NCAA Tournament and the Media

Why? Do you really think the large, more reputable media outlets hire people in higher-profile positions right out of school?

 

Because I think that the trade-offs for access debase journalism, to the readers' detriment.

And because I think that coverage is available widely enough nowadays in other places that it's not necessary. The fact that the result is in question separates sports somewhat from most other forms of entertainment. But, ultimately, I don't think that newspapers should be busting the budget covering entertainment.

 

I'm sorry, Baron. That's ridiculous. You think newspapers are on their way out now? Wait till the Columbia newspaper doesn't cover Missouri football. Wait till the Gainesville paper ignores Florida basketball. The shit will, as they say, hit the fan.

Some of what you say is valid. But you relish saying it far, far too much. This is still the meal ticket for some of us, YankeeFan.

 

My intuition is that people get far less of their news on those programs from those papers than you think they do.

 

The absence of coverage will be the last straw for quite a few readers, your intuition or not.

 

If we're talking pro sports, yeah, I can see that. Although the Dallas Cowboys gets a ton of coverage on TV/ESPN, and I've always sensed the Dallas Morning News more than holds its own there.

College sports, I don't agree. Take Dayton, which made the Elite Eight. Where else other than the Dayton Daily News are you learning a lot about the program on a daily basis? ESPN barely knows the Atlantic 10 exists. I know that's an isolated example, but I think it holds for a number of schools. And it especially holds for any niche program that doesn't fall under college football and college baseball.

 

Ralph, you've said it more than anyone. People these days largely go to one place for their nuts and bolts sports information. And we all know where that place is.

 

The entity treats working media like garbage, even after writers tongue the NCAA product for months on end. Big surprise.

 

How many papers do you think are going to want to pay a rights fee in order to cover a game? That, in addition to paying the reporter's salary, travel, and non- game meals.

Or better yet, how do you think those alums will feel when their subscriptions increase to cover the rights fees. Although, I suppose, they could put the college coverage behind the pay wall and charge a large fee for access, and give the JV coverage for free.

 

I was flabbergasted by that story.

I was stopped by the Dasani police 10 years ago, at least.

 

It shouldn't matter what the reporter brings, because these are supposed to be amateur athletics, played for the joy of competition and not for the almighty dollar. [ducking]

 

You forgot, "You bombed out of newspapers."