Media Credentials for bloggers

[JR]

This specific piece deals with hockey but it could apply to any sport.

I think I know what most of you are going to say, but I'll throw it up here anyway.

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2007/01/on-credentials-for-bloggers.html

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

It's a serious issue for every league.
FWIW, both major political parties have acclimated themselves to bloggers at their conventions. It shouldn't be that hard for leagues to do it.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

It's a serious issue for every league.
FWIW, both major political parties have acclimated themselves to bloggers at their conventions. It shouldn't be that hard for leagues to do it.

Except political parties want as many people who'll tow the party line via blog as possible. Sports leagues have to be a lot more discriminating, just because of heightened access and limited space.

 

[SoSueMe]

Except political parties want as many people who'll tow the party line via blog as possible. Sports leagues have to be a lot more discriminating, just because of heightened access and limited space.

Well, all leagues except the NHL. I think they would be the first - and only - to offer creds to bloggers.

Even then, I know for a fact the Oilers don't even allow access to "website writers," or those that work for e-zines.

 

[WSKY]

The NHL will take any pub it can get, with that said, it may be good for this league. However, it won't be anytime soon that this will go on in the other major sports.

I know that D-I football team that I cover has a few Web sites (bloggers) each year who want to gain access to games in the press box, post-game interviews, etc ... They are denied every time. That certainly diminishes ones credibility.

 

[cranberry]

Too much is made of this issue. Web, newspaper, magazine, the medium doesn't matter; the determining factor for all credentials should be the verifiable size of your audience. Buster Olney in; Justin Morneau Daily, probably not.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

It's a serious issue for every league.
FWIW, both major political parties have acclimated themselves to bloggers at their conventions. It shouldn't be that hard for leagues to do it.

Except political parties want as many people who'll tow the party line via blog as possible. Sports leagues have to be a lot more discriminating, just because of heightened access and limited space.

Not all blogs are partisan. Some of them are news sources with a particular political bent, not unlike newspapers. But, if teams can find room for every nitwit with a radio logo stapled to a mike, they can find room for four or five people with laptops.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

The NHL will take any pub it can get, with that said, it may be good for this league. However, it won't be anytime soon that this will go on in the other major sports.

I know that D-I football team that I cover has a few Web sites (bloggers) each year who want to gain access to games in the press box, post-game interviews, etc ... They are denied every time. That certainly diminishes ones credibility.

Part of it is bloggers are almost always unestablished. It'd be like starting up a weekly paper or monthly magazine and trying to get a credential for a big-time event. Not likely to happen. Show that your site has 250,000 uniques and some proof that you're reporting and working it instead of masturbating in HTML code, and you've got a shot. Otherwise, your only in is if you're a known quantity (or in ACC circles, the Tucker McLaughlin Exemption).

 

[Mystery_Meat]

It's a serious issue for every league.
FWIW, both major political parties have acclimated themselves to bloggers at their conventions. It shouldn't be that hard for leagues to do it.

Except political parties want as many people who'll tow the party line via blog as possible. Sports leagues have to be a lot more discriminating, just because of heightened access and limited space.

Not all blogs are partisan. Some of them are news sources with a particular political bent, not unlike newspapers. But, if teams can find room for every nitwit with a radio logo stapled to a mike, they can find room for four or five people with laptops.

Offhand, do you how many of the 2004 conventions' credentials went to non/bipartisan sites compared to, say, Donkey Dave's Democratic Dance Party? Now my curiousity is mildly piqued.

 

[SoSueMe]

Too much is made of this issue. Web, newspaper, magazine, the medium doesn't matter; the determining factor for all credentials should be the verifiable size of your audience. Buster Olney in; Justin Morneau Daily, probably not.

How do you verify a bloggers audience? By hits? That doesn't work. This site has thousands of "hits" per day, but many are by the same person.

Blogs = People posting from their mom's basement.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

It's a serious issue for every league.
FWIW, both major political parties have acclimated themselves to bloggers at their conventions. It shouldn't be that hard for leagues to do it.

Except political parties want as many people who'll tow the party line via blog as possible. Sports leagues have to be a lot more discriminating, just because of heightened access and limited space.

Not all blogs are partisan. Some of them are news sources with a particular political bent, not unlike newspapers. But, if teams can find room for every nitwit with a radio logo stapled to a mike, they can find room for four or five people with laptops.

Offhand, do you how many of the 2004 conventions' credentials went to non/bipartisan sites compared to, say, Donkey Dave's Democratic Dance Party? Now my curiousity is mildly piqued.

Best I can do on short notice. I assume the total's similar for the 2004 RNC in NYC.
http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/001461.php

 

[cranberry]

Too much is made of this issue. Web, newspaper, magazine, the medium doesn't matter; the determining factor for all credentials should be the verifiable size of your audience. Buster Olney in; Justin Morneau Daily, probably not.

How do you verify a bloggers audience? By hits? That doesn't work. This site has thousands of "hits" per day, but many are by the same person.

Blogs = People posting from their mom's basement.

Simple enough. Vistors or unique vistors. The metrics are available. And your blogs=people posting from the basement is very 2002. There are dozens and dozens of blogs with large audiences, of course most of the well-read blogs are from people who are known quantities -- celebrities, politicians and established writers.

 

[zeke12]

In other news, I'm liveblogging this thread for Donkey Dave's Democratic Dance PArty.

 

[BYH]

In other news, I'm liveblogging this thread for Donkey Dave's Democratic Dance PArty.

I remember when that aired at 5 pm on USA. That was my favorite show!!!!

 

[BYH]

Not all blogs are partisan. Some of them are news sources with a particular political bent, not unlike newspapers. But, if teams can find room for every nitwit with a radio logo stapled to a mike, they can find room for four or five people with laptops.

From your mouth to rancid douchebag's Jay Horwitz's ears.

 

[Bob Cook]

I'm calling d_b, sort of. I'm too lazy to search the thread to find it, but there was a lot on this subject when Eric McErlain of Off Wing Opinion (offwing.com) and nbcsports.com was working with the Capitals PR person on proposed blogger credentialing language.

http://www.ericmcerlain.com/offwingopinion/archives/007078.php#007078 -- here he notes the Thrashers on Friday night are having a blogger night.

I believe McErlain also was the one who proved Eklund, who inexplicably has some sort of pull in the hockey world, is a big-ass fraud.

I can understand why hockey in particular is friendly to bloggers. Hockey has an extremely active, passionate blogging community. With papers such as the LA Times cutting back on hockey coverage, bloggers can step in to fill the void. They probably will have to.

 

[Double J]

Eric McErlain is a stand-up guy who has a lot of respect in the hockey community and it's great to see that he's doing so well both with his own project and working for NBC Sports. I'd rather read him than a print reporter or columnist who doesn't know what he/she is talking about *cough*Al Strachan*cough*.

 

[indiansnetwork]

This might go against some things this web site might envision that I believe in but here we go.

Bloggers unless they can prove they have some real life media relations work, should NOT be allowed in team dressing rooms, political events (other then as ordinary people) or in press conferences. The news media has a certain standard and adding bloggers from random web sites will only dumb down the news and propagate lies and myths.

 

[SoSueMe]

This might go against some things this web site might envision that I believe in but here we go.

Bloggers unless they can prove they have some real life media relations work, should NOT be allowed in team dressing rooms, political events (other then as ordinary people) or in press conferences. The news media has a certain standard and adding bloggers from random web sites will only dumb down the news and propagate lies and myths.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Blogger: A self-proclaimed journalist with no supervision, no standards, no formal training and no accountability. Therefore, no access.

It's that simple. Space is crowded enough at major events; the last thing real journalists need is to have access physically hindered by glorified fans who suddenly claim legitimacy by nothing more than the grace of the free Internet.