After the Greeley Tribune was sold late this past winter, when the dust had settled a little and those of us who were a part of the sale were meeting with members of the new ownership, it quickly became clear all parties involved were interested in drastically increasing our level of local sports coverage.
For editorial staff members who remained at the Tribune through the transition, that news came with a sigh of relief. It was especially true for those of us who remember how sports used to be covered here, and are, therefore, aware of the important role high school and college athletics play in the different communities that make up Weld County.
To be clear, we never stopped covering sports. But the resources needed — in terms of manpower and physical space in the newspaper — to properly report on sports in Weld County were no longer available. As a result we were no longer able to robustly provide coverage for that key part of our culture, which was frustrating to say the least.
So seeing how eager our new owners were to jump back into that kind of coverage was very encouraging.
However, a couple weeks later, when we were just starting to figure out how to make that happen, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the world seemed to close up shop. That was especially true in the sports world, particularly at the college and prep levels.
Even with the initial closures, we were still looking forward to reintroducing expanded sports coverage in grand fashion when football season started. But, once again, COVID dictated that we slow our roll a bit.
However, despite the lack of fanfare, we have still been very excited to start re-introducing more sports coverage in the past few weeks, however slow the process has to be.
Sports pages have been occupying the front of the B section more consistently in recent weeks, and that will continue to be the case, even in Wednesday editions, which have been featuring business content in that spot. This week also saw the return of standings, schedules and sports briefs on the second page of B. That, too, will be standard practice again.
And, though the pandemic has thrown a big monkey wrench into the traditional prep and college sports seasons, we will cover sports as long as they are being played and as long as there are compelling stories to tell, whether it be during slower times, like now, or the busier times we all hope for in the near future.
Despite the tumultuous couple years sports coverage at the Tribune has endured, we are fortunate to find ourselves in a great spot in terms of sports personnel.
Jadyn Watson-Fisher, who has served as our lone sports reporter for about nine months, will focus her efforts mainly on the University of Northern Colorado. She came to us with great experience in covering college sports and has added more in her time here, finding interesting ways to illustrate the impact COVID has had for UNC.
We find ourselves in a similarly good spot for high school sports. In fact, I’m nor sure there’s a person in the world more qualified to cover prep sports in Weld County than Bobby Fernandez, who has served as a sports reporter and sports editor in his decade-plus career with the Tribune. He will cover prep sports full time and get a little help from Jadyn when necessary.
It’s not a perfect setup. Covering sports in Weld County is a big job for just two people. And we still don’t have all the details ironed out for things like the Prep Roundup.
It’s also not the only recent change here at the Tribune. Cuyler Meade, who had been serving as public money reporter, has been promoted to news editor. He will lend a hand in editing while also continuing to provide excellent reporting and writing for our readers.
Anne Delaney, who had been the features and breaking news reporter, has taken on the education beat, which has become even more important to our community as schools try to deal with the pandemic.
Like the changes in sports, these moves are designed to help us better connect with the communities we cover. The same will be true for whatever other changes we decide to make as the world continues to deal with this pandemic.
However, given the turbulent few years it has suffered, as well as the important place it holds in Weld County, you’ll have to excuse our excitement at being able to — finally— bring expanded sports coverage back to the Greeley Tribune.
— Jerry Martin is editor of the Greeley Tribune. He can be reached at (970) 392-4432 or jmartin@greeleytribune.com.
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August 30, 2020 at 04:14AM
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Jerry Martin: Though slowed by COVID-19, expanded sports coverage is returning to the Greeley Tribune - Greeley Tribune
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