Blogs, Credentials, and the Media
Many bloggers have talked about blogging and credentials lately so I do realize that this post is a little behind the times, but I didn’t want to write anything until I had some time to think it out. Where did this discussion start? Off Wing Opinion. Eric had generated a list of guidelines for issuing credentials to bloggers.
In a later post at Off Wing, Eric referred to a Caps Nut post and agreed that not every blogger will want to attend press conferences, interview after games, etc.
But what is happening is that the traditional media outlets that cover the sport are cutting back on their coverage, and we all know that nature abhors a vacuum. Caps Nut doesn’t think many folks would take advantage of this, and at first, he might be right. But over the long run, the league won’t have much choice but to work with the folks who are interested in doing something more than just watching from the stands.
For some, it might mean applying for media credentials and becoming a regular presence in the press box and the locker room. For others, it might just mean being able to call the PR office and getting their phone calls returned. Others might just want access to the game day notes that the league produces (a complaint that I’ve already heard), or be alerted to an interesting conference call that the league might be holding.
Why shouldn’t there be room for all those choices? Why shouldn’t a number of options exist for folks to choose from? And why shouldn’t some folks look at it all, and want to leave their options open to change their minds later on?
IwoCPO at Abel to Yzerman then made a post on this topic at Kukla’s Korner. He comments that bloggers might not be able to write as freely if they had press credentials with the team’s PR watching their back.
Are you blogging hockey? Why? Have you held back in the past with your criticisms of your team? If not, why? If you’re granted access, will you be hesitant to write with the emotion your readers have come to enjoy?
That question, the last one, is huge. Singer touched on it. How will teams react when the bloggers they’ve approved of turn the tables and blast them for raising the price of playoff tickets..again. If I’m sitting in the press box of JLA and live-blogging a Wings game…how will the organ-I-zation respond when I hit “publish†on a post pointing out Jason Williams has as much business on the point as I do in the Senate?
George at Snapshots left a comment to IwoCPO’s post that I thought was a good addition to the discussion.
So sportswriters just do what they’re paid to do–they go to practices, morning skates, and games, and yeah, they’ve got a personal interest in doing a good job, but whether the team they follow wins or loses isn’t supposed to be as important as “good stories.†But I’d imagine it’s easy to get discouraged and mail it in.
If I were to work hard enough to worm my way into the locker room, I wouldn’t care if Nick Lidstrom told me, “The breaks didn’t go our way†for the ten thousandth time and then walked away. I’d damn well have an opinion as to whether he was telling the truth, and I’d express that.
Besides, anybody who’s sat in front of the press box knows that the opposing journalists don’t always keep quiet when their team scores, and the ones who cheer usually write better stories.
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My Thoughts:
I like to think of myself as half journalist and half blogger. I talked sports for my high school paper for four years and got some of the biggest sports names to ever be interviewed for The Day Times. In my last two years as sports editor and then Assistant Editor-in-Chief, I spent at least 10 hours a week on newspaper. During layout, I was in the computer lab for 25+ hours that week. I like to interview people. I like asking questions and getting to know the athlete / individual. I like to watch press conferences after sporting events to critique the reporters’ questions. One of the best moments in my life was when I interviewed Kris Draper in November 2003. I may not ask the most unique questions and I’m sure he heard them all before, but there’s something different about being there and talking to the source.
I remember attending a private practice on the same day I interviewed Draper. My friend took photographs during the practice and I sat there next to the members of the media. They all sat talking (most of the time not even about hockey), looking bored. I probably sat there with my eyes lit up taking in every little detail - which players wore what color jerseys (which was how they denoted lines) and what type of drills they did.
I know when I interviewed Denise Ilitch (daughter or Mike & Marian Ilitch and alternate governor at the time) at her house, she said that I did better than most journalists who have interviewed her in the past because I had done more research and asked some questions she had never been asked before. I’m not saying this to brag, but to say that I think bloggers with press credentials could make a positive contribution to covering the team.
Personally, I would love nothing more than to obtain press credentials for the Detroit Red Wings games. I also know that with my heavy class load and activities that I wouldn’t be able to attend a lot of games. And while it would be great to be able to personally interview players and members of the staff, I can totally understand why teams would not want to do so.
Ideally, I’d love to be able to get my hands on transcripts from press conferences, stat sheets, etc. When I attended High School Journalist Day in March 2003 at the Joe, I was given a red folder with a press pass, a thick stack of stats, all the articles that had been printed/published that morning in regards to the Wings, and background information on all the people participating in the mock press conference. It would be wonderful in bloggers could just get access to the detailed stats, transcripts, or even the opportunity to listen in to a phone conference, etc. I feel like that would be the most appropriate compromise and it would be great to have those type of resources at our disposal.
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A couple other links…
- Tom Benjamin’s NHL Weblog
- The Ice Block
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3 Responses to “Blogs, Credentials, and the Media”
Leave a Reply
September 16th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Hi. One small question: Are you planning on pursuing journalism after your studies? I know it’s hard as hell to get into the business, but from what I’ve read of yours you would make a good journalist.
Sorry for not commenting on the post, but I’ve been meaning to ask that question for a while.
September 17th, 2006 at 9:46 am
I go back and forth on this issue.
Sure, I’d be great to be able to have some acess to the team, especially when it comes to stat info, confrence calls, interviews, and so on. But I’ve never claimed to be a journalist either (And never will), just a vocal fan with a point of view.
What would keep me from wanting more access is the fear that my thoughts would be neutered by the team(s) that gave me access. For example, I’ve attacked Matt Millen numerous times on my blog. Quite viciously. Without prejudice. Would the Lions give me the time of day after reading one of those posts? Hell, no.
I like being at arm’s length, and being able to say what I truly think. I want to write without wearing the rose colored glasses I’m sure the teams would perfer I use.
September 17th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Ingmar - Thanks for the compliment! I don’t plan on going into journalism, but I am seriously thinking about Sports Management.
Big Al- Yeah, I agree. I would much rather have no access and the freedom to write what I want than have access and be censored.