Amateur Boxing in Mainstream Media

[oasis06]

I am a journalist and I wish to write a feature on how amateur boxing despite being one of Ireland's and the Uk's most successful sports internationally and having such a cherished past in Irish/UK sporting memory is currently so under-promoted in mainstream media.

I have arranged an Interview with Amateur Boxing Association and was wondering what questions you fans might want answered on the subject and what questions you might ask if you were in my position.

Any feedback is much appreciated. :)

[Zelley]

It is always important to focus on the positive, so two important questions would be
comments concerning Great Britain or England's team at the Commonwealth Games.

The 2012 Olympic Games will be one of the most important events in Amateur Boxing
in London boxing history. So how will the English Amateur Boxing Association be involved
to make the boxing tournament to be the best ever. Also, the views concerning women's
boxing now and expectations for 2012.

The fact that amateur boxing is not covered fairly in most daily newspapers
is partly the responsibility of the various regional organizations that need effective
news media teams - Public Relations and News Editors - In BC, during the Seventies and
Eighties, I never had a problem. When I was one of the co-founders of the NANAIMO BOXING CLUB, I waltzed down to the local paper and ttracked down the local sports editor to begin the process of effective, efficient, timely and accurate reliable news coverage.

[Zelley]

There are basic rules or procedures to follow in effective coverage
- one important thing is timely reporting - some clubs or organizations are quick to send out
news releases for coming events, but fail in the follow-up by finding out if there will be a contact person from the media, providing a follow-up pre-event report, and ASKING how and when the results should be communicated. The club or organization should determine if a reporter will be at the event or just a photo moment, and be timely in the reports and being aware of deadlines. Often partial results are reported if sent before the deadline.
IT TAKES AT LEAST TWO TO DANCE, boxing folks need to take the lead with the first foot forward.

Then there are those boxing coaches that complain to their own weekly or daily rag
and over-play their own boxers performance and criticize or under-play the performance of other- When I read that crap, I would like to slap the coaches for their lack of good sense. :idea: BE BRIGHT TURN ON THE LIGHT and lET THE NEWS FLOW SO WE ALL GROW in a POSITIVE DIRECTION.

[Dennis]

Very good info Zelley. I would add that coaches, officials, and boxers each need to promote the sport every single day. Talk to others about boxing and let everyone they know that they love the sport and give them all the reasons. Finally, each club should send out routine press releases about boxers and coaches, their accomplishments, travels and experiences with boxing. Tell the media about upcoming shows and the results. Finally, remember that each press release will not lead to coverage, but some will. Send out 1, you might not get any coverage. Send out 10, you might get a couple of articles. I would also suggest more personal contact too, a phone call, an in person meeting, an email, a text message and even regular mail.

The most recent coverage I received was for my son and printed in a local newspaper last week. It was a full page article and included color photos.