MEDIA WATCHDOG: THE GRADES ARE IN

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Media Watchdog - MEDIA WATCHDOG: THE GRADES ARE IN

MASN & Ravens camp coverage in review

Posted On: 8/10/07

Written By:

Scot Kleinfeld

Grading the MASN production of the Redskins vs. Ravens scrimmage

MASN is still new on the local sports scene so I was anxious to see the quality of their broadcast of the Redskins- Ravens scrimmage last weekend.

Granted, this game didn’t count and was just a glorified practice, but when producing any sports broadcast the mind set needs to be you are working on the Super Bowl.

Before I sat down to observe this production I approached it with the mindset that I was watching a regular season game even though it was the first weekend in August. Taking this into consideration coupled with the understanding that the format is highly controlled by the coaches, I knew there wouldn't be a lot of action leaving plenty of time to identify players, display stats and discuss storylines for the 2007 season.

If MASN was striving for Super Bowl quality on Saturday, they managed to only reach a high school level.

The two best things about the broadcast were how well MASN detailed the various scheduled formats with easy to read graphics and how Mark Viviano did a fine job of identifying players while keeping up the conversation with co-host Wally Williams.

In the opening segment there was a lengthy interview with Ravens head coach Brian Billick and we never saw his career or post season record.

Throughout the broadcast there were sideline interviews and often the camera was too close to the subject; the person’s face doesn’t need to take up the entire screen. I actually prefer to see a two-shot when a reporter is doing an interview so I can see their interaction with the subject.

Since this scrimmage was the first time many fans would see all the new draft picks together and really is a “get to know the new faces” atmosphere, I expected to see any rookie bio graphic to include their draft round and overall selection. None of this information was displayed and that is sports production 101 for this kind of event. I also figured there would be a full screen graphic that listed all the draft picks and maybe a list of the all the Ravens first round picks….again, no on both items.

There were interviews with several of the Ravens rookies and the background looked like a bad video game…it made me dizzy. Here is another example for MASN where less is more on the graphics side.

When I finally did see a full screen team graphic it had some major issues. They displayed special teams stats for both teams, but the tag line read “2007” when it should have been “2006”. The format they used was stat line in the middle with a team on each side. This format is very difficult to read and most networks use a format where the stat line is justified left and the teams are side by side so it reads like anything else.

The Ravens used three players to field kicks during the special teams drills and none of them were identified with a graphic; yet Redskins PR Antwaan Randle El was when he took the field.

After the special teams finished each team went into 7 on 7 drills while also running 1 on 1 drills. I am thinking now is a great time to use split screen, see all the 7 on 7 drills and pick up the pace. But what I saw was the split screen showing 1 on 1 drills and 7 on 7 for one team. We never saw both sides doing 7 on 7 drills at the same time. The 1 on 1 drills are a total sleeper and there was other action to be seen….fumble by MASN!!!!

The last segment had more action when the teams went into 11 on 11 drills. When rookie QB Troy Smith took some snaps you would think his graphic would mention he won the 2006 Heisman Trophy….wrong again.

Last, but not least; when P.J. Daniels scored the only TD of the day for the Ravens he was not identified either…as the camera followed him for about 30 seconds after the play. I could go on and get really picky, but I will stop here. I think you get the idea of what the dog thought about this broadcast.

Grade: D

Training camp coverage standings after week 1: