Michelle Kwan Article - Detroit Free Press [Archive]

Beth2000

10-31-2003, 02:10 PM

Bondo,

the reason they do that is b/c Michelle is the star of figure skating. I am not taking away anything from any of the other skater's. But, Michelle and Irina is what brings people to buy tickets. Just like it use to be Michelle and Tara.

Sasha will get there. But, people have literally watched Michelle grow up on TV.

I hope this makes sense.

mission99

10-31-2003, 10:41 PM

I don't get how some people do not understand why they do this. Michelle is by far the most well known peson in our sport. Even people who dont follow figure skating know who she is. These articles aren't about giving credit to evey skater that competes. The headlines and articles that Kwan has her name in will grab more readers attention then anyone else will and as a writer or journalist i can understand why they use the most popular figure to write about for there story. They are doing it to grab more readers attention, therefore once they have the readers attention they can mention the other skaters and give them credit.

Schmeck

11-01-2003, 06:30 AM

Other skaters haven't developed because they don't get their names in the headlines in newspapers? I think it works the other way around - get some National and World titles under your belt, with an Oympic medal, or two, and you have the prestige to be in the headline of an article.

I can hear the conversation now - "gee, sorry you didn't win at Worlds this year, we should have used your name in the titles of our articles, it's all our fault..." :roll:

edited to fix typo :oops:

duane

11-01-2003, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by Bondo
The writer singles Michelle out in publicizing. It isn't "wrong" but I think it certainly is a convincing case that the media is largely responsible for there being no other stars of skating on her level.

Schmeck is correct. It works the other way around: Winning comes first; media coverage comes second.

The media is not "largely responsible for there being no other stars of skating" on Michelle's level. Michelle is largely responsible for that, because she has been the most consistent and most winning figure skater for the past nine years. If Jane Doe had Michelle's record, the article would have singled out Jane.

Debbie S

11-01-2003, 02:03 PM

Originally posted by Bondo
Irina has won a worlds and a higher Olympic medal than Michelle,

Did you forget about 1998?

With 5 world titles and 7 U.S titles, plus highly publicized appearances in 2 Olys, MK is a skater most non-skating fans think of when they think of skating. Obviously, skating fans think of plenty of other skaters, but the article is geared to the general population, not just skating fans. Yes, there are other skaters who are talented and who are winning, but Skate America, Skate Canada, and the GPF (and a post-Oly Worlds) don't register as much on the minds of average people.

I sort of doubt that Yagudin will be there. He did announce this week that he is retiring. And even though this is not a major competition, he'll still have to perform a LP, with at least 7 triples and a quad to be competitive. I don't think Alexei would want to go and just do a couple of 3 toes or 3 sals. Then again, he would make a handsome sum of money (I imagine) if he did compete there.

duane

11-02-2003, 12:04 AM

Originally posted by Bondo
Irina has won a worlds and a higher Olympic medal than Michelle, Jenny and AP are both World Junior champions, Sasha has won nearly a dozen senior events now...Michelle isn't the only skater winning. Or you know...there are other skating disciplines other than Ladies.

Come on now! Figure skating is not nearly as popular as many other sports, so there really isn't much media coverage of skating stars to begin with. Of course, when the sport is covered, the attention will focus on the most winning athlete of the sport--not on World Junior champions or Grand Prix winners.

Regarding Irina: Yes, she has a World title (but she does not have a higher Olympic medal than Michelle). Michelle--the reigning World champion--has five World titles. Big difference.

nyskatefan

11-02-2003, 10:27 AM

It's as simple as ABC ... they're trying to sell tickets and get advertisers to buy TV spots ... and whether this pleases some people or not ... Michelle is the biggest name in skating today ... period .. end of story.

SkateGuard

11-02-2003, 12:15 PM

Um, I interpreted this blurb as more of an encouragement to buy tickets for the competition. Since Michelle is going to be there, they're going to promote her...they're trying to sell tickets to non-skatefans. (Although they don't need to in Detroit!)

Also, Jo-Ann Barnas is wonderful about doing features on Detoit-area skaters. She went to Skate America and covered Kirk, Belbin/Agosto, Spielberg/Joeright and Arakawa, as well as the COP and the rest of the competition. (She did a piece on S/J when Larisa was still in high school...it's rather cute to read now!) She even covers Team Elan!

The difference between this article and Hersh's is that after a week of excellent coverage, the Freep decided to "advertise" a local skating event. (I've read the Freep enough to know they do this for local shows, charity events, and other sports events.)

Hersh, on the other hand, wrote an article that was not newsworthy nor pertinent, after a plethora of Michelle Kwan articles that were not newsworthy nor pertinent. (He is a Michelle Kwan writer, not a figure skating writer :roll: )

Erin
(who is still frustrated that the Tribune has never seen the national titles the _Chicago_ Jazz have won "newsworthy". Ugh.)

turtlehead

11-02-2003, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by Bondo
BTW, I know Michelle has a silver medal at the Olympics...I'm talking about Irina having a higher medal in the perspective of head to head...Irina beat Michelle at SLC..

Irina was also at the Nagano Olympics. Michelle beat her there. Wouldn't that also be a "head to head"? So are they not tied in your line of thought? Or maybe Michelle would be ahead of Irina since at Nagano Irina didn't even medal?

turtlehead

11-02-2003, 04:11 PM

Bondo, there is no need to introduce me to ANY journalistic ideas for I too took "some" journalism classes. Thanks for the offer though.:roll:

mission99

11-02-2003, 04:23 PM

Bondo, in my previous post I was talking about why they do this and that is because they use the biggest stars name to grab the readers attention and then once they have the attention they can give credit to everyone else that will be there. They use the headliners for the headlines it only makes sense. Then you replied, "I took the journalism classes...I know why they are doing it." If you understand why they are doing it then I am confused. What would you like to see happen? Would you rather them use A.P or jenny for example in the headline rather then Kwan, just to give them media attention but as a result have less people read the article therefore possibly causing less people to attend the event. Sure its nice for A.P or Jenny (once again as an example) to have more attention on them but then there will be less attention on the event or whatever the article is advertising or about! It is better for the journalist, newspaper/magazine, and event to use the most popular skater in the headline.

NorthernLite

11-02-2003, 05:08 PM

Bondo:
I'm talking about Irina having a higher medal in the perspective of head to head...Irina beat Michelle at SLC..[/B]

turtlehead:
Irina was also at the Nagano Olympics. Michelle beat her there. Wouldn't that also be a "head to head"?

Bondo, didn't you say once you've only been following skating a short time? Your blanket and inaccurate statements remind me of the person on FSU who was ragging on Hughes "never accomplishing anything besides the Olys," blahblahcakes.

So I responded with the long list of Sarah's accomplishments at GP & Worlds, and the defeat of Irina and MK *twice* in the Olympic season. After which the person responded, "Oh, I've just been following skating since 2002 - I didn't know she'd done any of that. :roll: :lol:

Also, I know my 20-plus years in communications and marketing doesn't stack up to your two journalism classes, :bow: but this is such a bizarro deal out of one little blurb the Freep threw in, probably based on a fricking press release. :roll:

I assume/hope JK/Divakawa will be on the event roster. I guess I could make a deal about the local girls (two faves of mine) not being featured in this one little blurb. But I won't because a) it is just one little blurb, and b) I know that MK is the name Joe Doe knows, and she sells tickets. Plus, it's notable because she hasn't appeared in this for a couple of years.

Schmeck

11-02-2003, 06:51 PM

I believe Bondo is bothered by the fact that a certain favorite skater is not getting the headlines (yet) that Kwan gets, that's all.

sashafras

11-02-2003, 06:59 PM

Yes, Schmeck, you are right there....it seems to be on every thread where Michelle's name is mentioned!:roll:

mission99

11-02-2003, 08:46 PM

Bondo, I would simply like to know what you suggest?

ecure

11-02-2003, 09:33 PM

Originally posted by Bondo

Why is it I can't make an legitimate criticism of the media coverage without others dragging Sasha into it.

Some are just merely debating whether your criticism is legitimate.

The practice of using popular and accomplished figures in press releases is quite common, for whatever organization or charity is doing it. Heck, even in press releases of hiring of coaches or executive employees, credentials speak volumes. Of course they're going to want to highlight Michelle in a press release that's advertising an event. Since this is the American media, they're even more likely to feature American skaters over others.

sashafras

11-03-2003, 03:39 AM

No writer concerned with his reputation as a journalist would exclude Michelle's name from the title of their article. This is the woman the nation has been following since the Kerrigan/Harding incident. Michelle is the skater MOST skating fans admire. If that makes you gag, don't read anything with her name in it for crying out loud. Sasha has only been winning events for the past few years, and has yet to win a World's or Olympic Medal, not to mention a NATIONAL title, which I hope happens this coming Nats. Whether anyone else dislikes Michelle Kwan (and that is a very small percentage of skating fans, btw), is YOUR business. The writer's business is to make news, and whether YOU like it or not, Michelle Kwan is news.

Oh, and btw Bondo, if you weren't such a patented Michelle Kwan hater, we might take your comments more to heart. However, you have made your opinions known about how you feel about Michelle Kwan, and that leaves your credibility to make unbiased comments out the window.

edited to fix typos..it is four forty am, eastern time! :)

ecure

11-03-2003, 08:54 AM

Originally posted by Bondo
I'm not sure the legitimacy of a rational opinion is something that can be lacking. I think it is reasonable from the viewpoint of media standards to question this practice.

You said:

It isn't "wrong" but I think it certainly is a convincing case that the media is largely responsible for there being no other stars of skating on her level.

Which is what people are 'disagreeing' with, therefore questioning the legitimacy of your claim that the media chooses to highlight a 5 time world champion, therefore robbing other skaters of coverage. If Sarah Hughes were competing, I have no doubt they would emphasize her name as well.

If we had it on a more equal basis, since she is "just another competitor" how about if we just write it out fairly like:

A final roster will be announced soon, but the U.S. Figure Skating Association has confirmed that Kwan, a seven-time U.S. champion and five time world champion, will appear at the Palace event along with pewter world medalist Sasha Cohen and Russian Champion Elena Sokolova and 2001 world champion/2002 Olympic silver medalist Irina Slutskaya.

Kemy

11-03-2003, 09:47 AM

Bondo, you've said in the past that you like to criticise MK because of her fans...is that not biased? Liking to criticise someone, despite your motives behind it?

Only a small percentage of her fans place MK on a pedestal. All skaters have fans that go above and beyond "normal" fandom. Sasha fans, Sarah fans, ALL fans have amongst them those who watch the skaters with rose colored glasses. Fans are only going to see the bad things that others say about their skater (you included.) When one is a fan of a certain skater, you are biased, whether you see this or not. A fan of skating in general who loves to watch everyone is someone who can say that they are unbiased.

And if you're going to compare (or in this case NOT compare) someone to a FABERGE egg, you better spell it correctly.

Sashafras said that any respectable writer would use a name that would catch the eye of an AVERAGE reader and make that reader look at the article. A lot of people don't know anyone besides Michelle, Tara, Tonya, and Nancy...maybe Sarah, but skating interest had already dies down by SLC (with the exception of the whole scandal.)

Ecure has a point. If Sarah had been competing the headline would have her name splashed all over it, with or without an MK mention in the headline. Media likes champions (especailly American ones in the American media) because those are the most recognizable names to average Joe Schmo. Olympic, then World, then National. I think that her Grand Prix Championship and Series wins IS important, but a lot of people don't even know what the Grand Prix Series is.

turtlehead

11-03-2003, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by Bondo
:

Why is it I can't make an legitimate criticism of the media coverage without others dragging Sasha into it. Look in the Skate Canada thread, I'm critical of Sasha too.

But Bondo, your thread "critiquing" Sasha is REALLY just another critique of Michelle by you. Why bring her in to a topic that is supposed to be about Sasha?

I agree with you though that the writer should have titled the article something about skating stars in general. And then maybe used a sub-title about Michelle if he wanted to. But who are the others that are confirmed?

NorthernLite

11-03-2003, 10:49 AM

Originally posted by Bondo

PR and News have two different standards. I wouldn't have the same issue with a PR release for the event doing it. Their goal is to sell tickets.

Newspapers often use press releases without altering them, in the same way TV news programs use VNRs and make it seem like that's footage they shot.

here are the changes I'd make as an editor.
...I'd change the headline from mentioning Michelle to something more reflective of the first sentance having something like "Star Ladden Field For Palace Competition" instead, and then for the lede

(Hate to get snarky, but you're kind of bringing this on yourself by this obsessive fixation.) First, if you ever want to be an editor for the Detroit Free Press, you might want to learn how to spell "sentence," "laden" and "lead."

Second, I can't believe that you really do know how things work in a newsroom. I repeat, this is a simple little blurb, not an elaborate profile of every skater who might appear in this event. And the life of the Detroit Free Press is not centered around publicizing some cheesefest at the Palace five weeks from now, or offering in-depth profiles of any particular skater who might be there.

Third, even if a reporter/editor was familiar with other skaters, they still know who the Big Dog is. So they'll stick with the way she's featured in this simple blurb.

Perhaps Jo-Ann will have a piece the day before the event. At that time, she might do the local angle (if JK & SA are involved), or maybe feature umpty-time GP winner Cohen. Or perhaps she'll interview Michelle and focus on the question of whether her career is winding down or not. (In which case we'll see the Bondo-high-blood-pressure-inducing heading: "Kwan's Last Palace Appearance?" or "Kwan Caps a Decade With Run for More Titles.")

Kemy

11-03-2003, 06:08 PM

no criticism? MK is always criticised when she fails to do something...screams of Olympic choker come to mind. People often criticise people for their failures. Sashasplat is not nice, but she often fails in big events because she falls and others don't.

You label everyone who criticises you as being a crazed MK fan...if you'd open your eyes, you'd see that there are a lot of non-MK fans who don't agree with you.

HSF

11-03-2003, 07:28 PM

I see nothing wrong with the way the newspaper article was written. That’s a journalistic style I see weekly in my local newspaper. Articles promoting events coming into the area—whether stage plays, musicals, golf tournaments, etc.—use the name of one of the principal participants in the headline to grab the readers’ attention.

NorthernLite

11-03-2003, 07:32 PM

Yes kemy, you beat me to it. Can't quite follow the logic - anyone who thinks it makes sense to highlight Michelle in the blurb must be MK-obsessed. O-kay.

Whew. Aren't the more important questions about the Palace event: 1) Will Yagudin will be there? 2) Will Irina indeed be feeling better for her upcoming events? 3) Will Elena be better than she's been lately (because frankly I wish they wouldn't invite her if she isn't), 4) And may we assume Jenny K. and Shizuka will be there? :D

[P.S. Yes, lede is correct, although "lead" would not be incorrect. :)]

JessicaLynn

11-03-2003, 11:15 PM

Originally posted by SkateGuard
Also, Jo-Ann Barnas is wonderful about doing features on Detoit-area skaters. She went to Skate America and covered Kirk, Belbin/Agosto, Spielberg/Joeright and Arakawa, as well as the COP and the rest of the competition. (She did a piece on S/J when Larisa was still in high school...it's rather cute to read now!) She even covers Team Elan!

I would love to read the article on Craig and Larissa.. do you have a link or a copy of the article I could read? Thanks!

loveskating

11-04-2003, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by Bondo
BTW, I know Michelle has a silver medal at the Olympics...I'm talking about Irina having a higher medal in the perspective of head to head...Irina beat Michelle at SLC.

Anyway, I think most of you are taking what is present and not seeing that there is another way to cover. You act like they cover it this way because they must to have any effect, I think they could cover it without as much emphasis on Michelle and still have the same effect.

I'd go farther...I think the overall result would be greater, not the same, if the sports media were to play up at least three of the top US skaters in all relevant disciplines (can't play up pairs just now, I guess). I think, particularly when someone competes as long as Kwan has, that giving only one skater top billing is counterproductive. Me, I am not paying to see her skate the same or worse than she did in the past...been there, done that.

But if she did something like Yagudin did at Skate Canada, I'd pop out of my seat and give her a standing ovation, for a long, long time, and I'd even light a candle to show how much I have loved her and what a light she has been for figure skating.

Dustin

11-04-2003, 02:44 PM

Originally posted by Bondo
Scmeck...assumptions only serve to make an a** out of you.

Stop with the unnecessary personal attacks. :!:

hiliairyh

11-04-2003, 04:23 PM

Ah.. the conditional love. If Michelle is willing to retire and turn pro then I will love her, otherwise.........

Interesting philosophy.

One reason I provide criticism of Michelle in particular...she is a top skater and she IMO doesn't get her fair share of criticism. I balance the SashaSplatTM talk of other forums with discussion of Michelle's issues

Isn't this a sophisticated way of saying, an eye for an eye?

mind you, my few posts at MKF and to some degree FSU of late are more just entertainment.

I don't go to skater focus forums, but just out of curiosity I went to MKF and did a search, I couldn't find anything from you. Bondo are you using a different handle there?

sashafras

11-04-2003, 06:35 PM

Loveskating, I respect your opinions about Michelle. I too have gotten weary over her watered down programs, and her inability to get more difficulty in her skating. I have loved her for as long as I have watched skating, and even though she hasn't progressed much difficulty wise, I will continue to love to watch her. However, I do understand how you feel, and I think you temper your criticism of her with your willingnessto recognize her contribution to the sport, and to applaud her and salute her if she did one of those "WOW" programs ala Yags. That shows you are not biased nor closed minded about the topic, ie: dislike her intrinsicly, and can do nothing but bash her, unlike others who love to find every reason to bash her. Bravo to you, and thanks! :)