Trying times for reporters at the sharp end

We've never known it so tough - that's perhaps the strongest message from journalists across the globe as the 2010 Winter Olympics draws to close in Vancouver.

Sports reporters from all over the world have converged on the west coast Canadian city for two weeks of thrills, spills, heartache and delight, but there is an overwhelming feeling that the spiralling demands of delivering instant, high-quality journalism across an ever-widening array of platforms is making this one of the toughest times ever for the industry.

Jason Stallman, deputy sports editor at the New York Times, and their Olympics co-ordinator has worked at the paper since 2003, and told me that even papers with a global reputation are finding it a massive challenge.

Jason Stallman. Picture: The New York Times

Stallman told me: "Of course there's always a race to get the story out there, and newspapers are having to act more an more like agencies all the time. But the real challenge for us is to make sure that quality doesn't suffer - it's what we're known for, and sometimes we'll accept that we might be beaten to the story but we'll never compromise on the quality."

At the New York Times, resources allow for a 'belt and braces' coverage of major news and events: "We'll have one guy writing the in-depth story, spending time putting it together, and another guy working on the shorter versions for online and other platforms. That way we can still get the news out there without having to compromise overall quality."

And tackling the challenge of trying to haul a profit from online news, Stallman said: "The system we're going with soon will be a metred system. That might mean that you're in Scotland and have a passing interest in something we're covering. You'll be able to come in, have a look at a set number of pages then leave, but for people who are more regular browsers and who want regular access to things that would cost money to buy in print there will be a charge."

Discussions with journalists and presenters across print, online, radio and televiosn from as far afield as the USA, Canada, Britain, Australia, Scandanavia and central Europe has revealed that the challenges faced by Scotland's media are familiar stories across the globe.

Reduced staff, the conundrum of free internet access versus expensive news generation, and the challenge of juggling multiple platforms are all too familiar stories - with most reporters finding that they are attempting to juggle completed print copy, running takes for onling presentation, Twitter or Facebook updates, post-match interviews, video pieces, audio pieces, blogs and reader interaction.

And indeed, reporters from Salt Lake City and Australia had very similar stories, and said: "We're both the only reporter that our outlets have at the Games, and frankly it's becoming impossible to do everything that's expected of us. Certainly it's becoming impossible to do it with any real degree of quality."

There can be no doubt that new technologies, and their hand in the rapidly changing world of journalism, are here to stay, and it will be fascinating to see what the media landscape looks like for London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.

However, it looks certain that there will be a continued split - with consumers finding it ever easier to get faster, cheaper news while reporters find it ever tougher to provide the quality of content that they hope to deliver.

* This will be my final blog from my Vancouver base, so I'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who's been reading along and keeping in touch. I'll be back with more from Scotland soon. In the meantime, thanks to the British Olympic Association, Cardonald College Glasgow, University of the West of Scotland, all of the media and athletes who have helped make the trip a succes. Oh, and thank you Vancouver and Canada!

Canada waits for final fling

Vancouver's relationship with the Olympics has been a tumultuous, brightly-burning, love affair. Sure it's had a couple of rocky moments along the way but it's also had life-defining highs and as the closing moments draw ther closer it's clear that the city's already feeling that ache at the loss of something good.

Residents of the city know they only have two more days in the world's spotlight, though, so they're planning to make the post of it, and it's pretty clear that their athletes are in the mood to go out on a high too - with a day of successes seeing the hosts jump to the top of the gold medals charts.

    USA romp to the finals against Finland. Picture: Martin Boyle

The day started with a little bit of a warm-up for the evening's main event as I headed to Canada Hockey Place's Media Centre for USA's emphatic 6-1 win over Finland. For such an important match the atmosphere, and the media centre, were fairly subdued.

Indeed, it was clear that most people were waiting for the main event - Canada's 3-2 win over Slovakia, which sets up the dream North American final on Sunday.

Canada's Vancouver-based Roberto Luongo guides the hosts to the final. Picture: Martin Boyle

The reality is that just two things dominate the news agenda in Canada - gold medals for the hosts, and ice hockey.

And there's no doubt that the one thing the hosts want more than anything else, the one thing that will seal the deal and allow them to put a big red tick in the 'successful Olympics' box, is men's hockey gold.

However, with the USA on top form - they scored six goals in 12 minutes today - there may yet be one last real heartbreak to come in Canada's love affair with the 21st Winter Olympiad.

London 2012 gets connected

The London 2012 organising committee started to make their presence felt at a special party to fire the opening salvos of their plan to get tourists flooding back the Britain and to London's Olympics.

Visit Britain's event is designed to be a starting point in getting the media talking about London's Games, and Alex Budden, British Consul General, said: "As these wonderful Games in Vancouver draw to a close, we can gradually feel the spotlight of Olympic attention arcing its way round to London."

British Consul General Alex Budden. Picture: Martin Boyle

And he revealed that they are already well aware of the need to embrace new media communication channels. He said: "The Britain we know is open, dynamic and connected and there is no doubt that will be a big part of our Games."

Indeed, the 2012 team will have a fully developed social networking strategy as well as continuing to cater for traditional media, and they told me: "Beijing was the online Olympics, Vancouver has been the Twitter Olympics - London will show just how much this has all moved on and it will be central to what we do."

Also attending the event were several well-known BBC faces including Hazel Irvine, who said: "It's been a great, but frantic Games, a real success," as well as snowboarder Ed Leigh and Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent.

Marathon star and 2012 medal hopeful Paula Radcliffe was guest of honour, and she said: "2012 will be my last chance to win an Olympic medal and everything I'm doing now is geared up towards that. It's going to be great to know that everyone in the country is right behind me.

Marathon star Paula Radcliffe. Picture: Martin Boyle

"The opportunity to host the Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for us. Dreams will be made and realised there and it is also a chance for people to get to know the people of Britain, who love their sport so much.

"The hope is that the Olympics Games can inspire more people to take up sports. I still remember my first Commonwealth Games - it's these experiences that will never leave you."

Press handling winning reporters over

Managing the army of international press and media that have descended on Vancouver is no simple task, and a glimpse behind the scenes reveals an operation of quite remarkable proportions.

With events happening at venues spread across all of Vancouver city, as well at Cypress Mountain, an hour from the city, and Whistler, over two hours away, an army of blue-clad 'Smurf' helpers and a fleet of buses runs around the clock to ensure that the media doesn't miss any of the action.

International Olympic Committee hosts daily information briefings. Picture: Martin Boyle

And at each Olympic venue a specialised media zone ensures that each event can be covered from facilities of undoubted quality, none more so than the Main Media Centre, right on the wharf of Canada Place in downtown Vancouver.

It's clear that events are increasingly being run to make them attractive to television audiences but also to attract media attention and make the Games an attractive event to cover. The introduction of board and ski cross is perhaps the most obvious example of this - dramatic, 'instant gratification' events which grab the attention and appeal to a new, younger audience, and which have been a big hit in Vancouver.

Indeed, journalists from several nations have noted a growing recognition of the need to inject 'drama' into some of the more established sports.

Tonight's inspirational 2-0 win for Canada's women over their USA counterparts in the ice hockey gold medal match illustrates this media-savvy strategy well.

Up-to-the-minute information is made available on the Olympics' own media web portal but a sea of helpers also bring round stats and information sheets with impressive regularity.

Canadian women celebrate winning gold against USA. Picture: Martin Boyle

Indeed, Britain's sporting PR people, particularly in the world of football, could learn a lot from the open, helpful and accomodating approach most journalists have encountered in Vancouver. Daily press conferences at the Main Media Centre ensure up-to-date information, quotes, picture and video opportunites, while the mixed zones at each venue ensures a corridor that each competitor walks down after events, while reporters can wait in the zone to grab their desired interview - far more attractive than having all outlets spoonfed one interview.

While the system has been around for a while, it does make for a wider range of stories than the 'one man for Saturdays, one man for the Sundays' approach so favoured at many Scottish events.

Team Canada's Roberto Luongo meets the press. Picture: Martin Boyle

Story-idea desks, picture suggestions, technological help and world-class facilities all play their part, but it is effective athlete access which is of most benefit to hard-pushed sports reporters - and by doing simple things like making the superstars of the men's hockey team available in an interval in the women's final, reports have far greater access - particularly given just how controlled access is around an Olympic city.

The Mixed Area in action with Team Canada hockey players. Picture: Martin Boyle

Medallist Jen Heil: We're so impressed

Athletes and fans alike have been lining up to defend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, with an overwhelming majority hailing the event as a massive success.

So much so, indeed, that one newpaper poll this week revealed that 60 per cent of Canadians believe that the Games have been one of the country's most important, defining moments.

And Canadian silver medal moguls winner Jen Heil said: "I've been so, so impressed. It's been a great Games and I think most of the athletes have been completely blown away by it.

Moguls silver medal skier Jen Heil

"Sure we've heard some of the criticism from some of the media, but it really doesn't ring with our experience or the atmosphere out on the streets with the people. It's been inspiring to see people out there genuinely enjoing it all.

"Up at Cypress we've been having a great time, and we've created a world-class venue there."

Canadian hero Alexandre Bilodeau. Picture: Martin Boyle

Heil was speaking as she announced that she is giving $25,000 to a charity designed to provide an education to young women in deprived countries, while team-mate and Canada's first home-soil gold medallist, Alexandre Bilodeau, will give $25,000 to a cerebral palsy charity.

The now-familiar sea of red which greets all Canadian competitors. Picture: Martin Boyle

Meanwhile, Vancouver's Skyline monorail, a clockwork-regular driverless transport system that has kept the city moving during the Games, has also become a great place to meet people, and one passenger told me: "It's been the best experience ever, everyone's getting involved and the Games have brought so much to the city.

"Sure there's a lot of big money and big business but we have to hope it leaves a legacy. We've got a great police force, great transport system and I'm delighted how well we've dealt with all the people.

"This has really been Vancouver's chance to sell itself to the world."

Of course, there are some doubters and critics, and it seems only right that they have been able to find a voice in the sea of red, with another big protest set for the closing day of the Games. Indeed, one Canadian told me: "To be honest, I find it really hard to be patriotic amongst all this because I look around and I see so many foreign companies setting up shop.

"What is there that we're doing that's actually Canadian? We bought furniture from Germany and even brought a team of German guys over to put it all together. You can't even buy a Canadian car these days - everything's American or it's Japanese and German.

"It's like we've been happy to give squatting rights to the whole world and forgotten how to do anything for ourselves."

But despite some voices of dissent, just how did some elements of the British press misread the mood quite so spectacularly? Anecdotally, some of the journalists aren't even in the country, while another miserly article was written after a particularly moody scribe's bus broke down.

The reality, though, is that there is an enormous challenge to find a new, fresh angle for each story. Instant messaging, social network feeds, web stories and in-depth television coverage have all served to make newspaper reporting of results all but redundant, forcing print sports journalism in new direction, and from time time pushes public and editorial opinions in different direction

Olympic burnout

Confession time. Think I might need a bit of a break tomorrow, as this Olympic lark is unbelievably tiring work.

Not that I'm complaining, I hope you understand. But six straight days of interviews, meetings, sports events and late-night finishes are starting to take their toll, resulting in me starting to look, shall we say, a little worse for wear. This may well have something to do with a stunning lack of sleep and the fact that absolutely nothing of any nutritional value whatsoever has passed my lips in the last week.

It's ironic that an event with so much sport at the heart of it can leave you feeling quite this unhealthy.

So tomorrow's time for a bit of a break and I'm hopefully heading up to Whistler to try and find some snow and get a little bit of boarding time. Oh yeah, not to mention the Team GB party tomorrow night with Paula Radcliffe et al.

So probably a bit of a blogging break tomorrow! I'll sign off with a quick update on today's events...

          Ashleigh McIvor winning Ski Cross gold for Canada. Picture: Martin Boyle

Headed back up to Cypress for the women's Ski Cross, won in some style by Canada'a Ashleigh McIvor and spent some more time in and around the Cypress press area, was interviewed for a piece in Denmark's largest national newspaper (should be in on Sunday apparently!), did some interviews of my own with international press, attended Team USA snowboard team press conference and met some of their boarders, headed round to Irish House to see a couple of bands, had another McDonald's and gave serious thought to a Morgan Spurlock handlebar moustache.

Back soon, I hope!

Curling sweeps away old image

Something very strange is happening in the world of curling. Something very strange indeed.

Traditionally the sport of, shall we say, the rather reserved upper middle classes, it has had something of a makeover, and it appears to be becoming, well, almost cool.

The Norway men's team have been turning out in tight polo shirts and funky checked trousers made by the people who supply golfer John Daly, and their outfits have been gathering them media attention across the world.

Indeed, they've been invited to present a pair of the trousers to the King of Norway on their return home, and there was a queue forming at the Irish House tonight to get pictures taken with one of the team as he danced the night away.

Meanwhile, in the women's game, a new generation of curling starlets have been grabbing all sorts of attention, and most Canadian and America fans have swapped their usual 'What the hell's curling?' for 'Wow, who's she?'

Scotland skip Eve Muirhead may have got off to a losing start in her Olympics career when the team bowed out of the competition yesterday, but she's still one of the most talked-about athletes at the Games. And at just 19 she has a string of Olympics to look forward to yet.

     Scotland's Eve Muirhead, with team mate Kelly Wood. Picture: Martin Boyle

Meanwhile Russian skip Liudmila Privivkova is proving to be another big draw at games - but it's Danish curling star Madeleine Dupont who is attracting most attention, with a remarkable number of people in and around Vancouver, and beyond, suddenly able to name the girl who plays third for Denmark in curling. Who'd have thought that before these Olympics started. Perhaps news of her appearance in a nude calendar helped.

Liudmila Privivkova is likely to be a big star when the Russian town of Sochi hosts the next Winter Olympics. Picture: Martin Boyle

But why so much media attention on the new wave or curling stars?

As Lars From, of Denmark's largest national newspaper told me: "We've all got the same press access, the same quotes, and the same sports results to report, so we all need to go out and find a new angle, something of interest to our readers.

"There's no doubt that Madeleine has been one of those stories."