewhat limited in what you can cover due to manpower limits. You can't afford to send someone like the illustrious Corey Isenberg to cover every little sporting event in the "greater" Johnstown metropolitan ( oxymoron) area, but I'm sure we all would like things better than they are. The Stones' philosophy applies here: "You Can't Always Get What You Want".

[Eric_Knopsnyder]

Say_Oww and Manfred, I was sincere when I said thanks for the feedback. I understand that readers want more local coverage and we are honestly doing the best we can with what we have. I asked for comments, so I'm not upset by them. I'm always open to constructive criticism. I would prefer that you email or call me directly - as I said, I can't really get into everything on a public forum, but I'd be happy to discuss them with you on an individual basis.

[knowitall]

Do readers really want more local coverage? My guess is if the regular readers of the Tribune were polled this is what they want to read about

1. The Steelers
2. The Penguins
3. The Steelers
4. The Pirates
5. The Steelers
6. Pitt football
7. The Steelers
8. Penn State football
9. The Steelers
10. Pitt basketball

Few care about the AAABA regular season or playoffs, the Legion playoffs, St. Francis football, wrestling, girls sports of any kind, bicycle racing, the Generals, the West Virginia hockey team that plays a few games at the War Memorial or the local auto racing circuit.

[the oldo]

Complaining is easy.

I think this is a great opportunity for both the TD and local sports fans to help each other get what we all want-- more information about what's going on in the local sports scene.

The problem is, few people know how to report the facts-- but everyone knows how to complain.

If you can help, get with the movement. If not, stay out of the way.

-BB

[Manfred]

knowitall: I beg to differ with you, sir. I know most probably aren't like me, but I read 3, sometimes 4 papers a day, besides what I pull off the net. If I want National news or professional or college sports, I get it from USA TODAY or ESPN, etc. I want -LOCAL- news and -LOCAL- sports in my ....ahem..."LOCAL" newspaper. Go figure.