Sports coverage<\/p>\n
I have been living in Jakarta for about one year and reading
\nThe Jakarta Post for the entire time. I'm glad to see the
\nwonderful increase in advertising and the improvements in the
\neditorial portions of the newspaper. As the major English
\nnewspaper in Indonesia, the improvements were necessary and
\nwelcomed.<\/p>\n
I have one major area of complaint. The sports coverage is
\npoorly directed and incomplete. Please don't think of it as
\neditorial fill. To some people, sports coverage is important
\nnews.<\/p>\n
There needs to be a sports editor to cover local news, someone
\nwho is responsible for input and balance. International sports
\nnews is great, but almost by definition, the news is a day old
\nand very distant. How about a column on local sports? A positive
\ndiscussion of all sports.<\/p>\n
Interview the up and coming players, the coaches and the
\nolder, former greats, as well as the current top players. Ask
\ntheir opinions on world sporting events, local events and local
\nproblems in sports. What does Benny Wijaya, the local tennis
\ngreat, think of the upcoming World Doubles Championships being
\nheld in Jakarta in November. What does Susi, our badminton star,
\nthink about the just finished Asian Games. How about golf, table
\ntennis, or football events coming up locally?<\/p>\n
I'm sure many of your readers would like to hear about the
\nimportant aspects of sports, the hard work and discipline, the
\npersonal rewards, the value of identification for everyone with
\nsports figures. Winning is nice and important but the value of a
\nperson and a country is in the doing, not only in the winning. I
\nhate to hear that Indonesia feels they have a problem when their
\nathletes do not always win, even when they are seeded.<\/p>\n
Sports, contrary to what many people believe, is not winning
\nbut in how you play the game.<\/p>\n
Also, I read recently about the terrible turnout for local
\nevents, such as last week's Men's Tennis Challenge. I was there
\nand the turnout was terrible. But it is partly the fault of the
\nPost. Make the local sports organizations aware of your interest
\nin publishing their events.<\/p>\n
How about co-sponsoring some of the big events? What would it
\ncost? Probably only some space and editorial focus. When an event
\nis scheduled, tell us about it. Tell us the days, the times, the
\ncost. Tell us who to contact for further information. Have some
\nlocal expert talk about it beforehand to generate interest. Maybe
\na little \"What's going on in Sports this week\" box.<\/p>\n
News is not just reporting what has happened, but what is
\nabout to happen. At least it is in my opinion.<\/p>\n
CAPT. JOHN A. DEVEREAUX<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sports-coverage-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }