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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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From photos to data, guides 'put best foot forward'
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By Michelle Brutlag Hosick
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
Though every sports information director might have a different philosophy or goal in mind, many approach the compilation of a media guide in a similar fashion, no matter the sport or division.
“The number of pages might be a little bit different, but we’re all trying to put our best foot forward and publish the best relative information we can,” said Syracuse University Associate Director of Athletics Communications Pete Moore. “We’re trying to find a way to highlight what our institution brings to the picture.”
The whole process can take as little as three months for a football or basketball guide, but for many, technology has made it a year-round process.
Coaches of the particular sport often play a large role in the production of the book that showcases their program, and some SIDs will poll their current student-athletes and recruiting coordinators, other administrators and even institution presidents to determine what they’d like to see highlighted in the guide.
The level of involvement from coaches and other constituencies varies depending on the institution and sometimes the program.
Judy Willson at the University of Louisiana at Monroe said she approaches her books in sections — the “brag portion” about the university; the history and records sections that don’t change much from year to year; the section for the current team that includes player biographies; and a general program information section with roster, schedules and a season preview. Some SIDs designate a specific page count for each section or topic in their guide.
Joe Hernandez at Ball State University said technology has improved the compilation of the media guide, allowing media-relations professionals to work on the book throughout the season.
“Ten years ago, when the season ended, you had to rebuild everything and start your media guide all over,” Hernandez said. “Now the bios are updated on a game-by-game basis, statistics are updated, all the stuff that’s on the Internet is updated — and all that’s done when the season is going on as opposed to when the season ends.”
While the basic information might be compiled as the season continues, media-relations staff members are careful to not make every book look the same. Dan Wilkes, sports information director at Pittsburg State University, said he likes to alternate the presentation of his guides to keep the current year from mirroring the previous year.
“You’ve got to keep all your target audiences in mind. The student-athletes may change, but some of your fans and the media don’t,” Wilkes said. “You’d hate for the people to feel like this is a regurgitation of last year’s book.”
Visuals are becoming more and more important, Wilkes said, and corralling pictures of everything from specific players in games to attractive campus shots are an integral part of today’s media guide at all levels and divisions.
Another critical element is going back over all those statistics and records, in some cases decades of information, and ensuring accuracy. Doug Dull, associate athletics director at the University of Maryland, College Park, said compiling accurate information is crucial.
“If even a slight error creeps into the records, all of a sudden, that error is magnified over the course of the next 20 years. You can never get it back,” he said.
Reviewing the high points of a media guide and what could be improved in the next edition is also a part of the compilation of the new book every year for many athletics departments.
Blake Timm at Pacific University (Oregon) said in Division III, the rosters and photos of players are usually the last things to be finalized because of the possibility of student-athletes deciding not to participate in athletics.
“There’s no financial commitment in Division III, so it’s possible to have someone decide two weeks before the season starts that he or she is just not cut out to be a part of this team or to compete in intercollegiate athletics,” Timm said.
Deciding what goes on the cover is different at many institutions, though popular choices showcase the senior players or an entire team. Most sports information directors work closely with a coach to decide what he or she wants on the cover.
Moore at Syracuse said that process has changed over the years as well.
“In our case, we’ve gone to more eye-catching covers, maybe even using an outside agency to come up with a cover design,” he said. “In most cases, I think you’re trying to highlight upperclassmen, but the design portion of it no longer resides solely in the sports information offices at (the Football Bowl Subdivision) level at least.”
After the cover decisions are made, the final element is actually putting the information and visual elements together in an attractive package.
“Hopefully, we all come away with something we are proud of,” Dull said.
“The number of pages might be a little bit different, but we’re all trying to put our best foot forward and publish the best relative information we can,” said Syracuse University Associate Director of Athletics Communications Pete Moore. “We’re trying to find a way to highlight what our institution brings to the picture.”
The whole process can take as little as three months for a football or basketball guide, but for many, technology has made it a year-round process.
Coaches of the particular sport often play a large role in the production of the book that showcases their program, and some SIDs will poll their current student-athletes and recruiting coordinators, other administrators and even institution presidents to determine what they’d like to see highlighted in the guide.
The level of involvement from coaches and other constituencies varies depending on the institution and sometimes the program.
Judy Willson at the University of Louisiana at Monroe said she approaches her books in sections — the “brag portion” about the university; the history and records sections that don’t change much from year to year; the section for the current team that includes player biographies; and a general program information section with roster, schedules and a season preview. Some SIDs designate a specific page count for each section or topic in their guide.
Joe Hernandez at Ball State University said technology has improved the compilation of the media guide, allowing media-relations professionals to work on the book throughout the season.
“Ten years ago, when the season ended, you had to rebuild everything and start your media guide all over,” Hernandez said. “Now the bios are updated on a game-by-game basis, statistics are updated, all the stuff that’s on the Internet is updated — and all that’s done when the season is going on as opposed to when the season ends.”
While the basic information might be compiled as the season continues, media-relations staff members are careful to not make every book look the same. Dan Wilkes, sports information director at Pittsburg State University, said he likes to alternate the presentation of his guides to keep the current year from mirroring the previous year.
“You’ve got to keep all your target audiences in mind. The student-athletes may change, but some of your fans and the media don’t,” Wilkes said. “You’d hate for the people to feel like this is a regurgitation of last year’s book.”
Visuals are becoming more and more important, Wilkes said, and corralling pictures of everything from specific players in games to attractive campus shots are an integral part of today’s media guide at all levels and divisions.
Another critical element is going back over all those statistics and records, in some cases decades of information, and ensuring accuracy. Doug Dull, associate athletics director at the University of Maryland, College Park, said compiling accurate information is crucial.
“If even a slight error creeps into the records, all of a sudden, that error is magnified over the course of the next 20 years. You can never get it back,” he said.
Reviewing the high points of a media guide and what could be improved in the next edition is also a part of the compilation of the new book every year for many athletics departments.
Blake Timm at Pacific University (Oregon) said in Division III, the rosters and photos of players are usually the last things to be finalized because of the possibility of student-athletes deciding not to participate in athletics.
“There’s no financial commitment in Division III, so it’s possible to have someone decide two weeks before the season starts that he or she is just not cut out to be a part of this team or to compete in intercollegiate athletics,” Timm said.
Deciding what goes on the cover is different at many institutions, though popular choices showcase the senior players or an entire team. Most sports information directors work closely with a coach to decide what he or she wants on the cover.
Moore at Syracuse said that process has changed over the years as well.
“In our case, we’ve gone to more eye-catching covers, maybe even using an outside agency to come up with a cover design,” he said. “In most cases, I think you’re trying to highlight upperclassmen, but the design portion of it no longer resides solely in the sports information offices at (the Football Bowl Subdivision) level at least.”
After the cover decisions are made, the final element is actually putting the information and visual elements together in an attractive package.
“Hopefully, we all come away with something we are proud of,” Dull said.
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