A Refreshing Perspective On Blogging And The Press

by Joe Dunman on Dec 5, 2007 9:39 AM MST in News Comment 18 comments

I'll digress a bit from my usual Avscentric posting for a brief post about blogging and the press. Yes, it's still possible to beat a dead horse. You just have to flip it over.

Over at the regularly-excellent chick hockey blog Interchangeable Parts (I'll forgive them for being Devils fans), they've been interviewing assorted bloggers (all female) and one of the questions has to do with the unending debate over granting press-level access to us lowly bloggers.

One of my favorite responses was from "Katebits," who writes the blog The Willful Caboose. She writes:

I would never ever want to mask my fandom, which seems to be a requirement if you want to sit in the press box. So, I guess the answer is that I don’t care about press access at all. To be quite frank, I don’t see sports as a topic which requires traditional objectivity in very many circumstances. This isn’t politics we are talking about. It’s sports. The entire concept of sports is that we are fans. The illusion that anyone is devoid of team loyalty seems like a pretty shoddy platform in the first place, and perhaps this is why I prefer bloggers to journalists.

That pretty well sums up my perspective on the whole debate. If I wanted to be a journalist, I'd go to school and get a degree in journalism. It's not that hard, and way less expensive than a real professional program like law school or medical school. It's also less demanding (and less lucrative). But I don't want to be a "real" journalist, I want to be a fan who blogs, and if a team like the Avalanche decides that I have a place in the press box or the locker room because my audience is also their audience, then I'll gladly take them up on the invitation. I'm not making any phone calls or lobbying any team executives, though.

It's not that big of a deal.

PS - Francois, call me.

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Blogging is perfect for Hockey

First of all, it's Jean Martineau who is the communications VP for the Avalanche. He or his staff would give you "the call". Second, the communications staff of the Avs isn't exactly reaching out but they are pretty receptive to inquiries. When I was writing a bit for Hockey's Future website and the failed magazine project I spoke to Martineau during Rookie camp and claimed I could interview several of the prospects. He gave me his direct phone number and was really quite helpful. Now, after the fact there was a bit of blowing me off. But in retrospect, the Avalanche communications department was really under the gun at the time with Selanne/Kariya media inquiries and Swedish press in town among other things. I was just a no name guy from an unknown commodity. Basically, if you wanted to take the Bull by the horns you could probably get access if you asked and they had time to do some due diligence on who you are and where you're coming from.

Second, I agree with Katebits. As a non-blogger who occasionally pretends to blog on ITCS when I have time, my whole reason for blogging is because I'm a fan.

Last and to the point, more importantly; Blogging is perfect for Hockey. Hockey doesn't have that dominate media presence on TV or News. It's a niche sport as much as Bettman and others want to believe it should be mainstream. The Internet and blogging are just perfect vehicles for Hockey. Furthermore, organizations should quickly realize that blogs are not just getting bigger, they are getting huge in the world of hockey.

There is no better demonstration of the growing role of blogs in hockey than what just happened to one of my favorite non-Avalanche blogs, "Tom Benjamin's NHL Weblog". http://www.canuckscorner.com/weblog/...

Ignoring the fact he's posting on a Canuck's blog for a moment, he's the de facto opinion junkie on the CBA. In any case, his blog was in the center of the hockey universe recently because it was mentioned by Ron Maclean during Hockey Night in Canada. Actually, it was a feature on bloggers and Tom's blog was mentioned, along with the NY Islander blogger outreach program.

Tom makes excellent points across the board in his post regarding the mention. He also links to a video of it. If you follow the link above you will need to browse down a story or two to find it.

Who knows, one day the Avalanche might embrace bloggers but for now I think there's a cautious wait and see approach. However, bloggers with time and motivation should be assured they won't be turned away at the Avalanche door if they want more access.

by Dario on Dec 5, 2007 10:57 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Blogging is perfect...

I sent Martineau an email once and he was very helpful, so I concur with your favorable comments about the Avalanche media team. But like I said in my post, getting in tight with them is not one of my goals as a fan blogger.

Also, I totally agree that hockey is a superb sport to blog, especially in the US, where it plays fifth or sixth fiddle to all the other big professional sports. That niche appeal makes me feel like both a rebel and a cult member, which is totally cool.

I saw the HNIC piece on hockey bloggers and really enjoyed it, and I think Ron Maclean taking the time to name and show the big blogs that he reads was a huge step forward for us all. It was great to see such excellent bloggers get increased exposure.

by Joe Dunman on Dec 5, 2007 4:47 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

great post

I think the HNIC segment Dario mentioned is the excellent segment on blogging in the NHL.

James Mirtle had a post about it the other day. The youtube clip of the segment is linked in there, and there's some very good comments as well (including from some of the bloggers involved in the Islanders experiment).

I'm a blogger who has been considering a journalism degree. But, I can not imagine going to a hockey game and not wearing the sweater of my favorite team, or not being able to politely celebrate an Avalanche goal in the press box. I'm not afraid to admit that I am an Avalanche fan first...and yet I don't believe I am any less impartial than guys who are paid to cover a team.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 5, 2007 12:19 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

don't get a journalism degree

im married to a sports journalist -- even she would tell you it's not worth much besides a foot in the door. all it got her was time at the school newspaper, where she did all of her actual learning.

you're a good writer -- this blog and ITCS should be enough of a foot in the door anyways.

by thedoctor on Dec 5, 2007 1:02 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: great post

Yeah, I wrote this with the HNIC piece in mind.

I have to say, if ever granted access to the Pepsi Center press box (watch out Dater), I wouldn't wear an Avalanche jersey. I'd only wear my underwear, since that is the official uniform of bloggers.

by Joe Dunman on Dec 5, 2007 4:49 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Blogging Questionnaire

First of all, thanks for the kind words about our blog, Joe! This is a great post.

if a team like the Avalanche decides that I have a place in the press box or the locker room because my audience is also their audience, then I'll gladly take them up on the invitation.

EXACTLY! This is such a good way of putting this.

One more thing, though. We'd like to point out that we did not mean this questionnaire to turn into a discussion of female hockey blogging. We're interested in hearing from any and all bloggers who have thoughts on this topic. It just happens that the only folks who've responded are all women. That's all! So, if you guys want to jump into the fray, we'd love to hear what you have to say!

http://interchnageableparts.wordpress.com

by interchangeableparts on Dec 5, 2007 12:57 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Blogging Questionnaire

Thanks for taking the time to create a member account just to post a comment!

Anyway, I didn't mean to point out that the questionnaire respondees were all women because I felt you had limited your scope, I pointed it out because girls are cool and girls who like hockey are even cooler.

Keep up the great work at Interchangeable Parts. Nobody does a game thread (500+ comments!) like you ladies.

by Joe Dunman on Dec 5, 2007 4:51 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

the value of blogs

I think an excellent example of where blogs can be valuable and even fill voids in the MSM coverage is the Sakic injury.

I happened to notice when doing my game notes during the Edmonton game that Sakic wasn't on the ice at the end of the game, and mentioned it again in my recap the next day. In Shane's (Avs Talk) recap, he found a line buried in the RMN recap of the game that it was a groin injury and Dario found the same thing in print edition.

Then Hensick got called up before the San Jose game, and us bloggers were all over it, figuring that the Hensick call meant Sakic's injury was more severe. Turns out, we were right.

It took a few days for the Post and the RMN to start covering the Sakic injury - by then, most people reading the Avalanche blogs already had a good idea about what was happening.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 5, 2007 1:39 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re: the value of blogs

Definitely. Nobody covers Super Joe's Super Groin like we do.

by Joe Dunman on Dec 5, 2007 4:52 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Give yourself more credit, DD

Boys (and girls), you're not giving yourself enough credit for the great job you do. It's not a case of "where blogs can be valuable and even fill voids in the MSM coverage." It's the fact that these Avs blogs are outperforming the MSM beat guys, and it's not even close.

Discovering this little web of Avs blogs has helped make this season a lot more enjoyable for me because you guys are sharp, good writers, you often break news long before the local MSM, and because you actually give a shit.

I'm so sick and tired of the whole jaded sportswriter thing - if you can't be bothered to be enterprising and excited about the beat, then get off it. The lazy stuff we get from the Post and the News helps promulgate the stereotype that sportswriters only care that the game ends quickly, and what food is being served in the press box, and the most passion they work up about anything is judging fans and making snotty comments for chanting "Red Wings Suck" (yep, I'm looking at you, Terry Frei).

I discovered these Avs blogs not too long ago, after the home Columbus game. I was at that game so I didn't get a great look at Westcott's cheap shot to Parker's grill until after I got home and watched the replay. Checked the Post and News websites to see what the deal was, didn't see anything about it - typical weak hockey coverage on their part. Googled it and found a note from the Columbus paper, and that was the final straw for me. The freaking Columbus beat guy has a note that should have easily fallen into Dater's lap, and there's no mention of it at all?

After that I did a little clicking and found my way to DD's site where he actually wrote something about the cheapshot to Parker. And, because you guys all seem to play nice with each other, it was a few easy clicks to find the rest of the blogs. And I've got to say that this is easily the best hockey coverage I've ever seen since the Avs started here. The local MSM beat guys have never been anything but mediocre. Their bosses don't help matters by not giving them space, but now that they've got the blog space (on the Post, for example), they don't use it nearly enough. Dater's been on the beat since the beginning, I think - isn't it time to move him off and give someone who's hungry and who gives a crap a chance?

Around the same time that the local MSM didn't report the Parker/Westcott incident, the Post's site had a story on it's front page that the Broncos had just cut some scrub - can't remember who. I've been here since 1978, so I know that this is a Broncos town first (and Stock Show town second), but come on...that was ridiculous.

I could go on and on about how crappy the Avs coverage is in the Post and the News, but that's a topic for another time. Just wanted to let you all know that I really appreciate the work you do. I'm especially impressed that several of you do this from out of state - DD and Shane obviously come to mind, and I think there might be others. If you guys hadn't mentioned that on your sites, I wouldn't have known it, and you should take that as a compliment, and the MSM guys should be absolutely embarrassed.

DD, if you've made it this far in the post, my question for you is, what do you think you would gain by getting a journalism degree? I have one, and it's not that big of a deal. Granted, I didn't go to Missouri, I went to Northern Colorado, but I've known plenty of great writers from no-name schools, and I've known plenty of hacks from the name schools. I worked in sports media for about 8 years, radio/tv/print, and there wasn't a whole lot I learned from UNC about how to cover sports. Bob from Boulder also worked in journalism through college, and he'd probably tell you the same thing.

by Dan Winkler on Dec 5, 2007 2:38 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

journalism degree

well gosh, I sure did read that far. That was a pretty nice thing to read.

Honestly, I'm not really all that driven about the journalism degree. Just something I've tossed around off and on over the years. Ironically, some of the impetus lately was started when I found out Dater went to school here were I live.

If I did, it would probably be for my own enrichment, and not necessarily to pursue a career at it.

Like the other bloggers you've mentioned, I really appreciate all the great feedback.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 5, 2007 3:00 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Give yourself more credit

I'm also from out of state, Dan. I live in the hockey hotbed of Kentucky!

Thanks so much for your kind words and support.

by Joe Dunman on Dec 6, 2007 6:41 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Just so you know...

I'm going to take full and complete credit for the tight-knit circle-jerk we have amongst the Avs bloggers.

That was supposed to sound like a joke, but on second reading, it sounds more Phadouche-ish...

Anyway, Jibbles, DD, Dario, Joe, Shane, Angelique (Jori), and myself frequent each other's blogs pretty much daily, so in order to get the full and complete opinion you practically HAVE to hit all the sites. I kinda wish Babe Oje, Greg, and Justin were more of a presence at this site.

Ohh, and Thomas The Enforcer to make sure we keep it real...

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Dec 5, 2007 3:57 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Ohh...

and Tapeleg too. His site is one of my daily blogosphere stops.

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Dec 5, 2007 3:59 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

nice Dan

very nice post Dan, and right on. These blogs definitely go deeper than the local beat riders dare to tread, or are even capable of. And don't even get us started on how many inaccuracies are in Dater's game stories.

Yes, I covered sports for my college paper even though I was not pursuing a journalism degree, and was good enough to cover football and men's hoop. However, I chose to use my degree and make a living instead of enjoy my job and see if I could make it as a journalist (doubt that I could have). Btw, Dan was a very capable radio guy and I still to this day think he would be much better than most of what we have on the air here in a very major sports market, Denver.

Dan and I have been friends forever and Av fans since day one. We also went to Colorado Rockies hockey games when we were in high school (so yes, we are old). Thanks for these blogs. You guys do a great job of keeping up with the Avs.

PS: Dan, when you led with "Boys (and girls) ..." could you have also included "and soccer fans too?"

by Bob in Boulder on Dec 5, 2007 4:07 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

beat riders?

good thing I went with my degree. Sheesh.

by Bob in Boulder on Dec 5, 2007 4:12 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Fascinating Conversation

You all make such great points about how blogging can pick up the slack for poor reporting. Also, it's great to see how cooperative Avs bloggers are. A fellow blogger once said to us, "We're all in this together" and it's true (which is part of the reason we've been so annoyed to see the MSM framing issues facing bloggers in such a way that seems to create false walls between bloggers with different styles/agendas).

(A guys who like hockey are cool, too!)

http://interchnageableparts.wordpress.com

by interchangeableparts on Dec 5, 2007 9:17 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Fascinating Conversation

I don't see the point in creating (or continuing) conflict between bloggers in general and Avs bloggers in particular. I find solace in the fact that we can all have differing opinions (even if sometimes the differences are minimal) and not want to kill each other.

But as far as the MSM goes, they frame every issue as a conflict (even when there isn't one) because that's what sells papers/ad space. I wonder if that's why newspaper sales are dropping so fast...

by Joe Dunman on Dec 6, 2007 6:44 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs