Patriots Have Reporters All a Twitter

[Clonamery]

They are reporters, not cheerleaders. Perhaps if people on message boards would remember that they are bagging on people for doing their jobs, rather than demanding perfection when they themselves don't get close to it, things could improve. SMY, Christoper Price, Peter King, Mike Reiss, et al. will make mistakes: it comes with being human beings. If people didn't take every perceived mistake as an opportunity to slam the reporter, the newspaper and the media in general, we'd all be better off.

Good points. We also tend not to differentiate between beat or staff reporters, national or local columnists, or tv personalities. Many have editorial agendas or styles that rub us the wrong way depending on their perceived audience. Too often we are insecure and have a thin skin.

 

[shmessy]

They are reporters, not cheerleaders. Perhaps if people on message boards would remember that they are bagging on people for doing their jobs, rather than demanding perfection when they themselves don't get close to it, things could improve. SMY, Christoper Price, Peter King, Mike Reiss, et al. will make mistakes: it comes with being human beings. If people didn't take every perceived mistake as an opportunity to slam the reporter, the newspaper and the media in general, we'd all be better off.

I agree 100% with Deus here.

Isaac, with all due respect, I have NO desire for the media to turn into teenybopping fanboys and girls. For that kind of stuff, we come here.

Isaac is proposing the media love the team they are covering. So, perhaps they hush up Nick Kazcur's arrest and testimony last year? Or they start writing long stories about the owner's love life (oops, Boston.com already DID that this week with John Henry).

Nah, we have enough fandom writing in internet forums, I like getting a bit of a professional opinion every now and then also. I also like reading what writers from other cities have to say about the Pats.

Life ain't a pep rally. Insulating oneself does not enlighten.

 

[eom]

If I could, I'd like to open a debate here based on some of the comments I've seen here and elsewhere because of this overblown twitter issue.

I find it interesting that people are openly advocating for others to lose their jobs. Whether or not you believe that what we as sports reporters do is difficult, it is a job. It is the way we provide for our families, and for some of us, it is the realization of a career goal to get to cover the Patriots or NFL. I can only imagine the reaction if I wrote that robots should replace all of the people who work on manufacturing lines, with no concern for the thousands of Americans who would be jobless because of it.

The "we are now useless" quip was a morbid joke between friends that we never believed would be publicized. Regardless, as much as some of us like our jobs, we complain sometimes, just like anyone does.

smy

this board doesn't offer a font size big enough for the LOL that deserves.
I guess that's one of the pitfalls of hanging around reporters.

anyway, your analogy is a very poor one for somebody who should be as well versed in the skill of communication as someone in your profession.

nothing personal, but your post comes off a bit as someone whining that they should stop the world for her.
there is no reason why I should have to wait those extra 30 seconds to hear the patriots' pick just so you can realize your dream of covering the patriots.
some other guy already made the much better analogy of the team --- they don't keep useless players around just so they can realize their dreams and keep their jobs, and you cover that routinely.

again, nothing personal, I've never read anything of your coverage, and I love having someone around to cover the team, but it seems to me that a very large pitfall of your profession is that as a writer, or other member of the media, tends to collect an audience, their head steadily grows in size until they have convinced themselves that, in fact, THEY are the object of the attention, rather than merely the conduit.
just because I stare at my tv doesn't make it a celebrity.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Twitter on draft day was awesome. It was faster than even the tv media outlets. And it let me figure out what the trades were ahead of time, the tv coverage is usually a lot slower reporting on the trades.

I hope twitter is here to stay because it ENHANCED my draft day experience. Even if reporters don't 'like it' as a professional thing, how can they be against something that enhances the experience of the audience? That would just be selfish at that point.

 

[Isaac]

They are reporters, not cheerleaders.

You have missed my point entirely and re-stated exactly what I was trying to argue against. A "cheerleader" does not "criticize mercilessly", as I stated in my post. In no way did I argue or suggest that reporters should become cheerleaders.

And there-in lies the rub. There is an assumption in New England that a reporter can't be critical if they like a team or the people associated with a team. This is false. In fact in other cities it is quite the opposite situation--the biggest critics of the team are often the biggest supporters as well. I can assure you that no one would call these reporters "cheerleaders" as they rip the team daily, but at the same time it is clear to all that these reporters would cry with joy if the team were to win a Super Bowl.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

...kudos for SMY for stepping to the plate and addressing this head on.

That's why we read her.

When I retired from the service and finally settled into a new home and life as a gentleman of leisure, I eventually found patsfans and began lurking on and off as my tolerance for dial-up speeds permitted. This led to my finding the various news outlets who covered the New England Patriots; and folks think media negativity is bad today? There was no Mike Reiss or Shalise Manza Young or Christopher Price dominating the Patriots coverage. Instead I found Borges and Mannix and other "nattering nabobs of negativism" to quote the former Vice-President.

That gradually changed leading to an entirely new and refreshingly objective and positive set of reporters. Opinion was shared, but within context and separate from "news" stories, a most shocking development to be sure. Reiss began blogging, SMY took over Tom Curran's fledgling blog, Christopher Price legally changed his name to the "Ubiquitous Christopher Price" and fans raised on the negativity of the old guard began to suffer withdrawal symptoms. Ah for the good old todays!

I'm happily stuck in my rut, I have message boards and media blogs and news to keep me busy. I broke down and bought a cell phone last summer so I could keep my old home number and have a separate line from the parents when I moved them in with me in the new house. I'm not texting or twittering or anything but making phone calls on my cell, I'm paying the phone company enough as it is. I still have my internet media, my favorite reporters get read regularly, and all this twittering is just...a nice tool for my reporters and my fellow messageboard members who must play with the latest gizmo. I'll find the latest move from the Patriots here or at another forum, thoughtfully posted by my fellows. That will lead me to our media blogs for more detail, and then their articles for the final analysis, and all will be right with the world.

Thus with the 'twitter' of flutes and the melodramatic thumping of a lone drum, we march boldly into the future seeking an answer to the burning question...can "Wolfbarsch" (or "never translate nicknames" as German Patriot warns) Vollmer play Left Tackle in the NFL?

 

[Deus Irae]

You have missed my point entirely and re-stated exactly what I was trying to argue against. A "cheerleader" does not "criticize mercilessly", as I stated in my post. In no way did I argue or suggest that reporters should become cheerleaders.

And there-in lies the rub. There is an assumption in New England that a reporter can't be critical if they like a team or the people associated with a team. This is false. In fact in other cities it is quite the opposite situation--the biggest critics of the team are often the biggest supporters as well. I can assure you that no one would call these reporters "cheerleaders" as they rip the team daily, but at the same time it is clear to all that these reporters would cry with joy if the team were to win a Super Bowl.

I didn't miss anything. I'm also not going to argue with someone who can't figure out that "I hope this isn't true because the team could really use a big contribution from Crable this year..." is not where a journalist needs to go with a story.

Your point was terrible, and your example was worse. If it makes you feel better, much of the board is like that right now for some reason, as it seems that the "have to be a homer" crew has once again infested the place.

On that note, you have a nice day.

 

[Isaac]

I didn't miss anything. I'm also not going to argue with someone who can't figure out that "I hope this isn't true because the team could really use a big contribution from Crable this year..." is not where a journalist needs to go with a story.

Your point was terrible, and your example was worse. If it makes you feel better, much of the board is like that right now for some reason, as it seems that the "have to be a homer" crew has once again infested the place.

On that note, you have a nice day.

Let's not get into a back-and-forth here on what is otherwise an excellent thread. I do wish you could spend some time in the DC media market so that you could understand what I am trying to explain because obviously I am not doing a good enough job of it. PM me if you'd actually like to discuss further.

 

[efin98]

Thanks one and all for the responses. Once upon a time -- it was only a few years ago, but it seems like a lifetime -- blogging seemed like the way for newspaper reporters to keep up with the instant results given by espn and the like.

I can only speak from my shop, but the Journal has tried to be on the frontline in terms of blogging, putting stories online as soon as they're written rather than the next morning. I linked the ProJo PatsBlog to twitter a few weeks ago (twitter.com/projopatsblog) with the intention of not just our blog posts being tweeted, but also with an eye toward times like the upcoming rookie mini-camp and full team mini-camp, when I could send small bits of instant info ("Brady is moving well", "Hoyer has a big arm", etc) to subscribers.

The assessment that on draft weekend our role was to evaluate the picks is absolutely true, and we did that. And it's also true that in these days and times, when anyone with a cell phone camera is a paparazzo, I shouldn't be surprised that a joke between myself and a friend in the press box became public. But there's such a thing as professional courtesy, and in this case there wasn't any. The press box is our water cooler, and dozens of things -- serious and silly -- are bandied about when reporters are in there; those among us who are professionals realize and honor that.

Thanks for offering your opinions
smy

Clarification of your point and intent and continuing to stand by your piece are strong traits- something that are the mark of a great reporter.

Thank you for the reply and I see what you really meant.

 

[shmessy]

Let's not get into a back-and-forth here on what is otherwise an excellent thread. I do wish you could spend some time in the DC media market so that you could understand what I am trying to explain because obviously I am not doing a good enough job of it. PM me if you'd actually like to discuss further.

The DC media market?????

You mean where Czabes and Andy "Polli" broadcast from the, now, Dan Snyder owned WTEM??????

Please tell me how Czaban and Pollin (now a glorified version of PFW in Progress) cutting up their own owner's team is any different from the "professional" journalism of the in-house Patriots.com Casales, Harts, etc.?

Give me a CORNER of coverage at least where the involved analyst, columnist, commentator is not cheering for the team for his/her life on Sundays.

I'd read Wilbon, Kornheiser, Loverro - - ANYONE like that before I'd want to get my info from B-Mitch or Sonny.

 

[maverick4]

Bill Simmons recently commented on the journalism business, on how it's basically dead and the internet is the new thing.

Someone needs to figure out a way for professional reporters to make money in the new internet age. Free content is great but is also destroying paper newspapers.

 

[jmt57]

Perhaps this is being overly simplistic, but why don't newspapers have both free content, and more in-depth material available only to those that pay for it on the internet? This is a very common practice of many (not just sports) websites. Another idea (mentioned earlier) is to have people sign up for an electronic nespaper to be delivered by e-mail, that included information not found on the website. Again, there could be both a free and also an enhanced pay version. And the fact that consumers are willing to pay for that content could be a selling point to would be advertisers, showing that they have a dedicated, captive audience.

The in-depth analysis and well informed opinions are what will differentiate the professionals from the amateur bloggers. Despite all the free content available, there is still a market for better quality information.

 

[efin98]

Perhaps this is being overly simplistic, but why don't newspapers have both free content, and more in-depth material available only to those that pay for it on the internet? This is a very common practice of many (not just sports) websites. Another idea (mentioned earlier) is to have people sign up for an electronic nespaper to be delivered by e-mail, that included information not found on the website. Again, there could be both a free and also an enhanced pay version. And the fact that consumers are willing to pay for that content could be a selling point to would be advertisers, showing that they have a dedicated, captive audience.

The in-depth analysis and well informed opinions are what will differentiate the professionals from the amateur bloggers. Despite all the free content available, there is still a market for better quality information.

I could have sworn the Wall Street Journal does that with their electronic edition...

 

[eom]

Perhaps this is being overly simplistic, but why don't newspapers have both free content, and more in-depth material available only to those that pay for it on the internet?

they do.....

 

[farn]

If I could, I'd like to open a debate here based on some of the comments I've seen here and elsewhere because of this overblown twitter issue.

I find it interesting that people are openly advocating for others to lose their jobs. Whether or not you believe that what we as sports reporters do is difficult, it is a job. It is the way we provide for our families, and for some of us, it is the realization of a career goal to get to cover the Patriots or NFL. I can only imagine the reaction if I wrote that robots should replace all of the people who work on manufacturing lines, with no concern for the thousands of Americans who would be jobless because of it.

The "we are now useless" quip was a morbid joke between friends that we never believed would be publicized. Regardless, as much as some of us like our jobs, we complain sometimes, just like anyone does.

smy

I do not openly "root" for people to lose their jobs. But, there are a few people at my workplace who's termination would do wonders for production. At every place of work, there are losers - including journalism, I suspect.

 

[farn]

Good one!

Not all, of course, but the Felgers of the world, the knee-jerk jerks, are in trouble.

Yikes, I love Felger. I listen for entertainment. Felger entertains me.

 

[eom]

I have long believed that all these fatheaded reporters elbowing each other out of the way and jockeying for face time in press conferences can be replaced by a single camera and microphone streaming an open feed to whoever chooses to partake in it.
just like twitter.

 

[maverick4]

Yikes, I love Felger. I listen for entertainment. Felger entertains me.

I can't believe his wife is hot. That still confuses me.
Must be the same reason why Goodell's wife is hot.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Let's not get into a back-and-forth here on what is otherwise an excellent thread. I do wish you could spend some time in the DC media market so that you could understand what I am trying to explain because obviously I am not doing a good enough job of it. PM me if you'd actually like to discuss further.

I get what you're saying- unfortunately a lot of people, in the Boston area in particular, don't seem to get that sports reporting isn't quite political investigative journalism. It's not moderating a presidential election, either. It's fans of a team wanting more information. Dunno when it stopped being okay for people to actually root for their teams, but it's one of the more annoyingly cynical developments that I've come across (and I'm generally an overwhelmingly cynical person, too).

Don't get me wrong: I get it from their perspective. Controversy generates interest, which generates page hits. Pages hits are money, and money is their job. In a roundabout way, I can see how a lot of people would come to conclude that their job depends on drumming up controversy. Inevitably, though, there's a negative backlash to that when people get sick and tired of being inundated with that style of reporting, and imo the Boston sports media might be seeing that now.

What's everyone's opinion on Reiss or SMY, for example? My impression is that everyone here seems to like them both quite a bit. Why? Because they don't insist on inserting a negative slant into everything they write, just to generate controversy and page hits. While that may or may not generate tons of page hits for them, it's definitely appreciated by a lot of people around here. They're the only two Boston-area sports folks that I still read, and I've never felt like I was missing anything by ignoring the rest.

 

[maverick4]

Boston journalists are a good example of what is wrong with the system.
They care more about creating controversy (thus eyeballs for readers or radio listeners) than they do reporting the news.
The journalism industry needs to become non-profit to survive.