The Battle Rages On - Why MSM Hates Blogs
by Bob Wage on May 4, 2008 11:27 PM EDT
4 comments
Main stream media, (MSM), has always held contempt for blogs. The disdain took a very public turn during this past week as well known sportscaster Bob Costas hosted a special feature about the new media on his most recent "Costas NOW" series on HBO.
The 90 minute show was comprised of several related topics and was filmed in front of a studio audience, supposedly so it could have a "town hall" type of feeling, but neither the town or the hall had any chance for questions or feedback.
One of the most confrontational portions of the broadcast came up when the topic was concerning the "New Media" and how blogs on the internet have affected the perception of sports news reporting. The guests for this segment included award winning author Buzz Bissinger who wrote "Friday Night Lights", Braylon Edwards of the Cleveland Browns, and Will Leitch of Deadspin.
As a blogger, I kind of got the feeling that things were going to get ugly, quickly when Costas started the segment off by introducing the art of blogging as "blurring the lines between news and gossip, truth and rumor, and commentary and insult". Some of that is true of course, but as usual the focus was presented in a negative tone, and is not representative of all blogs.
The rest of the discussion mainly consisted of attacks on Leitch, with the somewhat overwhelmed blogger trying to defend himself and the content of his site. While Costas was at least tactful and polite with his questioning and comments, Mr. Bissinger came across as an enraged jilted lover, throwing out profanity laced insults and ignorant jabs at not only Leitch, but the entire blogging community.
Toward the end of the exchange, Buzz admitted that he was upset because blogging was a big part of the future of sports reporting and that more people were probably reading blogs, (even his own son), than reading books and newspapers. He thinks that bloggers are "dumbing down" America because of their poor writing skills and ill-informed content.
The subject of press credentials came up, and Leitch explained that he did not want to be in the pressbox since that is not what his blog is all about and he did not want to be beholding to anyone. Bissinger went to attack mode again and claimed that the blogger "did not want facts to get in the way" of his reporting.
The frustrating thing about this subject is that the majority of bloggers who want to have press access are denied, putting them in a no-win situation. They are not looked upon as being "legit" because they have no access to the inside facts, but they can't get access because they aren't considered to be "legit." This of course only pertains to the bloggers who want to have credentials, because many have no interest in that at all.
While I admit that I am not a regular reader of Deadspin and would not rely on that site to get my hardcore sports news, it is an entertaining site which has humorous and talented writers. I can also understand why sites like that would upset old-schoolers like Bissinger, because they can see their professions evolving before their very eyes and they don't like what they see.
In my opinion, Deadspin does not seem to be a site where you would get typical sports news, like a detailed recap of what happened during a game, or statistics, or the like. It seems to be a site in which the authors make note of a variety of different situations and give their opinions about such, primarily focusing on humor, or even poking fun at people. They also don't hesitate to throw in some gratuitous "T and A" while they're at it.
I wouldn't consider most of their authors to be "sportswriters", and they probably don't consider themselves to be either. So why pick them for this show?
I think ignorance runs rampant when it comes to outsiders trying to understand blogs. They attempt to define what all sports blogs are like, or should be like in general, and it just doesn't work that way. As I have mentioned before, there are a multitude of different types of blogs out there, and they vary just as much as the individuals do who write them.
But as usual, all bloggers were pretty much lumped together during the broadcast, the good, the bad, and the ugly. There was no mention of the well-written blogs, or the blogs which have media access and have represented the "profession" well. Although, I have a feeling that it wouldn't have mattered who the featured blogger was on the show, that person was going to be hammered anyway, because that was the intent.
I received a couple of emails from Canes Country readers asking me what I thought about the show, and my response is that I enjoyed it very much and I can see both sides of this debate.
Members of the MSM can see their livelihoods possibly slipping away. Instead of embracing the new art, they are focusing on the negative and fighting it every chance they get. But they show their ignorance, for instance, by not being able to distinguish between a blog author's article and a comment left afterwards, and this ignorance or lack of understanding is a big part of the problem.
I think that more professional journalists, such as James Mirtle and Luke DeCock, should start blogging themselves and should attempt to draw a larger audience to their traditional writing. If MSM writers would embrace the art rather than fight it, they would probably be surprised just how much they would end up loving it.
As for Deadspin and other blogs like it, I see nothing wrong with them. As long as what they are doing is legal, and they aren't pretending to be something that they aren't, then so be it. They do remind me a bit of the Paparazzi or National Enquire though. They seem to look for a particular thing in sports news and attempt to sensationalize it.
All in all, the "Costas Now" show was a good one and you should try to see it if you haven't. In another segment they also blasted talk show radio, so bloggers were not the only group being scrutinized.
If I may offer just a hint of advice to any of my fellow bloggers who gets invited to an open forum with members of the traditional media attending? Wear a helmet, a bullet proof vest, and be prepared for the worst.
Deep Purple
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Buuba,
Great review of the show. I thought that one would spark some interest in you!
I would like to be te first to say that while CanesCountry is not a nationally known site, though many from around the country have found it and are regulars, it is one of the best!
The best part of the site is the way that you do treat the truth as the truth, and that is not always easy, when you are trying to promote the “TEAM”.
You always find a way to mediate and maintain when the rest of us fall into the trap of being homers (in some cases, for two teams :) ).
Thanks for bringing sanity to an insane sport, and if anyone wanted to see a great blog site, they need to look no further than here!
The diversity and all encompassing subjects you cover are great. If its hockey, its covered here. thanks for all of your hard work, and someday, I wnt to meet you and buy you a beverage of your choice!
By the way, has anyone heard from Tyler ( so sad about your Avs, not!)? I have to get back to the Dallas/San Jose game…. THIRD OT…. this is HOCKEY!!!!!!
Sean
by CaniacSean on May 5, 2008 1:47 AM EDT reply actions
1) Only saw part of the show, but Bissinger came across as exactly what he stated he detested about bloggers: that they are mean spirited, etc. He came at that poor guy with invective after invective. Looking like he must have been the butt of more than a few blog posts that insulted his masculinity or something. (You can bet after that tirade his name may appear on a few blogs! LOL)
2) As our blog has pointed out in just the past week, an actual news paper reporter did exactly what Costas and Bissinger were railing about bloggers. The NY daily News Rangers beat writer, in our opinion, libeled, Sean Avery when they stated/inferred that his emergency hospitalization was due to his life style and not hockey related. (All later refuted) If a blogger had written such nonsense no doubt it would have been used by these guys as proof why blogging is bad, etc.
3) It appears that what Deadspin said is true, most of the anti-blogging crusaders are older guys (most over 50) who are probably not computer literate, or lazy. See their monopoly of spreading opinion/ideas being challenged and as such are reacting like a cornered wild animal; lashing out in fear without knowing all the facts.
4) Like any medium, bloggers have the good and the bad. However also like any medium the folks who read vote on who shall continue to be read. If you offer nothing, no one will read/go to your site. If you have quality, folks will notice. If you don’t like what’s written, another web site is a mere click away. Life will go on Mr. Bissinger.
by fauxrumors on May 5, 2008 7:59 AM EDT reply actions
I supposed I am spoiled. I check you and LSB every day. It is part of my routine now and the day just does not seem complete if I haven’t “heard” from you or Luke for the day.
Keep up the good work. LOVE YA!
by Ag on May 5, 2008 1:52 PM EDT reply actions
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