Masters Annual Reports - Media Subcommittee, 2005
The Media Subcommittee actively promoted the mission of masters track and field in national, regional, and local papers, emphasizing the performances of athletes. The raison detre remains what Sullivan Award finalist Phil Raschker stated -- she learned about masters track and field from articles in the press. Our media objective is to expand the number of masters track and field athletes and organizers, meet sponsors, and excitement about our sports mission for lifetime fitness through friendly, healthy competition.
At the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships in Hawaii
in August, the Media Subcommittee, working collectively with USATF and meet
officials, the LOC, and athletes, aggressively sought and obtained several
Hawaii front page stories with myriad photos, live trackside television and
radio interviews, and dozens of feature stories as well around the country in a
concerted home town press effort.
It may be a model for future meets see:
August 4-7, 2005, and before and after -- USATF Masters
Championships press coverage
At the USATF Masters Indoor Championships in Boise in
March, the Subcommittee generated local daily feature coverage
see:
March 14, 2005 -- 2005 USA
Masters Indoor Track National Championships press
coverage
When asked for help by USATF staff because USATFs
website went down during the Championship, the Subcommittee also obtained an
alternate website for meet results for immediate use by media on deadlines a
true team effort by USATF staff and the Media Subcommittee.
In addition, the Media subcommittee assisted numerous
masters meet directors when requested for strategy assistance and generated
releases and television and print coverage during the course of the year,
including:
August 31, 2005 -- "30th
Anniversary Of Potomac Valley Games Again To Feature World Champions And U.S.,
World Record Holders" -- press release
July 10, 2005 -- "Fitness and Aging: Forever Young, Forever Fit --
How You Can Win The Battle To Slow Aging" -- in Green Bay Press
Gazette
June 10, 2005 -- "Pete Taylor Set to Announce Hawaii August
Nationals" -- press release
May 10, 2005 -- "'Fountain of
Youth Masters' Invitational Mile to Feature America's Best 35-plus at Canby HS,
Oregon 12:15 p.m. May 14" -- in U.S. Newswire -- press release (achieved television
coverage)
March 30, 2005 -- USA Masters
Track & Field Championships in Honolulu to Draw Nearly 2000 of Nations Best
Aug. 4-7, 2005 -- press release
Over the past two years, the Media Subcommittee also
assisted (and was acknowledged by) Uncommon Productions in the making of its
movie, Racing Against the Clock, now out, concerning five masters women
athletes, with the entire first section of the movie about and showing many of
our co-athletes and officials at the Boston USATF Masters Indoor
Championships. The Subcommittee
recommended to the producers a showing of the movie at this winters Boston
USATF Indoor Championship, and it is occurring.
Though limited by funding and time limitations from
the World Championships in Spain, the Subcommittee coordinated with USATF staff
and with Ken Stone in their work to generate as much dissemination of athletes
performances as possible. The
Subcommittee acknowledges and congratulates Ken for his
work.
The Subcommittee worked with regional meet directors
and other masters meets (including the Raleigh Invitational, which this year
obtained significant coverage for the first time) with assistance as
possible.
In addition to maximizing the on-site coverage during
indoor and outdoor nationals, the Subcommittee intends to continue and expand
its work with systematized home town media projects during championships and to
enhance feature coverage on athletes and organizers during the course of the
year, and looks forward to continuing to work with regional and meet
directors.
Submitted by:
Robert S. Weiner, Chair
USATF Masters Media
Subcommittee
(10/25/05)