Another BS headline by NJ.com

Mikemarc

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Nov 28, 2005
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Great, so share that knowledge and tell us why it's OK to omit the fact he's the HC at another school where the issues took place.

"I'm in the field" with no explanation isn't a justification. if you don't want to say, just say that, but then understand why people will not believe you.

Much like "Former New Brunswick resident arrested in Gilgo Beach killings" would be garbage.

I've explained plenty of times. Its SEO friendly. You want words in your hedline that people are searching for. Who is going to NJ.com with no knowledge of this story and searching "Minnesota"? Not many. Who will go onto NJ.com and search "Rutgers".......

I mean, its in the very first paragraph. Its not like that key peice of info was buried in the final paragraph. Its not needed in the headline, and you don't want too much info in the headline that the viewer won't even need to click on the story.

Also, lots of headlines have character limits, or the way they show up on a digital device isn't viewer friendly with a specific amount of character.

There's plenty of reasons headlines are written as they are, and I can tell you once again this headline wasn't written as it is to smear Rutgers. Cause NJ.com doesn't wanna do that.
 

yesrutgers01

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Nov 9, 2008
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I've explained plenty of times. Its SEO friendly. You want words in your hedline that people are searching for. Who is going to NJ.com with no knowledge of this story and searching "Minnesota"? Not many. Who will go onto NJ.com and search "Rutgers".......

I mean, its in the very first paragraph. Its not like that key peice of info was buried in the final paragraph. Its not needed in the headline, and you don't want too much info in the headline that the viewer won't even need to click on the story.

Also, lots of headlines have character limits, or the way they show up on a digital device isn't viewer friendly with a specific amount of character.

There's plenty of reasons headlines are written as they are, and I can tell you once again this headline wasn't written as it is to smear Rutgers. Cause NJ.com doesn't wanna do that.
What you keep saying is that it is a business decision to have a BS headline just to get clicks. That is pretty much what we all know. It doesn't stop it from being BS and purposely mis leading- as is the first handful of words in the article. What happens, and you know it- headline says ex rutgers coach, no mention of Minnesota and the first part of the first sentence says the same and you all know if someone does not hover or click- they will only see Rutgrs and Rutgers- not a single mention of where this happened. That first sentence is also purposely constructed for clicks
 

Mikemarc

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What you keep saying is that it is a business decision to have a BS headline just to get clicks. That is pretty much what we all know. It doesn't stop it from being BS and purposely mis leading- as is the first handful of words in the article. What happens, and you know it- headline says ex rutgers coach, no mention of Minnesota and the first part of the first sentence says the same and you all know if someone does not hover or click- they will only see Rutgrs and Rutgers- not a single mention of where this happened. That first sentence is also purposely constructed for clicks

Again, that's where we differ. I don't see it as a BS headline. Yes..headline is 1000000% for clicks. I've been saying that.

First sentence has little to do with garnering clicks, since to see the first sentence, you have to click on the headline.
 

yesrutgers01

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Again, that's where we differ. I don't see it as a BS headline. Yes..headline is 1000000% for clicks. I've been saying that.
for just a moment- forget SEO...

In what world is it not a BS headline if they do not mention th school it is happening at "Right now" and only mention Rutgers, which has nothing to do with the news.
To try to defend it as not BS is almost impossible except to say it is "truthful"

That would be like someone creating a headline that said you made out with a 8th grader and not mention you were in 8th grade yourself when it happened.
 

Mikemarc

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for just a moment- forget SEO...

In what world is it not a BS headline if they do not mention th school it is happening at "Right now" and only mention Rutgers, which has nothing to do with the news.
To try to defend it as not BS is almost impossible except to say it is "truthful"

That would be like someone creating a headline that said you made out with a 8th grader and not mention you were in 8th grade yourself when it happened.

It would be a BS headline if a non-NJ/NY newspaper's headline is: "Ex-Rutgers coach accused of toxic environment"

It would be a BS headline if NJ.com's headline was "Ex-WMU coach accused of toxic environment"

Having a local team in the headline, so long as its accurate, isn't BS"

And if you want a digital outlet to "forget SEO"...they'd laugh in your face.
 

MADHAT1

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Apr 1, 2003
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It would be a BS headline if a non-NJ/NY newspaper's headline is: "Ex-Rutgers coach accused of toxic environment"

It would be a BS headline if NJ.com's headline was "Ex-WMU coach accused of toxic environment"

Having a local team in the headline, so long as its accurate, isn't BS"

And if you want a digital outlet to "forget SEO"...they'd laugh in your face.
It's click bait the way headline read.
It's been 12 years since he was an RU Coach
 

Mikemarc

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It's click bait the way headline read.
It's been 12 years since he was an RU Coach

Of course it's click bait!!!!

That's what they want it to be.

A good headline makes you want to click on the story...ie...be click bait!
 

MADHAT1

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Of course it's click bait!!!!

That's what they want it to be.

A good headline makes you want to click on the story...ie...be click bait!
that's the shame of it, truth is stretched as far as it can be and viewership comes before honest based headlines.
Ex Rutgers coach is honest, but after 12 years makes the intent of headline look dishonest and a way to put down Rutgers
 

Mikemarc

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that's the shame of it, truth is stretched as far as it can be and viewership comes before honest based headlines.
Ex Rutgers coach is honest, but after 12 years makes the intent of headline look dishonest and a way to put down Rutgers

That's not the intent of the headline though. As I've said many times, NJ.com isn't trying to put down Rutgers.

And you'd better bet if these things DID happen at Rutgers, the headline would make that perfectly clear. Not sure how many people read that headline and inferred anything without click the link.
 

MADHAT1

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That's not the intent of the headline though. As I've said many times, NJ.com isn't trying to put down Rutgers.

And you'd better bet if these things DID happen at Rutgers, the headline would make that perfectly clear. Not sure how many people read that headline and inferred anything without click the link.
I'm sure there are quite a few.
There are many headlines I see that look bad for a college sports program that I don't read the article but the headline I remember.
example:
If I see * ex Penn State coach caught in a scandle* headline, I might not read the article but will think : sounds just like someone that fits the Nit culture in happy valley or he/she got away with that at Penn State but other places have higher standards.
 
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Mikemarc

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I'm sure there are quite a few.
There are many headlines I see that look bad for a college sports program that I don't read the article but the headline I remember.
example:
If I see * ex Penn State coach caught in a scandle* headline, I might not read the article but will think : sounds just like someone that fits the Nit culture in happy valley or he/she got away with that at Penn State but other places have higher standards.

But a PSU fan will absolutely read that article..."Who is the coach"? "What is the scandal"? "Where is the scandal"?

Which is why that's a great headline for digital site that covers PA/Happy Valley..but probably not the best headline anywhere else....
 

yesrutgers01

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But a PSU fan will absolutely read that article..."Who is the coach"? "What is the scandal"? "Where is the scandal"?

Which is why that's a great headline for digital site that covers PA/Happy Valley..but probably not the best headline anywhere else....
We are not debating the business behind the headline. And we know that it is exactly what they feel they have to do to get maximum exposure. We are NOT saying that there is nothing that is false in the headline. We get it get it get it- You are repeating the same thing over and over and that is not the debate. It is a great headline for them as it is going to get clicks.

It still doesn't alter the fact that it really is a BS headline.
 

Mikemarc

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We are not debating the business behind the headline. And we know that it is exactly what they feel they have to do to get maximum exposure. We are NOT saying that there is nothing that is false in the headline. We get it get it get it- You are repeating the same thing over and over and that is not the debate. It is a great headline for them as it is going to get clicks.

It still doesn't alter the fact that it really is a BS headline.

And as I've said many times, that's where we disagree. I don't see it as a BS headline. I gave examples of what I'd consider BS headlines in this story a few posts up...
 
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I've explained plenty of times. Its SEO friendly. You want words in your hedline that people are searching for. Who is going to NJ.com with no knowledge of this story and searching "Minnesota"? Not many. Who will go onto NJ.com and search "Rutgers".......

I mean, its in the very first paragraph. Its not like that key peice of info was buried in the final paragraph. Its not needed in the headline, and you don't want too much info in the headline that the viewer won't even need to click on the story.

Also, lots of headlines have character limits, or the way they show up on a digital device isn't viewer friendly with a specific amount of character.

There's plenty of reasons headlines are written as they are, and I can tell you once again this headline wasn't written as it is to smear Rutgers. Cause NJ.com doesn't wanna do that.

So it's OK to omit facts for clicks in a headline?
 

Mikemarc

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Take Rutgers out of it. If it was a headline about you or a loved one, you would feel differently.

That is everything wrong with journalism in a nutshell right there.

Money above all. Really, really sad.

Pretty sure money above all else applies in 99% of industries….not just journalism.

And I’m not sure about your example of having a loved one in a headline…how would I feel? Is headline accurate? Is headline relevant to the audience? I’d have no issue
 
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Pretty sure money above all else applies in 99% of industries….not just journalism.

And I’m not sure about your example of having a loved one in a headline…how would I feel? Is headline accurate? Is headline relevant to the audience? I’d have no issue

No it doesn't. Many have codes of ethics and licensing. Law, medicine, accounting...where people are punished for misleading. Not even a lie- just an omission.

So if someone said something about you that omitted a key piece of info in the headline, that would be OK? Doubt it.
 

Mikemarc

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No it doesn't. Many have codes of ethics and licensing. Law, medicine, accounting...where people are punished for misleading. Not even a lie- just an omission.

So if someone said something about you that omitted a key piece of info in the headline, that would be OK? Doubt it.

Yes…as long as the story included that key piece in the lede…which is what usually is the most important part of the story and should include the most info
 

yesrutgers01

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Pretty sure money above all else applies in 99% of industries….not just journalism.

And I’m not sure about your example of having a loved one in a headline…how would I feel? Is headline accurate? Is headline relevant to the audience? I’d have no issue
"Confirmed, Wife of rivals member Mikemarc was sleeping with other men"

We just won't mention in the headline, that it was well before she ever met you...
 
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Mikemarc

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"Confirmed, Wife of rivals member Mikemarc was sleeping with other men"

We just won't mention in the headline, that it was well before she ever met you...

Again, is this story and headline relevant to the audience. where is this headline publushed?

On NJ.com…no way I’d be happy. Why are they writing this?
 

yesrutgers01

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Again, is this story and headline relevant to the audience. where is this headline publushed?

On NJ.com…no way I’d be happy. Why are they writing this?
What if it was right before an Alumni dinner you were going to attend and the story was really about what you have done since Rutgers and the success you have found in both your career and family. But the story is written by someone that has held a grudge against you since your Rutgers days because he had a crush on your wife and she dated you instead of him.
See- it would be a BS headline even though it may be factual and they used it because it would certainly create clicks for any Alumni that were attending this dinner.
 
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Mikemarc

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What if it was right before an Alumni dinner you were going to attend and the story was really about what you have done since Rutgers and the success you have found in both your career and family. But the story is written by someone that has held a grudge against you since your Rutgers days because he had a crush on your wife and she dated you instead of him.
See- it would be a BS headline even though it may be factual and they used it because it would certainly create clicks for any Alumni that were attending this dinner.

That would be a BS headline cause it has nothing to do with the story. Agree
 

Mikemarc

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You say click bait as if it’s a bad thing…every single headline on digital publications (from the most reputable to the dirtiest gossip sites) want their headlines to be click bait.

(I should say sites that aren’t subscriber based)
 

Mikemarc

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Being an assistant coach for 1 year 12 years ago has nothing, zero, nada to do with the actual story of what is happening in Minnesota. So, now we all should agree.

Totally agree. But the guy the story was about was an ex-ru coach…hence making it a bit more relevant to nj. Com
 

Section124

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Why would a story on Fleck even be of interest to folks in NJ? Politi said he never wrote about the UNC scandal because it wasn't local. I bet there are far more UNC basketball fans around here than Minnesota football fans. And in regards to click bait, most people (like me) just read the headlines and never actually click the link. Based on that headline I would have a negative impression of Rutgers as a result.
 
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yesrutgers01

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Why would a story on Fleck even be of interest to folks in NJ? Politi said he never wrote about the UNC scandal because it wasn't local. I bet there are far more UNC basketball fans around here than Minnesota football fans. And in regards to click bait, most people (like me) just read the headlines and never actually click the link. Based on that headline I would have a negative impression of Rutgers as a result.
exactly- and when you do as you do- they purposely made sure the first half of the first sentence was about Rutgers in a negative view. If you click it, you get to see it really isn't but it was a masterclass in click bait and making Rutgers sports look bad when it had nothing to do with us at all.
 
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Totally agree. But the guy the story was about was an ex-ru coach…hence making it a bit more relevant to nj. Com

Right, the Minnesota HC is totally a story NJ.com should be running with lol.

Maybe they can republish the NYT hack job for clicks
 

Mikemarc

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Right, the Minnesota HC is totally a story NJ.com should be running with lol.

Maybe they can republish the NYT hack job for clicks

So you’re criticizing the story now too? Jeesh.

Seems like you’re complaining just to complain now.
 
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Mikemarc

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They can say what they want. But they only write about Minnesota when it lets them portrary RU negatively.

Just incorrect, and please stop posting non factual information.

Here's a story about Minnesota's coaching praising Rutgers DC.


Here's a story about Minnesota hiring a former Rutgers coach.


They write about Minnesota plenty of times when there is a Rutgers connection. And its certainly not always bad.

Please stop.

EDIT: And even this story the thread is about, who in their right mind is reading that and comes away with the conclusion that portrays Rutgers negatively. Nothing in that story portrays Rutgers negatively.
 
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yesrutgers01

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Just incorrect, and please stop posting non factual information.

Here's a story about Minnesota's coaching praising Rutgers DC.


Here's a story about Minnesota hiring a former Rutgers coach.


They write about Minnesota plenty of times when there is a Rutgers connection. And its certainly not always bad.

Please stop.

EDIT: And even this story the thread is about, who in their right mind is reading that and comes away with the conclusion that portrays Rutgers negatively. Nothing in that story portrays Rutgers negatively.
So- in the first story here- PJ is Minnesota Coach (when positive)and in th OP - he is ex Rutgers coach(when negative)

You kind of proved our point here
 
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Mikemarc

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So- in the first story here- PJ is Minnesota Coach (when positive)and in th OP - he is ex Rutgers coach(when negative)

You kind of proved our point here

Again, you want Rutgers in the headline.

Why did they use ex Rutgers DC in my 2nd link…it’s a positive story??
 

yesrutgers01

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Again, you want Rutgers in the headline.

Why did they use ex Rutgers DC in my 2nd link…it’s a positive story??
OK- let's slow it down for you...

OP story had nothing to do with Rutgers. They mentioned at the very end that he had coached here for a year. If the story included that PJ was here at a time where Rutgers faced th same problem(let's say his HC was Flood) - then there is a tie in that makes sense. But he was hear with GS so- HL has no tie in to the story at all.

Your first link was just a good old story that could be of interest in both Minny and NJ so it just had a "blah" headline
The 2nd link - is about tying it to both of them working together previously at Rutgers...And that was the story. so- the HL makes sense
 
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Mikemarc

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OK- let's slow it down for you...

OP story had nothing to do with Rutgers. They mentioned at the very end that he had coached here for a year. If the story included that PJ was here at a time where Rutgers faced th same problem(let's say his HC was Flood) - then there is a tie in that makes sense. But he was hear with GS so- HL has no tie in to the story at all.

Your first link was just a good old story that could be of interest in both Minny and NJ so it just had a "blah" headline
The 2nd link - is about tying it to both of them working together previously at Rutgers...And that was the story. so- the HL makes sense

The OP story certainly has nothing to do with Rutgers...totally agree. Which is why its befuddling that there are people here that think the story makes Rutgers look bad.

It does, however, have something to do with an ex-RU coach...hence the headline. And hence the story.

You're criticism now also seems to have gone away from the headline and to the story...