Chess in the Media

[Leonard Barden]

You're already up in lights on the feedback, Peter.

[Simon Spivack]

I think it would go against the grain for many of us to write to the Times in support of Keene's column, notwithstanding any appeal to act in the broader interests of chess. Surely there must be a minimum standard of chess journalism? Speaking for myself, I think I have the full set of results from Hastings 1895 by now. Nor am I convinced that Golombek's best wins are very topical.

Keene in the Eye is often interesting. Is there a means of lobbying for that?

[John Saunders]

I've written a bit more (in satirical vein) on the Evening Standard's reduction of Leonard's column here...

http://bcmchess.blogspot.com/

[John Saunders]

Keene in the Eye is often interesting. Is there a means of lobbying for that?

Keene in the Eye? He's more commonly 'written against' than 'writing' therein, isn't he? Do you mean The Spectator?

[Richard Bates]

Keene in the Eye is often interesting. Is there a means of lobbying for that?

Keene in the Eye? He's more commonly 'written against' than 'writing' therein, isn't he? Do you mean The Spectator?

It's interesting to discover that Welshmen don't have a ingrained sarcasm detector

[John Saunders]

... and Englishmen don't know the difference between sarcasm and irony. But perhaps you're right and I failed to spot a wink of Simon's own Eye when he wrote what he did. Nice one.

[Richard Bates]

... and Englishmen don't know the difference between sarcasm and irony. But perhaps you're right and I failed to spot a wink of Simon's own Eye when he wrote what he did. Nice one.

Yep i flipped a coin and sarcasm didn't feel quite right...

Modern internet discourse has moved beyond the need for winks People have discovered the added amusement of people not detecting their hidden presence

[Paul Buswell]

I think it would go against the grain for many of us to write to the Times in support of Keene's column, notwithstanding any appeal to act in the broader interests of chess. Surely there must be a minimum standard of chess journalism? Speaking for myself, I think I have the full set of results from Hastings 1895 by now. Nor am I convinced that Golombek's best wins are very topical.

I agree: Mr Keene's lazy 'column' is no credit to journalism or reporting. I cannot agree with Stewart Reuben's view that the quality is immaterial and I will shed no crocodile tears if the 'Times' column - in its present incarnation - goes under. In fact I have been more tempted in the past to write to the 'Times' to criticise its column.

The 'Standard' however is another matter. I never read the paper these days as it hardly circulates where I live, but the column's daily position or problem was spot on for a task while commuting - portable lightweight hard copy media are still more accessible than online. (As an aside, I hate the knee-jerk assumption that pervades the media and advertising that everyone has internet access: and in the present case I point out that 26% of households in the South East have no internet access (ONS 2008, rising to 35% for the UK as a whole), whereas within its circulation area almost all households have access to the 'Standard')

I assume that the dropping of Mr Barden's column is part of what I read in the media about the 'Standard' going 'lite' to compete with all these free blatts?

PB

[David Lettington]

I agree with Paul Buswell that Ray Keene's column did not always report on the latest happenings on the chess world, but most active chess players get their news via websites and chess magazines. I think the point of a column in a national paper is that it will be read by people who might not otherwise come into contact with chess; as such, perhaps the quality is less important?

I wish that more local newspapers ran chess columns, which could also be used to direct would be players to local chess clubs.

[Stewart Reuben]

To David Lettington
Have you contacted your local newspapers or local radio and offered a free regular article?
Many years ago I did so when Chairman of Islington Chess Club for the Islington Gazette. They never responded. I sent in weekly updates concerning the club and its players, perhaps 100 words. These were always published. I had no editorial contact at any time. When I ceased to be chairman and moved away I stopped sending in these columns. They never wrote and asked what had happened.
It was like a blog, but in print. It isn't as easy today. Many local papers are free and are basically advertising wrapped up with 4 pages of local news.

Of course the quality of the ches column matters. Thus Ray Keene's today is topical and fine. But, from our viewpoint, as previously said, we want the column to reach non-serious players.

Stewart Reuben

[Alasdair MacLeod]

Barden's chess column was in the Standard today so looks like the pressure worked....?

[John Saunders]

Yes, good news indeed - and credit to the Evening Standard for taking such prompt and positive action. I understand that they will be taking the column offline, which is a pity, but it is more important to have it featured in the printed version of the paper.

[Richard Colfer]

Hi Leonard.
The Standard are taking the chess every day again and they've put it back on the main puzzle page - it had been booted to the letters page for a while. The online version is going, but they were struggling with it and kept making a mess of it anyway. Means people outside London are out of luck unless someone wants to scan the page and post it somewhere - but I imagine that's not on

[Simon Spivack]

One can see the line up for the Staunton Memorial Tournament on http://howardstaunton.com/hsmt2009/Home.html . Apparently the hope is that this will be a "top media event". I trust that The Times, at least, will report on this contest.

I note with concern that this media ambition may be thwarted before birth. Avast reports a virus when I incautiously accept the prompt to "Click here to visit the Howard Staunton Society's website". Perhaps this unfortunate difficulty should lead to a cry for help from someone who has the skills necessary for such an exigency. Someone, say, who can solve a Sunday Times chess problem and has an eye for termites. Any suggestions?

[IM Jack Rudd]

The all-play-all group looks interesting. This year it looks like there will be some genuine norm chances (as opposed to Bob Wade's entirely theoretical ones last year).