The past year or so the Deseret News has billed itself as "The newspaper for the fan."
What, exactly, is that supposed to mean?
Well, our goal is to be the best source for sports news in Utah. It's that simple. We want to have the best-written, most informative, best-designed and most comprehensive sports section in the state. We believe we accomplish that goal much of the time. The 20 full- and part-time sports section employees — along with the page designers, photographers, copy editors and artists in other departments of the paper — work hard 365 days per year to produce the sports pages. I, as sports editor, am impressed by the professionalism and dedication of those who help produce the "D" section of this paper each day.
Still, we know there is room for improvement. We can — and will — have a better sports section in 2003.
This isn't just an idle boast or wishful thinking. In at least a couple of ways I can guarantee we will become an even better sports source in the coming year.
First, by early summer readers throughout the state — seven days per week — will be able to check out baseball boxscores in the Deseret News as they eat their Wheaties for breakfast. After years of rumor it's finally going to happen. The Deseret News will join the 21st century and become a morning paper. While the move to morning will benefit the entire paper, we, in sports, stand to gain more than most. No longer will the games be almost 24 hours old by the time you get the newspaper on your doorstep.
And for the handful of you who say you prefer an afternoon paper, there's a simple solution. Just leave the morning's Deseret News in its elastic and read it in the evening.
A second reason I'm convinced we will be a better paper next year is that we've added the most knowledgeable journalist on the planet when it comes to BYU athletics to our already impressive lineup of sports writers. Cougar fans in Utah County have long known that if something is happening in the BYU athletic department, Dick Harmon of the Provo Herald knows about and will report on it.
Harmon has spent the past 25 years building relationships with sources and breaking stories about BYU's teams. He's one of those guys who knows the 40 time of every potential Gary Crowton recruit.
And beginning in January the only newspaper where you can read Harmon's fine reporting will be the Deseret News. Harmon, along with Scott Taylor and Jeff Call, will produce unequaled coverage of the Cougars.
That certainly doesn't mean we'll do any less on our other major local beats, either. Don't worry, Ute fans — we aren't going to become a "BYU only" paper. Our Jazz, Utes and preps coverage will continue to be second to none. We will continue to focus on local sporting events while doing as much as space and other constraints permit on national and international events.
Going morning and adding Harmon are two reasons we'll be better in 2003. There are plenty of other ways we plan on improving as well — some of which we aren't at liberty to discuss right now. Just know that we truly want to be the "newspaper for the fan."
To that end, we welcome your input as to what you would like to see more of — or less of — in the Deseret News sports section. We feel we are doing a good job — hopefully most of you agree. Again, we we know we can do better. While there is no guarantee that we can accommodate all the suggestions, they will certainly be considered.
Feel free to write (P.O. Box 1212, Salt Lake City, 84110), fax (237-2543) or e-mail lojo@desnews.com.
And keep on readin'.
E-mail: lojo@desnews.com