UT and its readers welcome a new sports editor this month.
Ryan Finley joins the paper on January 9th. He replaces Jay Posner, who retired in December.
Finley came to UT from the Arizona Daily Star, but he has deep San Diego roots and is a true local.
He grew up in the college area. He graduated from high school at the University of San Diego in his 1998. During his teenage years, he worked as a vendor in the stands at Qualcomm Stadium. “Because I got to see the Padres and the Chargers up close for free,” he said.
His parents majored in journalism at San Diego State University. His father, Bill, was a sportswriter at the Union and Tribune from the 1970s through his early ’80s.
His younger brother and his family live in Delcerro. His sister and her family are in Carlsbad. His mom lives in the Murphy Canyon area.
Finley graduated from the University of Arizona (where he was editor-in-chief of the University Thesis) with a journalism degree and soon after started working for the Arizona Daily Star. He started his career as a high school sports reporter, then covered college football for seven years. He has been a sports editor there for the past nine years.
Journalism extends beyond Finley and his father into his family. His twin brother, Patrick, is in charge of the Chicago Sun-Times’ Chicago Bears, and Patrick’s wife, Cori, works for the Chicago His Tribune.
Ryan Finley
(Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star)
Q: Why Sports Journalism? what attracted you?
A: “I’ve always been a sports fan. I’ve loved writing since I was young and have a fascination with other people. Sportswriting was a natural fit. For example, why do sports rather than what they do?” Sports have the power to bring people together, in fact, in today’s world, it’s one of the few things people have in common.My home for the past 18 years, Tucson, is a place for retirees, students , natives, and transplants.They agree on almost nothing…except for the University of Arizona’s love of sports.San Diego is no different.The Padres will drop the Dodgers out of the National League playoffs in October. I was in the stands when they eliminated the crowd, the ultimate cross-section of San Diegan from ages 5 to maybe 80. Watching them high-five, hug and celebrate together, It reminded me of the power of sharing experiences and the importance of sport.”
Q: What are your plans for UT’s coverage of sports? How does digital – e-books, videos, podcasts, and the web – play into it?
A: “I think I have a unique perspective. For the past 18 years, I have consumed UT daily in the online space, not in print. UT is more sophisticated than ever in the online space (Kevin Acee’s e-mail newsletter, for example, is one of the best I’ve ever read), but I think it can go one step further. It’s simple, you need to reach your readers where they live.For some, that means dropping a newspaper in their driveway.For others, it means dropping a newsletter in their inbox. , means creating an electronic version that pushes alerts to your phone, gives you the look and feel of a printed newspaper, and adds a few extra features.”
Q: Some readers have complained that the Chargers should be covered like any other NFL team. In other words, stop reporting as if you were a local team. What do you think about that?
A: “It’s probably too early for me to give you anything. philosophy About the charger cover. I think Jay Posner did a really good job of putting the Chargers story in the newspaper without treating it like a local team. (My guess is that UT has 10 percent more articles on chargers than he did 10 years ago). The Chargers are San Diego’s most loved and most hated team. What is the correct answer regarding coverage? I don’t know yet. Though I hope my San Diegan-born perspective helps. “
Q: What are your thoughts on the readiness report?
A: “High school sports coverage is community journalism at its best, shining a light on children and their coaches. Preparation may be the most difficult topic to cover well. and the crew are in charge. They’re focused on more than the final score.”
Q: Is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?
A: “San Diego is lucky to have UT. I’m so excited to be working on the sports section that I’ve read every day since elementary school. I can’t wait to get started.”
adrian.vore@sduniontribune.com