Newsgroup: it.sport.ciclismo
Titolo: Tony Cooke e la stampa britannica

http://www.veloriders.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=51048&start=30
Last Year in the run up to the BBC Sports personality of the Year, a 
feature writer in a Welsh daily newspaper wrote his opinion on who would 
be a worthy winner. Nicole’s achievements were dismissed. I have not 
kept the article but the theme was, “well if you want to get a 
perspective on where she is in the firmament of cycling look no further 
than the gospel – Cycling Weekly - her World Cup win did not make the 
cover, instead it made a part page story some 12 pages in. It is no big 
deal even in the minority sport of cycling”
In the single report on her exploits in the Women’s Tour de France, (CW 
could not manage a page) There were 42 pages on the men’s Tour that 
issue of CW.
When Joanne Sommariba won for Spain, it made the major sports story on 
the national TV news that night.
Speak to BBC Journalists and it is the same. “We take our lead from the 
specialist publication. We cannot be expert in all sports.”
And after Cycling Weekly, to where else would one turn? The BCF web site 
? Have a look right now. Not a mention about the Geelong Tour. Even when 
she won the Tour. It was buried in the BCF press release somewhere 
amongst the Wobbly Wheelers CC road race results.
But accuse Cycling Weekly or the BCF web site of bias – “Wot us – no we 
always mention her”. Yes “mention” is the key word.
The trackies get the BCF pushing their story with the national press. 
The continental men get lots of exposure, from the British mags. 
Remember Roger’s 3rd place in the Paris Robaix? But if you are the 
number one ranked female road rider on the planet –
As to interest ? Well chicken and egg is the apt metaphor. If you don’t 
know the personalities, there is no interest. No interest - why report.
The “Gazzetta” in Italy is the major cycling magazine. This year’s Giro 
Donna winner was an ex Eastern Block rider. But such is the interest of 
the Italian cycling readership, their editorial management made her 
front cover all on her own. She was not Italian but was a worthy winner 
of an excellent Tour. Some people can make a fair judgement of athletic 
performance regardless of sex.
I think one of the things I will remember after my daughter retires, is 
the end of season cycling extravaganza that goes out on Italian 
terrestrial TV live. They do a review of the year. They generally have 3 
personalities up to speak. In recent years, never more, sometimes only 
two. Top Italian and a couple of others, like Lance. Nicole has twice 
been one of those 3. In her first year – CW informed – First Brit ever 
to break into this exclusive club – are you interested, can you get your 
man in Italy to cover the event. Yes. Nothing in CW the week later. Why 
was that? The excuse was feeble.
Nobody is saying CW have an easy job. Internet news access has changed 
the needs of their traditional readership. But when they have a story 
that is right up their street like the above – specialist news, not 
featured elsewhere in the British media, so it can wait a few days– Brit 
success in the big pond of road racing – continental glamour – then it 
has to be a win/win situation for them at the ratings. And ratings is 
what it is all about. What is nice to see – regardless of frustrations 
of content, is that after years of decline, CW have reversed the 
situation in the last ratings analysis.
It might not be nice looking in the mirror and contemplating certain 
aspects of our press – but as the politician said – the population get 
the politicians they deserve. We cyclist get the weekly magazine we 
deserve. That is why I suggested a way one might complain. But then 
again, maybe we like it exactly the way it is. I know my view – but I am 
biased.
Tony Cooke
-- 
http://modesta.biciticino.ch
Il sito dedicato alla giovane ciclista lituana Modesta Vzesniauskaite

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This guy whines a lot, too much I think. He seems to spend all his comments
on his perception of the shortcoming of the press.
B-