tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post2617170776340038857..comments2024-03-27T19:05:25.362-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: Zuckerman's Famous GigHarperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-16584487129304448092010-02-10T09:59:29.769-08:002010-02-10T09:59:29.769-08:00It's not an issue with this single Zuckerman g...It's not an issue with this single Zuckerman gig, which as you say is justifiable based on the lack of coverage, it's an issue of what it could lead to. If Zuckerman is successful, then could say... the Redskins reporters leave the post to start their own entity? What would that then do to the Post's circulation and their ability to pay to cover various things? And what kind of accountability would that new entity have? <br /><br />It's an interesting situation. I believe these are pertinent issues that need to be looked at to help the media, yet the media (in this case the Post) are the ones causing the issues to begin with.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-22636524267677068762010-02-10T09:40:34.373-08:002010-02-10T09:40:34.373-08:00I think what's missing from your analysis of c...I think what's missing from your analysis of covering everything instead of "a la cart" services is that newspapers are cutting sports. The WaPo is talking about not hiring a full time Nats beat reporter. Our only other options for original reporting are MLB/Nats employee Bill Ladson and MLB/Nats owned MASN coverage. There is NO independent reporting of the team once Chico Harlan leaves for China or Japan or wherever he's leaving for. If WaPo would cover the Nats, then maybe this Zuckerman campaign would not be necessary. But right now it's essential because there is not reporting of the team going on, except what the team decides to report about itself. If your "make everybody pay for everything" model does in fact cover everything its great for all. But now WaPo subscribers who want to cover the Nats are paying for food reviews, and getting no Nats coverage in return. It makes complete sense they would look to an outside Nats source.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06585304213621604104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-1524540644877282312010-02-09T13:41:03.577-08:002010-02-09T13:41:03.577-08:00I think it'll be the former (wearing thin) bef...I think it'll be the former (wearing thin) before the latter. Let's say Nats fans do believe what he provides is worth sponsoring him season after season. Great. But who is going to keep track of the payments, set up the website with pay areas, etc. etc. It may be easier than I think but I assume that as a journalist, those are things he didn't necessarily sign up for. What is possible is something like cnati - a coalition of independent local reporters, but then the costs go up. <br /><br />Still there's something here and now that Zuckerman hit his goal, I'm interested to see what happens.Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-77292806374956269932010-02-09T09:49:05.625-08:002010-02-09T09:49:05.625-08:00Harper - I just don't see it (Mark) as a susta...Harper - I just don't see it (Mark) as a sustainable model. I think you're right: The constant solicitation will either wear thin or he'll have to figure out a means of sponsorship, which will inevitably force him to make some hard decisions about what he reports and what he doesn't. And sooner or later, whatever means he is living on is going to run dry - and then what?Wooden U. Lykteneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17861644878212476995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-47925573299990466832010-02-09T08:18:26.985-08:002010-02-09T08:18:26.985-08:00WUL - That's why this is so fascinating. Can ...WUL - That's why this is so fascinating. Can it be the successful continuation of the type of sports reporting we are accustomed to (and that is going away under a cloud of mostly bad bottom line based decisions)? Or will the fact that the site will have to constantly sell itself have an effect on reporting (not to mention several other issues)? Will the public even care enough to support it for a full years over several years?Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-7353448353616120372010-02-09T08:12:19.859-08:002010-02-09T08:12:19.859-08:00Steven - If you're excited by this idea, then ...Steven - If you're excited by this idea, then this is the right way to do it. Experienced reporter with an established relationship. What I wonder is though - how does that translate a few years down the road when there are less of those guys and maybe ore guys trying to do this right out of school. How would that work? How COULD that work?Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-71875946311313127132010-02-09T07:23:20.187-08:002010-02-09T07:23:20.187-08:00I'm not sure if this is the future of web repo...I'm not sure if this is the future of web reporting, either. But I am fairly confident that we will be seeing fewer and fewer sportswriters covering teams both home and away.<br /><br />Technology's making it possible for content to disintermediated from geography, making it cheaper to produce. But it's also making it more homogeneous.<br /><br />To paraphrase an editor from my days as a sportswriter, "why should I pay you for a story when I can get a halfway decent one from the AP."<br /><br />This is basically what ESPN is up to with its "ESPN Boston" and "ESPN Chicago" web initiatives. It's cherry-picking the Marks from the blogosphere and leveraging its brand name. And that's a scary thought, <a href="http://woodenulykteneau.blogspot.com/2008/05/break-from-usual-fare.html" rel="nofollow">given ESPN's emphasis of style over substance</a>.Wooden U. Lykteneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17861644878212476995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-60402896964572386692010-02-09T05:46:33.872-08:002010-02-09T05:46:33.872-08:00I would say that the onus will be on Mark to prove...I would say that the onus will be on Mark to prove it's worth it. I'm glad there's energy for this, but if Mark doesn't deliver the goods, his oppy will be lost.<br /><br />That said, I certainly think it's worth trying. It's not every day that an experienced pro volunteers to do this for cost.<br /><br />And I'm also glad (and not at all surprised) that the second wave of reax are somewhat skeptical. The media in general is held in very low regard.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14109288910583404941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-75458088368646853472010-02-09T05:44:36.247-08:002010-02-09T05:44:36.247-08:00Oh I'm totally getting ahead of myself.
One...Oh I'm totally getting ahead of myself. <br /><br />One of the things I am interested in seeing play out is the logistics of the matter. Assuming Zuckerman does raise the money I assume that the Nats will issue him a press pass, but obviously (one would think) they aren't going to do the same for Blogger X out there. So where the line will be drawn? <br /><br />I would assume most bloggers have jobs/responsibilities that keeps such a move from happening, but that's only most. What about in 10-15 years when there get to be more web savvy retirees? What about those damn shifty layabout 20 year olds with no ties and super minimal expenses? It can't be a floating target can it?Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-32227361605357232642010-02-09T04:27:17.022-08:002010-02-09T04:27:17.022-08:00Well, the "you're an idiot" part oug...Well, the "you're an idiot" part ought to go without saying if you devote time to writing a web publication about the Washington Nationals Baseball Club. But you're not overthinking so much as you are getting ahead of yourself.<br />Maybe this is the cutting edge of new journalism, or maybe this is just something for Zuckerman to do until he lands the Nats beat gig at <i>HuffPo</i>. <br /><br />As far as I can tell the only advantage Mark has over you or Needham or FJB is a pre-existing relationship with the team from his <i>Times</i> days. I'm interested to see if he can leverage that into some useful independent reporting. The jury is still out on that one.Natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03967066946860270813noreply@blogger.com