rallying journalism sucks

[BDunnell]

And another thing about the fact of not make dificult and unconfortable questions:

Anyone knows what happens when someone interviews Sebastien Loeb? The journalist and Loeb has a shadow very near. It seems that is trying to catch something that should not be told or writen. At least in Portugal it happened em 2007 and this year.

It's only an example, buts says very much about the attitude.

Such common practice in all walks of life, very sadly. It is now deemed so vital for the people being interviewed to toe the 'party line' that they must have a minder with them. It's pathetic.

[oreixa]

Makes often pay trips and hotels, lend cars, invite to eat to journalists... How they can bite the hand that feeds them?

[wrc_flipper]

Makes often pay trips and hotels, lend cars, invite to eat to journalists... How they can bite the hand that feeds them?

Agree with that, slightly. When you get an ISC Press Pass one (of many things) that you have to do is to be fair on your coverage to all teams and drivers. But when budgets are small the its quite easy to rely on the press releases from the teams. Asking difficult and challenging questions is needed but often don't get answered at the time due to timing constraints etc. Also I was once told that the driver is there to drive and the press guys are there for everything else.

But quite some interesting quesyions and answers from the press people at Rally Portugal this weekend to Max Mosely.

http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre...onference.aspx

[AndyRAC]

Agree with that, slightly. When you get an ISC Press Pass one (of many things) that you have to do is to be fair on your coverage to all teams and drivers. But when budgets are small the its quite easy to rely on the press releases from the teams. Asking difficult and challenging questions is needed but often don't get answered at the time due to timing constraints etc. Also I was once told that the driver is there to drive and the press guys are there for everything else.

But quite some interesting quesyions and answers from the press people at Rally Portugal this weekend to Max Mosely.

http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre...onference.aspx

Yeah, the 'World Engine' - 'interesting' is the word I would use to describe that.

As for the media - in general, the media coverage of the WRC is basically rubbish. As far as UK goes, Jerry Williams likes putting the boot in, and almost every week in MNews. Martin Holmes is very good as well.
Does anybody know how many British journalists there are covering this sport - I can't imagine it's very many, especially compared to F1.

[jonkka]

Ever since major newspapers have begun to run stories straight from news bureaus rather than ones written by their own journalists, it doesn't surprise me at all that rally journos effectively print re-phrased team press releases.

[RS]

The TV is the same, at least here in the UK. Dave or Eurosport (ISC commentary) are often telling us how 'fantastic' Wilson's result is, no matter if he is 12 minutes off the pace.

[gloomyDAY]

Why doesn't someone ask why Henning's car seems to break down at every rally and leaves him down the order after Day 1? Really beginning to ride my nerves!

[Magnus]

It may be that rallying journalism sucks, but that doesn´t matter that much, me thinks. What do matter is ordinary journalists who, due to misunderstandings and misinformation and lack of interest causes big damages to "our" sport every year. They help building a piture of rallying in the society which differs quite a lot from the truth, not least when it comes to safety, the spirit of rallying, and environmental issues.

[PHD]

Why doesn't someone ask why Henning's car seems to break down at every rally and leaves him down the order after Day 1? Really beginning to ride my nerves!

I guess if they knew why, they would fix it!

When a driver seems to have continual problems compared to others using similar machinery, don't you always have to consider their level of mechanical sympathy?

I'm not being critical - I like Hennings slightly old school attitude and driving style, and his obvious enthusiasm. But maybe his technique doesn't suit WRC cars that are designed to be driven in a particular way?

What is needed is more interesting rallies, more manufacturers, less predictable results, more variety generally - not better journalists!