Changes upcoming for prep sports coverage

The landscape of community journalism continues to change and adapt to the latest trends, due in part to the advances in technology.

News is more accessible digitally and print is slowly dying. What was once a 20-30-page newspaper printed daily at the LVN joins the ranks of similar community papers printed on a weekly basis while trying to reach its audience more through its website and social media platforms.

And with this change, speculation that there will be less news and coverage is deservingly warranted. Times continue to change and papers have to evolve or become extinct. With the sports coverage, in particular, our goal is not to let the recent changes with the LVN (and its sister papers) diminish the quality of its news and coverage.

You, the reader, are in good hands thanks to a combined 30 years of experience covering sports in the Lahontan Valley. While the awards speak for themselves — there are many surrounding best sports column, feature, story, photo and photo essay — we have seen almost everything. From a youth baseball team qualifying for a World Series to the Greenwave winning multiple state titles to following standouts in college and the pros, you can rely on the LVN to provide the sports coverage you deserve.

In light of the changes this summer, you’ll be seeing a new but just as effective approach to covering youth sports this fall.

Previews on high school fall sports at Fallon and Oasis Academy will have a new look. Instead of a long-winded story going over the upcoming season, expect to see something more direct. We will be featuring each team with a question-and-answer feature along with rosters of all levels and the season schedule.

Game coverage will be done differently, too.

Since the LVN prints once a week, results will be available online throughout the season and the print edition will feature profiles on student-athletes that will lead into how the team is doing at that point in the season. You can find statistics on your favorite team easily online. But only at the LVN will you be able to read about an upcoming star and what makes that person special.

Lastly, starting this week, you will be seeing Q&A’s on ex-Fallon standouts making waves on the collegiate circuit. Similar to the fall previews, this new approach at the LVN will shine the spotlight on these athletes and dive deep into why they chose their college, who was their biggest influence and what it means to them to be able to represent the community at this level.

Community journalism continues to adapt and is a strong and necessary pillar. It can bring the community together in a time of need or celebration.

The changes with the sports coverage this fall will be different but more effective. The many years of experience and dedication of getting student-athletes covered in the paper is what this team strives for every season.

To submit story ideas or if you know of a college athlete to be featured in the LVN, contact Thomas Ranson at lvnsports@yahoo.com.