Coverage of European Championships Puts Our Pan American Coverage to Shame
It's live on TV in Europe, websites with updates,..ok I handle it, but now I ran across a picture of European Championships on a USA website! They have photographers from Getty Images covering it...(They also have a live updating Wikepedia page for it...already updated!)
Please, there shouldn't be any debate that we can get fencing on TV or as a more regular feature in the media, it just starts with us promoting our own sport!
Hey tim, actually my parents called me to tell me that there was a giant photo of the womens foil final at european championships in the SACRAMENTO BEE. Hahahaha I was shocked, as they were.
Yeah, part of getting coverage actually is having a photographer from the Wire be at your event. Then all the pictures get uploaded to a place where media outlets have access to them and they are always scanning the wire for pictures to use. If we brought photographers or a photographer to our national events and world cups from Getty Images/The Wire that would probbaly help get those kind of mentions in papers and magazines that we're seeing now from European Championships.
It's part of what goes along with having a professionally run media-friendly event.
Also, could you send me a link or picture of the article and picture from the Sacramento Bee? It's sad that James Williams is from Sacramento and he won team gold and individual silver at the equivilent US competition, but they are covering the Europeans because that's who is getting out information.
Also, it's a good sign because media outlets are willing to pick up pictures of fencing on the wire and if we ever put out a press release on the wire it might get used as well.
Also, could you send me a link or picture of the article and picture from the Sacramento Bee? It's sad that James Williams is from Sacramento and he won team gold and individual silver at the equivilent US competition, but they are covering the Europeans because that's who is getting out information.
Also, it's a good sign because media outlets are willing to pick up pictures of fencing on the wire and if we ever put out a press release on the wire it might get used as well.
Along with your personal efforts, have you thought of contacting the USFA to see if we have a functional PR department? I thought that was part of the plan from the "new administration."
There is no PR department. I wrote most of the press release for Pan Ams or else it wouldn't have even been mentioned on USOC site, USA Today had a small thing or even on the USFA site really...
Is there no coordination between the USFA and the USOC's PR guy Cecil Blieker for at least sending out press material from afar? He's the one with US Fencing on his bevy of sports he covers.
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Is there no coordination between the USFA and the USOC's PR guy Cecil Blieker for at least sending out press material from afar? He's the one with US Fencing on his bevy of sports he covers.
Cecil, that the person I was thinking of, but couldn't remember the name. Doing a really great job for us so far, why spoil a good thing?
Actually, he's pretty darned good--when he is on scene or is being given the information. Fencing is only one of about 20 sports he's responsible for, so someone at the USFA or elsewhere needs to be in regular contact with him.
__________________
"Fraud is the creation of trust. And then: its betrayal."
William Black, Ph.D.
I'm not sure if he is still working with US fencing, but either way, we can't rely on others to do the work for us. We have enoough resources to control our own destiny and make things happen. Owning responsibility is they key. (to doing anything good in any field!)
There is no PR department. I wrote most of the press release for Pan Ams or else it wouldn't have even been mentioned on USOC site, USA Today had a small thing or even on the USFA site really...
Quote:
Originally Posted by 10000Fencers
I'm not sure if he is still working with US fencing, but either way, we can't rely on others to do the work for us. We have enoough resources to control our own destiny and make things happen. Owning responsibility is they key. (to doing anything good in any field!)
As noted some time ago having a PR person or department in the USFA or at the USOC does not help if the info is not provided by those in the field who should be told to do so or else. You've noticed what all Italian coaches do as soon as the bouts are over. They don't head to the bar to socialize or celebrate, they text message to the PR/press person of the FIS who in turn posts the info IMMEDIATELY on the FIS web site, weekends and all.
Questions for you:
Aside from the fencers in San Salvador, who else was there (paid by the USFA)?
Did they watch the bouts?
Did they know the scores?
Could they have sent a text message to someone at the USFA office and could this person have posted directly on the USFA web site within a reasonable time delay?
The answer to the last three question should be YES, but unfortunately is NO.
Why the USFA does not see the importance of this and why they don't request that people sent to these important events and who are paid to go (and this includes head of delegation, coaches, referees, trainers, etc.), provide this minimum service to the athletes and the fencing community is beyond my comprehension.
In the meantime, everything you do ON YOUR OWN is great and I'm glad to see that others copy now your initiative. Imitation is the best form of flattery.
Let's hope that someone in our house will notice and ACT!
It is imperative that we have a functioning PR department as part of the USFA. It affects every other mandate that the new administration has set forth. Our sport has long been associated with precision, finesse, passion and exclusivity. These are qualities with which all corporate entities would like their products associated. How many times have you seen a commercial show a quick clip of fencers when talking about precision? A recent Mercedes commercial comes to mind. So how does this affect everything we wish to accomplish? Let me cite one example and possible application.
On another thread people are having fits over the idea that they might be forced to use THS for housing, get a waiver, or not fence. The stated purpose of this program is to get cheaper rates on rooms and venues to save money for the USFA and its members. How much more effective would it be to have a functioning PR department working with a major hotel chain marketing both their hotels and our sport in return for favorable room and venue rates? We spend too much time and effort marketing fencing to fencers, rather than using fencing and what it stands for to jointly market with others that wish to be associated with that which we represent.
Fencers already love fencing and we’ll suffer through almost any indignity to continue to fence. The future lies in looking outside our community for relationships that can be mutually beneficial. Second example: take Tim’s link to the RAI site and watch the Vezzali vs. Wachter bout. What do you see on the side of the strip? “Tissot, fine Swiss watches since 1853”. Do you suppose Tissot paid for that privilege? Do you suppose they wish to be associated with precision, passion and exclusivity? Did what they pay have a direct relationship with what the tournament organizers promised in the way of marketing exposure? How can we hope to forge any relationships that might result in a favorable financial outcome without a functioning PR department? Without those relationships how will we dig ourselves out of our financial hole, expand our programs and better our standing on the world stage? The only other option is self funding, and that hasn’t worked very well so far.
I’m willing to pay more than lip service to this, Kurt or anyone from USFA out there? Feel free to contact me.
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Last edited by Natureboy; 07-17-2009 at 01:42 PM..
Reason: grammar
Cecil is no longer associated with the USOC or US Fencing. Cutbacks in staffing got him in the spring I believe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt. Slo-mo
Actually, he's pretty darned good--when he is on scene or is being given the information. Fencing is only one of about 20 sports he's responsible for, so someone at the USFA or elsewhere needs to be in regular contact with him.
MEANWHILE Italians keep dominating
MTS, WTF and MTF golds
the only team title that got away from them was Romania in WTE
Ukraine, France and Russia got to be favourites in WTS
while MTE is wide open with slight nod towards the French IMHO.
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Last edited by Mr.MightyMouse; 07-19-2009 at 01:54 AM..
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