bainesontoast
Player Valuation: £25m
I've got two words in response to that: prove it.
We know you won't.
We know you won't.
- Status
Matty_j1878
Yer ma's favorite ITK. Mmmmmm Juicy.
And those fans, we know and agree, are the most important of all. By a County Road mile.
Sounds a lot like what Kenwright would say that.
Sounds a lot like what Kenwright would say that.
D
Deleted member 28206
Guest
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor.../executive-editor-sport-john-thompson-9520643
Executive Editor, Sport John Thompson responds to those Evertonians angry with the ECHO
We are listening - and we do care...
Mainstream sports journalists are lucky, privileged people.
They get to meet the stars. They to get to know them. They get to watch them for free. And get to write about them.
Their words are read by thousands of people every day. And they get paid for doing it.
Here at the ECHO, they - we - are especially privileged. Because Merseyside is home to two wonderful, historic and highly decorated football clubs.
Both Everton and Liverpool are avidly followed by arguably the most passionate and knowledgeable supporters in the land.
And those fans, we know and agree, are the most important of all. By a County Road mile. Which is why it has to be a matter of real concern to us when a group of those fans - Everton fans - feel disillusioned and let down by their local newspaper and its website.
Our accusers tell us we’ve lost touch, are unwilling to ask the questions that matter most to them. They say we deal in trivial, everyday stuff when we should be demanding answers, addressing bigger, more fundamental issues.
And this particular group of Blues are now so fed up they’re accusing us of favouring Liverpool FC in an internet campaign.
They’re harsh accusations - and in the social media age they are accompanied by some pretty unpleasant stuff.
We know we have to listen
But these fans are entitled to their opinions. And when a sizeable group of people tell you the same thing, whether they represent a minority of Blues fans or not, you’d be foolish to dismiss it self-servingly or readily.
We don’t.
Truth is we never have done. We’ve held meetings with these fan groups for several years now at our offices in Old Hall Street and given them platforms. As we have at times too with Everton’s hierarchy.
We believe these campaigning fans want us not just to ask questions and highlight issues of debate and concern, but also want us to join them in demanding sweeping change at Goodison. We do not believe sweeping change is a guarantee of success and would not support it without evidence of a credible alternative ready and waiting.
We invited fans groups in a few weeks ago, so we could record and air their views in an hour-long podcast on our website.
It was us pro-actively giving these fans a big opportunity to be heard more widely. And for us to demonstrate that we do respect them and want their opinions.
The recording took a little while to edit - not least because there were some serious accusations which needed legal scrutiny and attention.
But publish it we did - including some stinging criticism of ourselves and our journalists, as well as Bill Kenwright, Jon Woods, Robert Earl, Robert Elstone and those in the boardroom at Everton.
We recorded around 75 minutes of debate. Inevitably, as we had agreed to put out an hour-long podcast, some of it had to be left out.
We were though pro-actively signalling our intent to engage and listen. And respond. Which we were - and are - planning to do.
There’s more to football than transfers and tactics
We know Blues fans are as interested in whether Everton will ever find a committed new owner able and willing to invest - as they are in whether the club is signing a new centre forward.
We know many fans are desperate to know if the Blues will ever find a way to keep up and build a new stadium - as well as any analysis of Roberto Martinez’s tactical formations.
We do seek interviews from the top. We do ask the questions. But for all the co-operation we get day to day, we cannot force those running Everton to speak to us, grant us interviews or answer those questions.
That said, even if those running the Blues at times don’t wish to talk to us - that shouldn’t stop us exploring issues and commenting upon them.
So we accept that and we get the message loud and clear.
No favours, no fears…
And as for ‘evidence’ in leaked emails of the past that the ECHO ‘owed the club’ you’ll have to ask Everton FC about that.
That’s not how we at the ECHO saw it - and we would never agree that we ‘owe’ the Blues or the Reds favours for this or that. Never.
Down the decades the ECHO has been banned by the Blues (and the Reds) a fair few times over disputes with management and players.
For example, for David Moyes’ last home game in charge, David Prentice, Greg O’Keeffe and I bought tickets and reported the match from the Bullens Road stand because O’Keeffe had been banned from the Goodison press box as something he’d written had caused offence.
That’s just where all sports journalists live at times. Ask Alex Ferguson.
One great city, two great clubs
We’ve been accused of bias and loving Liverpool FC more than Everton. Not only is that untrue, it would be ludicrous, outrageous and unacceptable if it were.
We have the same number of pages devoted in principle to the Blues as the Reds, though it’s never an exact science and what is happening on any given day or week can at times skew that a bit one way or the other.
We have the same number of Everton columnists as Liverpool columnists. And while, as people who publish thousands of words every day, we will get it wrong sometimes, we try very hard each day to get the balance and tone right.
For instance, when we restructured our newsroom in January we appointed an Everton FC editor as well as a Liverpool FC editor even though Reds’ international following will inevitably deliver us more web views and consequently more revenue.
We have to, and always will disregard that because local audience is ultimately our priority and we will stand or fall on our local relevance.
Across all of our pages, on our website and our social media platforms, across a rapidly changing and developing new media landscape, we accept we must demonstrate a daily understanding that we live in a city that’s blue and red, red and blue, as we promote, signpost and celebrate our journalists’ work.
We have just appointed a mobile website editor with a brief to ensure we promote the clubs equally on our mobile site, and we are working hard with our technical team to ensure that some automated story recommendation feeds are less random and instead are relevant to the readers and the team they support.
Further, we will continue to monitor and cherish the ECHO’S back-page balance and have introduced changes to ensure this happens.
We know also that our sports writers - hard working, talented people who love the game too - are paid as qualified, professional reporters - not employed because they are football fans of one club or the other.
On our floor, like in every other office, school or factory on Merseyside, we have fans of Liverpool and Everton - and of some other clubs too. But their personal allegiances, where they exist, should not, do not, matter one jot.
Our staff are here to be great, well-connected, well-informed and fair-minded journalists who report and analyse the whole picture - not fans with a keyboard able to indulge a private passion.
But in turn we all have to demonstrate our empathy for the Gwladys St as much as the Kop, and vice versa of course.
Actions will always speak louder than words…
Over the next few weeks and months - and for a long while after - you’ll see plenty of stories and commentaries on Everton and Liverpool’s off-field issues. And on Tranmere Rovers’ too as they seek to get back into the Football League after a sad, humiliating and worrying decline last season.
We’ve said and done plenty that maybe gets a bit too readily forgotten.
But we know - we accept - that we’ve got to do more right across the piece on this score.
The Echo and its staff hopes and believes it understands Blues better than any other mainstream media. And cares far more about them and their club.
But perhaps it’s time for we privileged few to prove it better than we’ve done.
To the best of our ability, we will.
And tonight's echo sport pages read as
Nailed it.
roydo
in memoriam - 1965-2024
And tonight's echo sport pages read as
Thats the bit he said he was going to sort wasnt it? Like that is the web page, then the clicks on the stories determine how they appear on the site. Like any one does. And he did say the clicks are influenced by Liverpools larger overseas presence. Not the local one.
So lets see.
Jib in lad
Player Valuation: £25m
Just don't buy it or click on links .
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor.../executive-editor-sport-john-thompson-9520643
Executive Editor, Sport John Thompson responds to those Evertonians angry with the ECHO
We are listening - and we do care...
Mainstream sports journalists are lucky, privileged people.
They get to meet the stars. They to get to know them. They get to watch them for free. And get to write about them.
Their words are read by thousands of people every day. And they get paid for doing it.
Here at the ECHO, they - we - are especially privileged. Because Merseyside is home to two wonderful, historic and highly decorated football clubs.
Both Everton and Liverpool are avidly followed by arguably the most passionate and knowledgeable supporters in the land.
And those fans, we know and agree, are the most important of all. By a County Road mile. Which is why it has to be a matter of real concern to us when a group of those fans - Everton fans - feel disillusioned and let down by their local newspaper and its website.
Our accusers tell us we’ve lost touch, are unwilling to ask the questions that matter most to them. They say we deal in trivial, everyday stuff when we should be demanding answers, addressing bigger, more fundamental issues.
And this particular group of Blues are now so fed up they’re accusing us of favouring Liverpool FC in an internet campaign.
They’re harsh accusations - and in the social media age they are accompanied by some pretty unpleasant stuff.
We know we have to listen
But these fans are entitled to their opinions. And when a sizeable group of people tell you the same thing, whether they represent a minority of Blues fans or not, you’d be foolish to dismiss it self-servingly or readily.
We don’t.
Truth is we never have done. We’ve held meetings with these fan groups for several years now at our offices in Old Hall Street and given them platforms. As we have at times too with Everton’s hierarchy.
We believe these campaigning fans want us not just to ask questions and highlight issues of debate and concern, but also want us to join them in demanding sweeping change at Goodison. We do not believe sweeping change is a guarantee of success and would not support it without evidence of a credible alternative ready and waiting.
We invited fans groups in a few weeks ago, so we could record and air their views in an hour-long podcast on our website.
It was us pro-actively giving these fans a big opportunity to be heard more widely. And for us to demonstrate that we do respect them and want their opinions.
The recording took a little while to edit - not least because there were some serious accusations which needed legal scrutiny and attention.
But publish it we did - including some stinging criticism of ourselves and our journalists, as well as Bill Kenwright, Jon Woods, Robert Earl, Robert Elstone and those in the boardroom at Everton.
We recorded around 75 minutes of debate. Inevitably, as we had agreed to put out an hour-long podcast, some of it had to be left out.
We were though pro-actively signalling our intent to engage and listen. And respond. Which we were - and are - planning to do.
There’s more to football than transfers and tactics
We know Blues fans are as interested in whether Everton will ever find a committed new owner able and willing to invest - as they are in whether the club is signing a new centre forward.
We know many fans are desperate to know if the Blues will ever find a way to keep up and build a new stadium - as well as any analysis of Roberto Martinez’s tactical formations.
We do seek interviews from the top. We do ask the questions. But for all the co-operation we get day to day, we cannot force those running Everton to speak to us, grant us interviews or answer those questions.
That said, even if those running the Blues at times don’t wish to talk to us - that shouldn’t stop us exploring issues and commenting upon them.
So we accept that and we get the message loud and clear.
No favours, no fears…
And as for ‘evidence’ in leaked emails of the past that the ECHO ‘owed the club’ you’ll have to ask Everton FC about that.
That’s not how we at the ECHO saw it - and we would never agree that we ‘owe’ the Blues or the Reds favours for this or that. Never.
Down the decades the ECHO has been banned by the Blues (and the Reds) a fair few times over disputes with management and players.
For example, for David Moyes’ last home game in charge, David Prentice, Greg O’Keeffe and I bought tickets and reported the match from the Bullens Road stand because O’Keeffe had been banned from the Goodison press box as something he’d written had caused offence.
That’s just where all sports journalists live at times. Ask Alex Ferguson.
One great city, two great clubs
We’ve been accused of bias and loving Liverpool FC more than Everton. Not only is that untrue, it would be ludicrous, outrageous and unacceptable if it were.
We have the same number of pages devoted in principle to the Blues as the Reds, though it’s never an exact science and what is happening on any given day or week can at times skew that a bit one way or the other.
We have the same number of Everton columnists as Liverpool columnists. And while, as people who publish thousands of words every day, we will get it wrong sometimes, we try very hard each day to get the balance and tone right.
For instance, when we restructured our newsroom in January we appointed an Everton FC editor as well as a Liverpool FC editor even though Reds’ international following will inevitably deliver us more web views and consequently more revenue.
We have to, and always will disregard that because local audience is ultimately our priority and we will stand or fall on our local relevance.
Across all of our pages, on our website and our social media platforms, across a rapidly changing and developing new media landscape, we accept we must demonstrate a daily understanding that we live in a city that’s blue and red, red and blue, as we promote, signpost and celebrate our journalists’ work.
We have just appointed a mobile website editor with a brief to ensure we promote the clubs equally on our mobile site, and we are working hard with our technical team to ensure that some automated story recommendation feeds are less random and instead are relevant to the readers and the team they support.
Further, we will continue to monitor and cherish the ECHO’S back-page balance and have introduced changes to ensure this happens.
We know also that our sports writers - hard working, talented people who love the game too - are paid as qualified, professional reporters - not employed because they are football fans of one club or the other.
On our floor, like in every other office, school or factory on Merseyside, we have fans of Liverpool and Everton - and of some other clubs too. But their personal allegiances, where they exist, should not, do not, matter one jot.
Our staff are here to be great, well-connected, well-informed and fair-minded journalists who report and analyse the whole picture - not fans with a keyboard able to indulge a private passion.
But in turn we all have to demonstrate our empathy for the Gwladys St as much as the Kop, and vice versa of course.
Actions will always speak louder than words…
Over the next few weeks and months - and for a long while after - you’ll see plenty of stories and commentaries on Everton and Liverpool’s off-field issues. And on Tranmere Rovers’ too as they seek to get back into the Football League after a sad, humiliating and worrying decline last season.
We’ve said and done plenty that maybe gets a bit too readily forgotten.
But we know - we accept - that we’ve got to do more right across the piece on this score.
The Echo and its staff hopes and believes it understands Blues better than any other mainstream media. And cares far more about them and their club.
But perhaps it’s time for we privileged few to prove it better than we’ve done.
To the best of our ability, we will.
Having fed that tripe through the BS condenser here's the relevant sentence, imo:
"These campaigning fans want us not just to ask questions and highlight issues of debate and concern, but also want us to join them in demanding sweeping change at Goodison. We do not believe sweeping change is a guarantee of success and would not support it without evidence of a credible alternative ready and waiting."
Now when has it stopped that rag in the past leading the way in demanding change at Anfield and not knowing what would happen after that change had occurred? Never. They agitated at the head of the pack to get Hicks and Gillett out and there was nothing guaranteed about where they'd end up thereafter; they'll do the same when the time comes to oust FSG.
They are rattled beyond belief now. This statement tonight is them trying to staunch the loss of credibility.
Too little, too late.
bizzaro
LOVE GOT JUST THE WAY IT IS #ALWNV
Dave. I'm just speechless.
It's like they have no clue.
How the hell can he claim there is no bias?
Its obvious to a blind man.
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
The message is: "We hear you, but we're not going to change. Thanks."
PMSL at the line about being accused of trivialising Everton and rejecting it. How in God's name can they possibly defend themselves against that?
bizzaro
LOVE GOT JUST THE WAY IT IS #ALWNV
So it wasn't just me then?
davek
Player Valuation: £150m
Stadium failure: they dont question it because they led the way on the last shambles scheme.
Investment failure: they have no intention of getting on the wrong side of Green whatsoever, never mind Kenwright.
Failure to win a trophy: well, that's just Everton's level though isn't it?...as they told us last week.
Thompson has accomplished nothing but shoving a stick into a hornets nest with that nobhead piece.
- Status