$2.5 Million Gift

[AusTxPony]

Unbelieveable comment! Now explain to me how covering SMU will HURT??? their circulation.

[mrydel]

Unbelieveable comment! Now explain to me how covering SMU will HURT??? their circulation.

How would covering SMU in the Austin American Statesman help their circulation. The answer is the same.

[Hoofprint]

Some comments have to be ignored. If you keep answering, they'll keep adding logs to the fire until someone responds.

[mr. pony]

[quote="mrydel"] I do not get the paper but I would bet there is an article on the front page about Iraq. Why?!?! Iraq is not in the Dallas are, nor is it even in Texas. They will print what they think is viable news for the readers of their paper. Why is this so hard to comprehend. It is not the DMN Charity and SMU Benefit for McClown and mr. pony. If you do not like it, do not read it, but do not expect them to cater to one or two people. When SMU does something newsworthy, good or bad, articles will follow. Until them, the shareholders wish you would just be quiet.[/quote]

I didn't say the gift story should have been the headline front page story - just a teaser note. Completely appropriate.

As you admit, you really don't know anything about the DMN and its SMU coverage. I've read it for decades, and the coverage has changed dramatically, in recent years. It sucks.

They have a monopoly in this town. They have no newspaper competition in this city, and that's a shame. What THEY decide is Dallas' news is IT. And because they view SMU athletics as never being any higher than 'pony league', they cover it as an afterthought. It's wrong.

[mr. pony]

[quote="mrydel"]How would covering SMU in the Austin American Statesman help their circulation. The answer is the same.[/quote]

What the hell?
That doesn't even make sense.

[jtstang]

As you admit, you really don't know anything about the DMN and its SMU coverage. I've read it for decades, and the coverage has changed dramatically, in recent years. It sucks.

Apperently, you don't know anything about SMU football. I've followed it for decades, and it has changed dramatically over the last twenty years. It sucks.

Sounds like the DMN cocverage is following SMU football. What a shock.

[mrydel]

mr. pony. Here is a little lesson on reading comprehension. First I did not admit that I knew nothing of the DMN. I lived in Dallas probably longer than you have lived period. I am familiar with them during the Times Herald rivalry and as a monopoly. Second, in reference to the Austin paper. The main readers of the AAS want to read about the Texas Longhorns and that is who they are going to cover. The fact that UT is an Austin school helps also. In Dallas, the readership is much more interested in the Longhorns also, thus the coverage of UT. Add to that the fact that SMU is doing nothing noteworthy to write about and you get a bias towards UT in the DMN. Why, because they wish to sell their paper to their readers. I am sure you must not be working for a living or you would understand that to sell a product, you have to give them what they want not what you want to give them. I stated very clearly in my initial post that when SMU does something news worthy I expect appropriate coverage. They are not doing anything noteworthy at this time. From a personal perspective, I wish the Miller article would have gotten more splash, because I like David, but you know what, they did not ask my opinion on where it should be placed. They have high dollar people that determine that, again, based on the readership.

[AusTxPony]

I will try this one more time. How will covering SMU hurt circulation? I did not say for the DMN to quit covering the Big XII, they should. But SMU is the "home" team and they should do a better job for us...not instead of any other school, but just add coverage of us. Do You get my point? And stop saying we don't deserve ANY coverage, because we do.

[jtstang]

I will try this one more time. How will covering SMU hurt circulation? I did not say for the DMN to quit covering the Big XII, they should. But SMU is the "home" team and they should do a better job for us...not instead of any other school, but just add coverage of us. Do You get my point? And stop saying we don't deserve ANY coverage, because we do.

And we get what we deserve already.

[Ponymon]

. Second, in reference to the Austin paper. The main readers of the AAS want to read about the Texas Longhorns and that is who they are going to cover. The fact that UT is an Austin school helps also. In Dallas, the readership is much more interested in the Longhorns also, thus the coverage of UT.

I seem to remember reading that the current editor of the DMN sports section is a UT alumnus, which, if I'm right, doesn't hurt their coverage either!

[mr. pony]

mrydel,

Thanks for your perspective.

But, I don't think the Dallas readership is necessarily more interested in UT. I'm guessing a lot of folks around here are up to their gills in UT propaganda.

It's just odd, that's all. This is Dallas. SMU is Dallas' Div I-A team/program/ school. They deserve a special place in that newspaper. Not headlines every day, just acknowledgement that this is the local university - and why not promote it? Wouldn't it be good for Dallas?

They sure promote the hell out of Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones.

Does The Miami Herald constantly pound its readers with U of F news from Gainesville, or does the U of Miami, THEIR private institution,
get its share of attention?

How the hell did the DMN ever make it when The Times Herald was around?? They've got the joint to themselves and now they have to cover UT just to pay the bills? That's BS.

[mrydel]

It is sad but yes, I do feel they need to cater to UT to met their bills because that is where the readership is. You mention Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones, Miami. Realize that the difference is that all of those are performing at levels that warrant coverage. SMU is not. We have no track team competing, our major sports have been non competitive, and all anyone relates to SMU at this time is cheating. Personally, until we get competitive in the major sports, I would prefer some anonimity since the only thing that ever gets brought up is the death penalty and scandals.

When SMU is again on a competitive stage in major sports I then believe the coverage should be appropriate. But my recollection is that even during the good times, SMU has been second fiddle to UT and A&M due to readership demand. Trust me when SMU wins the national championship, it will be front page news on the Sports Section, but it will be bottom of the page below the fold, under "UT hoping to make inroads in this years recruiting battles". That is the way it is.

My theory on the DMN and SMU is the JTstang method. Do not expect anything, and when something appears be happy and surprised.

Could it help recruiting with better coverage, sure. But we have fought this battle for my time of association and I do not anticipate it will get any better. We need to find better ways of promoting our school than the DMN. We need to promote ourselves with our assets of education, area, facilities, coaches, and as someone put it the "fauna". Marketing, marketing, marketing. Do it ourselves, do not rely on others.

[jtstang]

Does The Miami Herald constantly pound its readers with U of F news from Gainesville, or does the U of Miami, THEIR private institution, get its share of attention?

The sad thing is you are blinded by so much sunshine you don't see a difference.

[CalallenStang]

Does The Miami Herald constantly pound its readers with U of F news from Gainesville, or does the U of Miami, THEIR private institution, get its share of attention?

The sad thing is you are blinded by so much sunshine you don't see a difference.

Agreed. I tend to be more optimistic than people like you, jtstang, but when I read that, even I said "there's no comparison."

mrydel - I'm with you on this one. I'd LOVE to see the DMN cover us more, but it's just not going to happen until we start winning and get the 40,000 alumni in the DFW area interested in the Mustangs again.

[mr. pony]

No comparison? Check enrollment at U of Miami. Check how long they have been a "football power". It's not so long ago they were a joke of a program.

SMU can be just as successful in this market. More so, actually, with our dedication to academics.

It starts with getting attention in the local market.

BTW, even when the Cowboys and Mavs suck mightily they are front page news.
SMU deserves a prominent position - win or lose. It would not hurt the DMN's one bit to do the right thing.