RE: PH needs a BTCC reporter!
Monday 14th April 2014
We've been talking a lot about the PH-BTCC media alliance without having too much to show for it recently. Now there is something of interest as we can offer media passes to PHers for every round of the 2014 Dunlop MSA BTCC.
PH needs a BTCC reporter!
Watch the BTCC for free and get your name on PH; all the details here
From Knockhill to Thruxton and Snetterton to Croft, we need PHers at every event. Moreover, we want your views on each round, a PHers-eye view of what the BTCC is really like. A race report from a roving reporter if you will, detailing the weekend. We would need the words by the Monday lunchtime after the race.
If that sounds like something you would be interested in, let us know! The list of rounds and dates is below. Send me a direct message through PH with your name and the round you wish to attend in the subject line and the winner will be randomly selected from those entered. We'll chuck all the names in a hat.
We appreciate it is a little late for this Easter weekend but, if there's nothing planned (or you want to get out of those plans!), a pair of tickets for Donington is ready to be given away. Please note they are not separate tickets so the prize will be given to one winner who can then take someone with them.
Meetings here:
Donington - Apr 19-20
Thruxton - May 3-4
Oulton Park - June 7-8
Croft - Jun 28-29
Snetterton - Aug 2-3
Knockhill - Aug 23-24
Rockingham - Sep 6-7
Silverstone - Sep 27-28
Brands Hatch GP - Oct 11-12
Discussion
For the sake of the readers of PH, surely you can ask them to write up a couple of paragraphs first to make sure they can bring back something worth reading? Do they really need full media centre access to do what you suggest?
Its a bit demeaning to those trying to make a living out of reportng too.
Its a bit demeaning to those trying to make a living out of reportng too.
zebedee said:
For the sake of the readers of PH, surely you can ask them to write up a couple of paragraphs first to make sure they can bring back something worth reading? Do they really need full media centre access to do what you suggest?
Its a bit demeaning to those trying to make a living out of reportng too.
We can make it legible, and it's nice to see readers (who are the enthusiasts after all) be able to tell us how the race was in layman's terms. Full access means they can meet their heroes, listen to briefings and see the cars up close. A great expereince for the true fan.Its a bit demeaning to those trying to make a living out of reportng too.
Demeaning? Not really, we've been doing this sort of thing (on and off) for years and these days bloggers carry as much weight as a trained journo. Have you seen press trips? 50/50 split now.
Sometimes it does seem we can't win
As much fun as it sounds, I'm a 'wanderer' and based on my track record the stuff worth reporting on happens at a part of the track I was just at / just heading to - but never where I am ever actually at.
Mind you, I can normally make something exciting happen simply by thinking 'right I just need to nip off for 5mins to go and buy a drink'.
Mind you, I can normally make something exciting happen simply by thinking 'right I just need to nip off for 5mins to go and buy a drink'.
Matt UK said:
As much fun as it sounds, I'm a 'wanderer' and based on my track record the stuff worth reporting on happens at a part of the track I was just at / just heading to - but never where I am ever actually at.
Mind you, I can normally make something exciting happen simply by thinking 'right I just need to nip off for 5mins to go and buy a drink'.
You'll find most 'proper' reporters do their work from the media centre where they have access to the coverage on multiple screens, live timing and instant press release / results access. Mind you, I can normally make something exciting happen simply by thinking 'right I just need to nip off for 5mins to go and buy a drink'.
Personally I like getting out to observe at the trackside but during a long day it's nice to sit down and take stock of everything and catch up on anything I might've missed!
You also find if it's raining that the media centre is busier than if it's a nice, sunny day!
Garlick said:
We can make it legible, and it's nice to see readers (who are the enthusiasts after all) be able to tell us how the race was in layman's terms. Full access means they can meet their heroes, listen to briefings and see the cars up close. A great expereince for the true fan.
Demeaning? Not really, we've been doing this sort of thing (on and off) for years and these days bloggers carry as much weight as a trained journo. Have you seen press trips? 50/50 split now.
Sometimes it does seem we can't win
Its a reasonable initiative, but I thought as you were partners you would want to make the most of the relationship by putting someone in who could really understand what was going on and why and express that to your readers. Demeaning? Not really, we've been doing this sort of thing (on and off) for years and these days bloggers carry as much weight as a trained journo. Have you seen press trips? 50/50 split now.
Sometimes it does seem we can't win
I agree that you don't have to be trained to write a good report but if someone is blogging, for me that means no weight is attached at all, if it is on a reputable website and claims to be reporting, then I expect it to be actual reporting. You also have to be aware that there is a great deal of sniping about the articles PH puts up, so if the person writing the race reports doesn't know his stuff, there will be far worse comments to come!
What I mean by demeaning is that some taleneted people work really hard to try and secure a media pass from race organisers but don't succeed, and yet a partner website to a high-profile race series intends to get its coverage by handing someone drawn out of a hat a free pass.
A good halfway house would (IMHO) have been to make it a competition based on merit - make them write a commentary based on a youtube highlights link or something and choose the best.
This is extremely poor stuff from the company that owns Autosport and Motorsport News.
A few reactions from social media:
"A properly bad move by @PistonHeads."
"Ahhh @PistonHeads… because paying for an actual journalist to work is just too damn hard."
"Could've been a great scholarship/new talent scheme, real missed opportunity."
"Oh my, this is terrible. Now billys don't even have to set up their own blog for a pass."
"Names out of a hat, too. Top quality guaranteed..."
"Wow. This is degrading. If my independent Web site that launched less than eight months ago, can pay writers, how in the world can they not? And clearly going about it the wrong way, waving a free credential in return for a report. Unbelievable!"
I agree with them all.
A few reactions from social media:
"A properly bad move by @PistonHeads."
"Ahhh @PistonHeads… because paying for an actual journalist to work is just too damn hard."
"Could've been a great scholarship/new talent scheme, real missed opportunity."
"Oh my, this is terrible. Now billys don't even have to set up their own blog for a pass."
"Names out of a hat, too. Top quality guaranteed..."
"Wow. This is degrading. If my independent Web site that launched less than eight months ago, can pay writers, how in the world can they not? And clearly going about it the wrong way, waving a free credential in return for a report. Unbelievable!"
I agree with them all.
I've done a couple of race reports (British Superbikes rounds) and frankly they are hard work if you are doing them properly. I was trackside a good few hours before the racing started, to try and get a couple of quotes off of riders/team managers about how they thought they had done, then stayed late into the afternoon getting reaction quotes/photographs of the winner/photos of crashed bikes etc.
Trying to get a decent photograph of the racing while making notes on what s going on is no picnic either. I enjoyed the experience, but had to watch the race again on TV as I had missed loads of the 'action' that had happened on the far side of the circuit.
Trying to get a decent photograph of the racing while making notes on what s going on is no picnic either. I enjoyed the experience, but had to watch the race again on TV as I had missed loads of the 'action' that had happened on the far side of the circuit.
I think it's a really good idea.
This is not necessarily about about saving the three pounds fifty that PH would otherwise have paid a "proper" hack. A fan of the sport could give an alternative view to that of a jaded journo .... a fresh different perspective perhaps. Or just a different take to the usual stuff.
You never know .... it could be fun ..... and produce something of real interest.
Bring it on!
This is not necessarily about about saving the three pounds fifty that PH would otherwise have paid a "proper" hack. A fan of the sport could give an alternative view to that of a jaded journo .... a fresh different perspective perhaps. Or just a different take to the usual stuff.
You never know .... it could be fun ..... and produce something of real interest.
Bring it on!
83ste said:
This is extremely poor stuff from the company that owns Autosport and Motorsport News.
A few reactions from social media:
"A properly bad move by @PistonHeads."
"Ahhh @PistonHeads… because paying for an actual journalist to work is just too damn hard."
"Could've been a great scholarship/new talent scheme, real missed opportunity."
"Oh my, this is terrible. Now billys don't even have to set up their own blog for a pass."
"Names out of a hat, too. Top quality guaranteed..."
"Wow. This is degrading. If my independent Web site that launched less than eight months ago, can pay writers, how in the world can they not? And clearly going about it the wrong way, waving a free credential in return for a report. Unbelievable!"
I agree with them all.
Until someone who comes out with a cracking review gets hailed as the next best motoring journalist.A few reactions from social media:
"A properly bad move by @PistonHeads."
"Ahhh @PistonHeads… because paying for an actual journalist to work is just too damn hard."
"Could've been a great scholarship/new talent scheme, real missed opportunity."
"Oh my, this is terrible. Now billys don't even have to set up their own blog for a pass."
"Names out of a hat, too. Top quality guaranteed..."
"Wow. This is degrading. If my independent Web site that launched less than eight months ago, can pay writers, how in the world can they not? And clearly going about it the wrong way, waving a free credential in return for a report. Unbelievable!"
I agree with them all.
"Great way of spotting raw talent PH!"
"An untapped resource for finding new reporters, sweet move!"
Etc etc...
I'm going to put myself forward. Been to a lot of BTCC races and enjoy the photography side of things. Lots of them on my flickr page and always wanted to have better access for it even if is just for a day or two.
Disagree with the comments saying is a bad idea. How come having someone doing it for the sake of it for a day endanger the livelihood of current professional journos? Only if they're really s
te. Besides there's so many people trackside and the venues rarely have the same folks.
Also top lurking to the gentleman a few posts above.
Disagree with the comments saying is a bad idea. How come having someone doing it for the sake of it for a day endanger the livelihood of current professional journos? Only if they're really s
te. Besides there's so many people trackside and the venues rarely have the same folks.Also top lurking to the gentleman a few posts above
.hdrflow said:
I'm going to put myself forward. Been to a lot of BTCC races and enjoy the photography side of things. Lots of them on my flickr page and always wanted to have better access for it even if is just for a day or two.
Disagree with the comments saying is a bad idea. How come having someone doing it for the sake of it for a day endanger the livelihood of current professional journos? Only if they're really ste. Besides there's so many people trackside and the venues rarely have the same folks.
Also top lurking to the gentleman a few posts above.
Likewise... I don't understand the negativity. I'll go to a few BTCC meets anyway this year as I really enjoy the racing - having a media pass and getting pit lane access to try and nab a quick word with Messrs Plato, Neal, Sheddon, Collard etc would be a dream come true.Disagree with the comments saying is a bad idea. How come having someone doing it for the sake of it for a day endanger the livelihood of current professional journos? Only if they're really s
te. Besides there's so many people trackside and the venues rarely have the same folks.Also top lurking to the gentleman a few posts above
.I've had media passes to plenty of events in the past, mainly to help fuel my own photography hobby and gain a better vantage point. They've always been somewhat 'blagged' though in the past
This thread is an opportunity for some people to go to the BTCC, take some photos, experience the atmosphere, and come back and tell us all about it.
83ste said:
This is extremely poor stuff from the company that owns Autosport and Motorsport News.
A few reactions from social media:
"A properly bad move by @PistonHeads."
"Ahhh @PistonHeads… because paying for an actual journalist to work is just too damn hard."
"Could've been a great scholarship/new talent scheme, real missed opportunity."
"Oh my, this is terrible. Now billys don't even have to set up their own blog for a pass."
"Names out of a hat, too. Top quality guaranteed..."
"Wow. This is degrading. If my independent Web site that launched less than eight months ago, can pay writers, how in the world can they not? And clearly going about it the wrong way, waving a free credential in return for a report. Unbelievable!"
I agree with them all.
We can cope with that, it's the way we've done things for years and I love the fact we open the doors to enthusiasts to write. Motorsport articles can be dull, these will offer something new. If those on 'social media' want to get involved they can, if they want to read a 'normal' report they can choose from hundreds (including the titles you identify) A few reactions from social media:
"A properly bad move by @PistonHeads."
"Ahhh @PistonHeads… because paying for an actual journalist to work is just too damn hard."
"Could've been a great scholarship/new talent scheme, real missed opportunity."
"Oh my, this is terrible. Now billys don't even have to set up their own blog for a pass."
"Names out of a hat, too. Top quality guaranteed..."
"Wow. This is degrading. If my independent Web site that launched less than eight months ago, can pay writers, how in the world can they not? And clearly going about it the wrong way, waving a free credential in return for a report. Unbelievable!"
I agree with them all.
I'd love the opportunity to have media access, so I've sent my details in. I'm a keen amateur motorsport photographer, and have my own Facebook page dedicated to my images. Having media access would give me a great opportunity to further my progress into motorsport journalism. Overall I think this is an excellent idea, and one that I am quite excited about.
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