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Thoughts on "Pokes Insider"

C

cowpokeguy

Active member
One thing that hasn't been discussed much, but that seems pretty interesting, is the Wyoming Athletics dept hiring arguably the most respected Wyo athletics journalist (Ryan Thorburn) to become a Pokes "Insider" who now works for the AD. I think it's safe to say that this coverage is from a very, very sympathetic point of view:
Disappointment but no division in Denton

In addition, no journalists are allowed to attend practices so the only perspective we get is from the ADs hired gun. Looking back, if there were any hints of the disaster the football team has become from practice, the Pokes "Insider" would not have been pointing those out:
Pokes Insider: Chris Durr Jr. driven to be great
Pokes Insider: 'There's a pride here'
Pokes Insider: DJ Jones ready for the spotlight
Pokes Insider: Ben Florentine is still strong as mustard gas
Pokes Insider: Evan Svoboda embracing QB1 spotlight - Featuring this quote "
Wyoming's new starting quarterback shined during Wyoming first spring practice"
 
It is the Pokes Propaganda outlet. The position requires painting only with brown and gold. Exactly what to expect from the AD’s office just like the White House Press Secretary. If I had the job I would do exactly as asked until I found a replacement job if I didn’t like polishing the turd.

Why do the postgame interviews and weekly press conferences make it virtually impossible to hear the questions asked? Is it just a cheesy low grade move by the university or hasn’t anyone figured out it would be nice to hear the sports media’s questions? I have also heard you better not cross the line with questions or your pass may be revoked. Don’t know if that is completely true, but a media contact once told me they didn’t feel comfortable asking more direct questions that the coaches didn’t like to answer as it would make Harkins upset and I would wager Tim was only passing on what was expected of him in controlling the media. Now it’s a new guy but nothing is different.

Who on this forum is from UW monitoring what the fans are saying? You know it’s happening.
 
PorkerPoke said:
It is the Pokes Propaganda outlet. The position requires painting only with brown and gold. Exactly what to expect from the AD’s office just like the White House Press Secretary. If I had the job I would do exactly as asked until I found a replacement job if I didn’t like polishing the turd.

Why do the postgame interviews and weekly press conferences make it virtually impossible to hear the questions asked? Is it just a cheesy low grade move by the university or hasn’t anyone figured out it would be nice to hear the sports media’s questions? I have also heard you better not cross the line with questions or your pass may be revoked. Don’t know if that is completely true, but a media contact once told me they didn’t feel comfortable asking more direct questions that the coaches didn’t like to answer as it would make Harkins upset and I would wager Tim was only passing on what was expected of him in controlling the media. Now it’s a new guy but nothing is different.

Who on this forum is from UW monitoring what the fans are saying? You know it’s happening.
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It drives me nuts that they don't offer a microphone to the person asking the question at the press conferences. I have no clue why they don't. You basically have to try to guess at what the question was based on the response of whoever is being asked. Sometimes you can make bits and pieces of the questions out if the person is sitting close enough to the front.

If it is true that UW will revoke a press pass simply over a question they don't like, then that is pathetic and indicative of a poorly run athletic department. I wonder what UW would do if all the major media members got together and decided they were all going to band together and start asking the tough questions. Would UW revoke all of their press passes and do press conferences with no media members of significance in the room?
 
Said it in an another thread, but Thorburn was the only recent reporter for the Casper Star who clearly did not see the job exclusively as a stepping stone (since he had already had the gig once before). And after one year the Athletic dept buys him out to become a mouthpiece for the AD. Not a coincidence at all.
 
Poke in New England said:
Said it in an another thread, but Thorburn was the only recent reporter for the Casper Star who clearly did not see the job exclusively as a stepping stone (since he had already had the gig once before). And after one year the Athletic dept buys him out to become a mouthpiece for the AD. Not a coincidence at all.
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Interesting. And, yet, pathetic - of UW.
 
Is this a side effect of a tiny media market? ... like, I'm sure Nebraska and Ohio St have their "official" rah rah mouthpiece people but there are others who produce content and are compensated for that production who are not "official". Is there just not enough gravy to support the type of journalism that we seem to be missing?
 
307bball said:
Is this a side effect of a tiny media market? ... like, I'm sure Nebraska and Ohio St have their "official" rah rah mouthpiece people but there are others who produce content and are compensated for that production who are not "official". Is there just not enough gravy to support the type of journalism that we seem to be missing?
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It may be one piece of the puzzle. Journalism is not exactly a hot career field where one can just move onto the next opportunity if you do something to piss off your current employer...especially if you want to stay in the rural Rocky Mountain region where opportunities are even more limited.

I'm sure a lot of the reporters, consciously or unconsciously, feel the need to toe the line in order to not end up unemployed or forced to move to a heavily populated area to get another job.
 
Knowing that Thorburn is fully capable of authoring objective non-cheerleader analysis, it must be quite a hit to someone’s soul to take such a position. But I understand the days of the newspaper reporter are out the window and one must find new ways to feed their families.

However - His new pieces have the same interest to me as the releases of the official Wyoming Football Facebook and Instagram pages.
 
Questions by this media group are total softball right down the center of the plate. Rarely do they ever ruffle any coaches or players feathers...kinda sad if u ask me a true fan that sees a different kind of game than this weak media covers
 
As I have mentioned on the roundup a few times, I'm willing to ask these hard questions and have done so in the past but...

UW has made the weekly press conference in person only after offering a phone in option for at least the last 10 years. Makes you think...
 
Wicks said:
As I have mentioned on the roundup a few times, I'm willing to ask these hard questions and have done so in the past but...

UW has made the weekly press conference in person only after offering a phone in option for at least the last 10 years. Makes you think...
Click to expand...
Really tells a story honestly. The whole AD failed Wyoming. They should all resign. And be ashamed at their absolute neglect for striving to be the best, regardless. Who does that? Especially in athletics.
 
Wicks said:
As I have mentioned on the roundup a few times, I'm willing to ask these hard questions and have done so in the past but...

UW has made the weekly press conference in person only after offering a phone in option for at least the last 10 years. Makes you think...
Click to expand...
Did they make this change before the season, or only after things went south for Sawvel and the team?
 
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