Are the Club not talking

[70's Mike]

to the Echo.

The last few weeks there have been articles about Lambert and now Adkins year in charge but neither piece had any direct quotes from the subjects.

The Lambert article relied on Gordon Watson's opinion and todays was just a factual piece.

[Thedelldays]

probably not

[JRM]

They are not, we like to show how we are the next Barcelona by having petty squables with our local paper.

[Thedelldays]

They are not, we like to show how we are the next Barcelona by having petty squables with our local paper.

you think barca dont have problems....?

[shirleysfc]

I heard a rumour the club weren't happy the way the echo initially reported the Dan Seaborne incident.

[DJ_TOAST]

Sorry am I missing something here, the club haven't been speaking to the Echo for years! (unless I missed them becoming friendly again)

When they normally have quotes they're just taken from the OS.

[The Kraken]

I don't think it's exclusive to the Echo; the club just don't seem to do many features with any press other than the standard pre and post match interviews they're obliged to give. Any other direct quotes will only appear on the OS, and news agencies (including the Echo) just re-print those.

 

The BBC seemed to buck the trend recently with it's "The Adkins Diet" feature, but some of the quotes (and there's not many contained within) seem very, very familiar; so I wouldn't be surprised if its seemingly a re-hashing of interview(s) that NA had previously given.

[VectisSaint]

todays was just a factual piece.

Well there's a first, newspaper prints only facts!!!

[JRM]

I heard a rumour the club weren't happy the way the echo initially reported the Dan Seaborne incident.

 

It's been going on along time before that .

[Crazy Diamond]

I'm not sure an article based upon quotes from a former Southampton player about a current one proves the Club aren't talking to the Echo.

 

However, from my own experience, the Club goes out of its way to make it difficult for the press when they want to. Completely ignoring calls and emails is something I've become all too used to...

[um pahars]

It would appear that the Club and The Echo are still at loggerheads which IMHO is a shame as I'm sure both can benefit from a more harmonius relationship. Although definitely declining, there is still an audience out there whose only link to Saints is via The Echo or Radio Solent.

 

The Echo have been fairly positive in recent weeks and I've particularly enjoyed the Le Tiss snippets praising Lallana, Lambert and Adkins.

[Saint Charlie]

If the Echo don't have their own sources that is their fault. Our club website gives us all the interviews we need, pre and post match.

[um pahars]

If the Echo don't have their own sources that is their fault. Our club website gives us all the interviews we need, pre and post match.

 

Haven't managed to get my dad on the t'internet yet though!!!!

 

There's still a big audience out there who aren't connected to the interweb.

[latter day saint]

Haven't managed to get my dad on the t'internet yet though!!!!

 

There's still a big audience out there who aren't connected to the interweb.

cant you read them to him? some son you are !

[Saint Charlie]

The Echo quote the OS word for word before and after games anyway so he gets the same as all of us do!

[CB Fry]

If the Echo don't have their own sources that is their fault. Our club website gives us all the interviews we need, pre and post match.

 

 

Which I for one never, ever read. I have no interest in getting news about my football club filtered, whitewashed and satinised into a load of corporate press release guff.

 

Getting Saints news from the official website is lame as fu ck.

[Crab Lungs]

We need a fan on the board to smooth the passage of communications and play the mediator role between the club and the local press - as well as someone who can pass on SaintsWeb transfer targets once we've weeded out all the players deemed good enough/not good enough for Saints, even before a ball's been kicked.

[70's Mike]

Which I for one never, ever read. I have no interest in getting news about my football club filtered, whitewashed and satinised into a load of corporate press release guff.

 

Getting Saints news from the official website is lame as fu ck.

 

Agreed

[offix]

If they are not talking to the Echo or other press- GOOD! We have plenty of examples from the past where talking to the press resulted in lots of misinformation and disruptive articles. Stay quiet and just go about our ways towards promotion.

[krissyboy31]

I'm happy for the club to do their talking on the pitch TBH.

[aintforever]

Toys out the pram again. Pointless b*ll*x.

[Matthew Le God]

to the Echo.

The last few weeks there have been articles about Lambert and now Adkins year in charge but neither piece had any direct quotes from the subjects.

The Lambert article relied on Gordon Watson's opinion and todays was just a factual piece.

 

The Echo haven't had direct official quotes from the club or its players for a few years now. Any quotes they do use have just been lifted from elsewhere, normally the Saints Player/BBC Radio Solent interviews.

[The Kraken]

The Echo haven't had direct official quotes from the club or its players for a few years now. Any quotes they do use have just been lifted from elsewhere, normally the Saints Player/BBC Radio Solent interviews.

 

Pardew gave an interview to the Echo on his arrival at the club, and also gave one or two other soundbites throughout his tenure. Cortese also gave an interview to the Echo on his arrival.

 

Since then there's clearly been a bit of a media blackout.

[um pahars]

If they are not talking to the Echo or other press- GOOD! We have plenty of examples from the past where talking to the press resulted in lots of misinformation and disruptive articles. Stay quiet and just go about our ways towards promotion.

 

I certainly wouldn't want to see the Club and local press at each others throats and would have thought there would be a way for them all to work together for the greater good. I've no idea who benefits more and have no idea who is at fault, but would have thought it would be better for both to have a beneficial symbiotic relationship.

 

As for the disruptive articles then I think the bedwetters on here do overreact somewhat to people giving their opinion to the paper. Recently MLT has been very upbeat about the Club which hasn't provoked any reaction, yet when he gave his opinion earlier, some literally wet themselves claiming he had an agenda LOL.

[NickG]

the echo needs the club hugely more than other way around

[The Kraken]

the echo needs the club hugely more than other way around

 

They need to report on the team, that's for sure.

 

But considering they've had very little direct contact with club staff they've still managed to find copy quite easily. So while the Echo journos may have to work a little bit harder to put together material, it's not as if they're not going short of stories. Even the photo blackout and shut-out of Echo reporters from the ground (childish, so childish) didn't stop the paper from filling the back pages.

 

Also, don't under-estimate the amount of people whose only outlet for Saints news is the Echo, which the club benefits from as an indirect marketing tool.

[fromthedell]

not been talking for about 2 years

[JRM]

Which I for one never, ever read. I have no interest in getting news about my football club filtered, whitewashed and satinised into a load of corporate press release guff.

 

Getting Saints news from the official website is lame as fu ck.

 

Agreed, the official site articles are cringeworthy and offer no perspective other than "isn't x player amazing and he can't wait for next game, get your tickets now to avoid disappointment"

[CB Fry]

the echo needs the club hugely more than other way around

 

Maybe, but there is far more to be gained from working together than not at all. The pi ss weak attendance at that Liebherr tournament thing could have been significantly higher with a bit of promotion and support in the Echo. Not game changing but the Echo can serve a purpose in helping to shift tickets (for the smaller games, granted, but they all count), corporate packages and merchandise.

 

It also provides objective comment as opposed to spoonfed sanitised tosh that dribbles out of the official site and the divs on here seem to lap up.

 

 

I certainly wouldn't want to see the Club and local press at each others throats and would have thought there would be a way for them all to work together for the greater good. I've no idea who benefits more and have no idea who is at fault, but would have thought it would be better for both to have a beneficial symbiotic relationship.

 

As for the disruptive articles then I think the bedwetters on here do overreact somewhat to people giving their opinion to the paper. Recently MLT has been very upbeat about the Club which hasn't provoked any reaction, yet when he gave his opinion earlier, some literally wet themselves claiming he had an agenda LOL.

 

Absolutely. Pant wettingly hilarious to see them all troop out bleating about any tiny slight on the club as evidence of this mythical "agenda". Oh, and the BBC are in on it too, with the whiners on here every sodding Sunday grizzling about the "anti-Saints agenda" on, err, The Football League show. Infamy, infamy.

 

This is what happens when a generation grow up brainwashed by PR drivel from corporate websites and football management simulation games. Bedwetting preciousness if anyone ever dares suggest their club could ever do anything wrong. Braindead robo-fans parroting "this.is.not.an.official.announcement."

 

Save us all from such lack of perspective, and please preserve the fourth estate. God help us if there's a war.

[Matthew Le God]

Echo journos may have to work a little bit harder to put together material, it's not as if they're not going short of stories.

 

What makes you think they are working harder to get stories now that the club doesn't give them interviews? It is easier to sit in the Echo offices and watch Saints Player or listen to BBC Radio Solent then it is to drive to Staplewood or St Mary's and do the interview yourself.

Edited 15 September, 2011 by Matthew Le God

[The Kraken]

What makes you think they are working harder to get stories now that the club doesn't give them interviews? It is easier to sit in the Echo offices and watch Saints Player or listen to BBC Radio Solent then it is to drive to Staplewood or St Mary's and do the interview yourself.

 

Yes, I'm sure journalists have no idea how to pick up a telephone, dial a player's number and conduct an interview over the phone. Why do you think they would they have to conduct the interview only in person?

[latter day saint]

Agreed, the official site articles are cringeworthy and offer no perspective other than "isn't x player amazing and he can't wait for next game, get your tickets now to avoid disappointment"

biased views on the club & players from the total NON independent OFFICIAL website shocker!

[latter day saint]

Maybe, but there is far more to be gained from working together than not at all. The pi ss weak attendance at that Liebherr tournament thing could have been significantly higher with a bit of promotion and support in the Echo. Not game changing but the Echo can serve a purpose in helping to shift tickets (for the smaller games, granted, but they all count), corporate packages and merchandise.

 

It also provides objective comment as opposed to spoonfed sanitised tosh that dribbles out of the official site and the divs on here seem to lap up.

 

 

 

 

Absolutely. Pant wettingly hilarious to see them all troop out bleating about any tiny slight on the club as evidence of this mythical "agenda". Oh, and the BBC are in on it too, with the whiners on here every sodding Sunday grizzling about the "anti-Saints agenda" on, err, The Football League show. Infamy, infamy.

 

This is what happens when a generation grow up brainwashed by PR drivel from corporate websites and football management simulation games. Bedwetting preciousness if anyone ever dares suggest their club could ever do anything wrong. Braindead robo-fans parroting "this.is.not.an.official.announcement."

 

Save us all from such lack of perspective, and please preserve the fourth estate. God help us if there's a war.

[Clifford Nelson]

The club fell out with the Echo over the embargo of the plans to develop Staplewood. They agreed to the embargo until after the press conference. However, the news broke in all other news media, so the Echo printed it against their agreement with reference to that the news was "already in the public domain". NC took fire and refused the Echo access to the club, and the Editor refused to apologize. In my view this could have been handled better by both parties, but I have some difficulty with the idea that a newspaper, albeit small and local, shouldn't be allowed to print news which people already know about.

 

Official channels such as the OS will always serve it's masters, and there is nothing wrong with that. But it also will make it bland and uncritical in it's wish to print what the master wants us to read. No different to most of us really, or how many have told their bosses what they really thought of them and still hung on to their jobs?

 

You might not like what you read in the Echo, but remember what a free press means to this country. Also give a thought to newsmedia in totalitarian states such as Pravda and Izvestiya in the Soviet Union. And before you even think about it: I have not compared NC with Leonid Breznhev.

[Thedelldays]

 

You might not like what you read in the Echo, but remember what a free press means to this country. Also give a thought to newsmedia in totalitarian states such as Pravda and Izvestiya in the Soviet Union. And before you even think about it: I have not compared NC with Leonid Breznhev.

you have...just a little or why compare a little spat to a totalitarian state...?

 

free press is also dangerous (if we are comparing)....they can get out of control. just look at recent events

[Clifford Nelson]

you have...just a little or why compare a little spat to a totalitarian state...?

 

free press is also dangerous (if we are comparing)....they can get out of control. just look at recent events

 

The recent revelations about the News of the World were not signs of the free press, but of people who after years of feeding the British people what Carl Bernstein recently called "poison" had lost all morality so they repeatedly broke the law in pursuit of more poison.

 

Totalitarianism doesn't start with a big bang, but with small erosions of freedoms, so that people, with no hankering after dictators become accepting of them. This disagreement between the club and the press is unlikely to lead to totalitarianism, but I can't see a good reason to support it, and plenty of reasons not to.

[manji]

We need a fan on the board to smooth the passage of communications and play the mediator role between the club and the local press - as well as someone who can pass on SaintsWeb transfer targets once we've weeded out all the players deemed good enough/not good enough for Saints, even before a ball's been kicked.

Nail On The Head. Its amazing how so many of our problems (Adkins losing the dressing room , parking fees , the foul treatment of esteemed local organ The Echo etc etc ) could be solved by a fanontheboard.

[Prince Jazzbo]

Does anyone know how much of a relationship existed between the Echo and the Club before the current situation existed.

 

What did the Echo got that no other media outlet had access to?

 

Also why should the Echo be treated any differently from any other media organisation.

 

Times have changed, before the internet, the only news outlet was the press etc. Most football clubs now have their own media outlets via the internet. Therefore, there maybe a view within the club that this is the most appropriate and most accurate news outlet. Then if the Echo choose to pick up the stories from the Website then they can. I’m not sure why people think that there is an issue with the Club not talking to the Echo, as they do via the Internet.

 

Also the media business is very competitive these days, why should the club assist the echo in improving its income, after all they do make money by selling information provided by them to the club. So its not really a free press, as you have to pay for it.

[Verbal]

you have...just a little or why compare a little spat to a totalitarian state...?

 

free press is also dangerous (if we are comparing)....they can get out of control. just look at recent events

 

Dear god. Wood and trees come to mind. Or plumbing new depths, maybe more appropriately.

[manji]

We need a fan on the board to smooth the passage of communications and play the mediator role between the club and the local press - as well as someone who can pass on SaintsWeb transfer targets once we've weeded out all the players deemed good enough/not good enough for Saints, even before a ball's been kicked.

Nail On The Head. Its amazing how so many of our problems (Adkins losing the dressing room , parking fees , the foul treatment of esteemed local organ The Echo etc etc ) could be solved by a fanontheboard.

[The Kraken]

Also why should the Echo be treated any differently from any other media organisation.

 

I'd have thought this one was pretty self-explanatory.

 

The Echo are Southampton's local newspaper; therefore, as a consequence, a high proportion of its readers are going to be potential customers of the football club. Any news story in the paper is in effect a marketing tool for the club. Therefore, the more exposure in the paper the club receives, the more indirect marketing it is performing.

 

Take the recent Markus Liebherr friendly day at the club; it was very poorly attended, and received very little pre-exposure in the newspaper, except maybe for a mention the day before the event. IMO it was an opportunity missed not to get onside with the paper and run a feature of events over a number of days leading up to the day. I bought the Echo in the whole week leading up to it, not once was it mentioned that there was all the children's activities going on outside the ground.

 

As a result we got a very poor attendance, when in like for like fixtures in the past (Ted Bates trophy) we've seen much higher gates. The Echo is a much more powerful marketing tool than some fans on here realise; all potential fans simply don't log onto the OS every day/week for their fix of Saints information. So to shut the local paper out is short-sighted IMO.

[BARCELONASAINT]

Personally i care very little for the press and particularly the Echo. They are in the business of making money, so bland factual stories is not what they want. I have often been in the position over the last few years to know the exact facts behind some of the stories they have printed and believe me the stories they have printed have been sensationalism and factually wide of the mark.

I don't think the Echo are any worse than other media outlets but i'm not surprised if the club have been rather cool in their treatment of them.

[um pahars]

Does anyone know how much of a relationship existed between the Echo and the Club before the current situation existed.

 

What did the Echo got that no other media outlet had access to?

 

Also why should the Echo be treated any differently from any other media organisation.

 

The Echo and the Club have had an on/off relationship for quite a while now, irrespective of who was in charge. There was certainly some tension at points when Lowe when in charge and remember him launching in to Echo and "it's declining readership", but I can also rememeber a positive relationship between Lowe and The Echo at times as well.

 

But it's not only us and there have been numerous cases up and down the Leagues where Clubs/owners have falling out with the local media.

 

It might be rose tinted glasses, but I'm sure back in the 70's/80's things were a little more co-operative (I'm sure there are some ex hacks on here who could fill us in).

 

Times have changed, before the internet, the only news outlet was the press etc. Most football clubs now have their own media outlets via the internet. Therefore, there maybe a view within the club that this is the most appropriate and most accurate news outlet. Then if the Echo choose to pick up the stories from the Website then they can. I’m not sure why people think that there is an issue with the Club not talking to the Echo, as they do via the Internet.

 

Also the media business is very competitive these days, why should the club assist the echo in improving its income, after all they do make money by selling information provided by them to the club. So its not really a free press, as you have to pay for it.

 

Things have certainly changed over the years and the Club is much more in control of its media image and how it communicates with supporters, so it is only right that the Club should go down that route.

 

However, I also think there is a sizeable audience out there who the Club can't reach directly and therefore they would benefit from a decent relationship with the local media. A decent working relationship with the local media should be a positive to the Club. Of course if The Echo (and others) are undermining or being detrimental to the Club, then the Club has a right to protect its image.

[um pahars]

Absolutely. Pant wettingly hilarious to see them all troop out bleating about any tiny slight on the club as evidence of this mythical "agenda". Oh, and the BBC are in on it too, with the whiners on here every sodding Sunday grizzling about the "anti-Saints agenda" on, err, The Football League show. Infamy, infamy.

 

Indeed, the "hidden agenda" guff trotted out by some on here when MLT gave his opinion was cringeworthy.

 

The bedwetters went in to overdrive over our biggest name being interviewed by The Echo and giving his opinion on the apparent unrest behind the scenes (unrest which others also mentioned and were shot down in flames - only to be proved right a few months later LOL).

[NickG]

think Echo lost it when they took the **** over the links of Cortese with the club in italian - they loved mocking him before having to change their story.

 

Two big egos involved, unfortunately for echo they need saints far far more than other way around

[Mowgli]

If they are not talking to the Echo or other press- GOOD! We have plenty of examples from the past where talking to the press resulted in lots of misinformation and disruptive articles. Stay quiet and just go about our ways towards promotion.

 

Spot on. To be fair, I think NC did extend the olive branch to the Echo when he first arrived but they abused that trust and are paying the price for it. Sadly good news stories do not sell newspapers - negativity does. That aside, true journalism has been well and truly lost on the south coast. I don't believe the journos ever leave their desks now - they compile their articles from other web sites. As a result, I suspect the Echo will not exist in 2/3 years time. Their low work rate is far too transparent.

 

As for the club, I think keeping quiet is the best strategy. However, I do hope in time they will bury the hatchet with MLT and Lawrie (who I have openly criticised in the past) as they are both legends and part of the fabric of this club.

[up and away]

Haven't managed to get my dad on the t'internet yet though!!!!

 

There's still a big audience out there who aren't connected to the interweb.

 

The Echo still cut and paste off the OS, so I am having difficulty following this one. Although conceding that they still get things wrong when they are cutting and pasting a players age. The Echo will always lag the OS, just a day later?

 

Ian Murray pished on his chips when he got sanctioned by Dataco, by allowing free, unrestricted access to unmarked match photos on their website. What I really don't understand is why Murray took such a stand over the Staplewood development, an absolute minnow of a story, when you consider the unfetterd access he was getting from the club at the time. Murray got all prissy with press freedom over a basic minnow of a story. Cortese got equally prissy and you end up with what you see today. But there is only one loser here, Murray. The club don't need the Echo as has been demonstrated and the initial reaction has just dried up because the club is not adding fuel to this fire.