compass sport mag

[lilywhite]

Go on then. When was the last time there was an elite orienteer on the front cover? Let alone at a far away event. If it was at WOC, then surely that's fine. If not, then why not?

You want more route choices? So do I. Suuuurely, having the routes taken by the best orienteers would be more interesting/eductational, than the routes taken by a bunch of punters at a local event.

Suuuurely the fact that the "average orienteer" in Britain is a beardy old man who doesn't care about elites and is more interested in how to "save time in the assembly area" by marking the start and finish onto his map first, is a problem.

So should CompassSport remain faithful to the old guys and remain dull and boring and have pictures of people running with visors and in nice black jumpers, OR should it include more maps, photos of people RACING, reports of how the best people in Britain are getting on etc etc? Orienteering is a race you know.

Read O-Sport anyway - it's much better.

[Blanka]

I guess my point was to leave the front cover as it is rather than putting more elites on the front cover - seems to be a good balance at the moment.

I was more concerned about the content being too much about the elite (though I did say it was probably because they wrote more of it.

And yes, I would rather have route choices from a domestic event I'd been to (not necessarily a local event, but something like a well attended Badge or National event would do), where I can compare them with my own.

Suuuurely the fact that the "average orienteer" in Britain is a beardy old man who doesn't care about elites and is more interested in how to "save time in the assembly area" by marking the start and finish onto his map first, is a problem.

But I don't think that is the case. There's a lot of older orienteers, but there's still all these other younger orienteers in their 20's-30's who need to be kept in the sport (see other thread), so aren't you being a bit counter-productive and arrogant by bunching them up with the older generation?

[bendover]

why isn't there a big rush to get the new edition of compass sport?

everyone who gets it has it mail order.

the rest of us pick up someone elses, have finished reading anything of interest in about 3 minutes, then feel reassured that we don't spend an annual subscription fee on it.

harsh but true.

[Mrs H.]

I don't think it has to be an either/or situation. the magazine can include sections to appeal to everyone - elite news, international events, round the clubs, tips for newcomers, MM review, injury clinic etc etc. It should, and largely does, cover all levels of the sport and we are very lucky to have an INDEPENDENT national magazine at all. If you want more artciles of a certain type then submit them.

as for the cover pictures well yes they have left a litltle to be desired in rcent months - we'll just have to giv them something better to use over the Jk

[bendover]

we are very lucky to have an INDEPENDENT national magazine at all.

fair point.

which i guess is why some of us are bothered about the quality of it.
we just want to see our sport better represented to the masses.

[Blanka]

why isn't there a big rush to get the new edition of compass sport?

everyone who gets it has it mail order.

the rest of us pick up someone elses, have finished reading anything of interest in about 3 minutes, then feel reassured that we don't spend an annual subscription fee on it.

harsh but true.

My point exactly. More people *might* read it if there was more coverage of domestic events. The reasoning being that although Elite orienteering might be more high profile, there is a relatively low number of potential subscribers, whilst "Average" orienteering is slightly less high profile, but will give you a higher number of potential subsribers!

As for distributing at events, I was also quite surprised that this was done at the Czech event, but it seems a nice idea as people get their magazine hot off the press, and the competitors seemed to be genuinely interested in that. Obviously those who aren't at the event get it posted, so no difference to CompassSport.

[lilywhite]

Agree with Mrs H and Ben. Bit confused by Blanka though: I wasn't bunching the 20-30s in with the average British orienteer who is a visor-wearing, gaiter outside trackster wearing, control card on chest wearing, bearded old man. I would've thought photos of good people actually racing would appeal more to the 20-30s. Also wasn't suggesting the route choices come from foreign lands.

[PorkyFatBoy]

Suuuurely the fact that the "average orienteer" in Britain is a beardy old man who doesn't care about elites and is more interested in how to "save time in the assembly area" by marking the start and finish onto his map first, is a problem.

I do care about the elites and their success, but I also find the "saving seconds" articles useful (sad I know).

If you want more artciles of a certain type then submit them.

I'm sure that John and Suse would some well written articles on what's going on around the country, with good photos, maps and route choices. Putting it all on Nopesport is great, but you can't always read Nopesport where you want.

[harry]

O-sport vs CompassSport readership is like the difference between runners who read athletics weekly (inspiring elite info) or runner's world (punter magazine - how to lose weight etc). In running terms i am a punter but would still rather read about the top elites than random punter things. There is probably demand for both -runnersworld sells loads. i get O-sport because it's more interesting to me. Some people might prefer the stuff in compass sport- fair enough. Whatever the content tho, the cover photo should be inspiring eg runner's world has great photos of punter type runners enjoying their running rather than the elites but they are still nice photos - they should have at least photoshopped that stick off my mum's head.

[Mrs H.]

What is this massive rage against beardy men - I met, fell in love and married one - tho' the beard is largely seasonal and presently absent(and now mostly grey). I'm very fond of it

[bendover]

i've got no problem with the beardy men. its the beardy women i'm worried about.

[Domhnull Mor]

Having had one of my own humble photos, taken at the JIRC a number of years ago, used on the cover of CompassSport, it should be easy enough for folk to send in any half-decent pictures and have a chance of getting them in the mag. A supply of good material, both writings and pictures, is essential for any publication. Good quality, professional shots cost money so I could well imagine that decent amateur photos from recent competitions would be well received if the photographer is satisfied with a simple credit.

[harry]

that's a nice idea about sending good photos in, i'm sure suse would appreciate that too.

What is this massive rage against beardy men - I met, fell in love and married one - tho' the beard is largely seasonal and presently absent(and now mostly grey). I'm very fond of it

yey nothing wrong with a bit of grey too Mrs H. my boyfriend has grey hair & is also halfway to beardyness most of the time. haha maybe he'll have a shave out of fear now..

for those who thought harry was a boy aha! so now you know i'm either a girl or gay, either way i like snowdrops!
..hmm pointless post, well it's basically friday for me

[the duncan]

My main problem with the mag is the cover photo, th content is usually pretty good, a variteyt of interbational and domestic news, and some stuff from the non elite group. but the cover is where the magaxine is seen first, you want to look at it and go,
'cool, that looks interesting'
and then read it.

the picture of Wo Wo Wo that is being talked about for the World Cup is not an elite picture, but its dynamic, exciting and intruiging (sp!!) whereas the current picture on compass sport is just plain jobbie and dull as ****
i really can't imagine anyone being at all excited by it, and the people who are on there are probably thinking 'oh my god what do i look like' (well they should be anyhoo)

Not sure if compass sport have the nope cd, but i know there are lots of great pics on that, and i'm more than happy to see any pics i have taken on the cover as long as they show excitment, dynamics and a bit of the ooooh factor.

[Mrs H.]

Pictures need to be targetted carefully I have a fantastic picture of two VERY mature ladies totally beasting it down that steep run in at the JK relays 2 years ago - head o head for a medal - awsome - and one I would want to show any mature person of a sporting nature to demonstrate that very attracytive side of the sport. I would not put it on the cover of compassSport but i would display it prominently within as i think it says something very important o everyone. The same would be said of some of the monster pictures i have of Neville and the girls.

What is important is probably the action itslf rather than th person who is doing it. Neither of th last two cover picture portray real action, drama or passion - I don't think you ned to be an elite - or even young to demonstrate that.