Johnny Manziel ahead in QB race? I want to see more, but I’m patient
August 10, 2014Forbes’ most miserable sports city is…Atlanta?
August 11, 2014Over a full year later, and the war still rages on. Different, smaller battles with varying individuals being placed on the front line, perhaps, but the Good Fight still rages on.
A little over a year-and-a-half ago, I penned a rhetorical crowdsourcing column of sorts where I discussed the worth of words. Sure, said column was specific to Cleveland and the lack of worth most readers placed upon those putting forth the work, be it in the way of a beat, column or anything that resembled investigative or enterprise. Trading in content production, it would be easy for me to stand on this side of the desk and point at the cheapskate consumers who simultaneously fail to see the work involved and feel entitled to knowledge in a world where information travels quicker than Spaceball I. Demanding more from those filing copy could also be a potential fix. But the overriding problem, one that I stated back in March of 2013, was on the publishers and their advertisers.
Until someone finds an answer to this overriding problem — until companies can figure out a way to maximize returns to a point where they can afford to compensate, and quality reaches a point where end consumers are willing to pay with more than just eyeing advertisements – writing and the inherent quality of such (time spent, calls made, interviews given, multi-layer editing prior to publishing) will continue to fall by the wayside.
So where is all of this going? As Craig and Denny briefly discussed in last week’s Casual Friday podcast, Sports on Earth, the long-form, writer-focused outfit of USA TODAY and MLB Advanced Media, has given the axe to a sizable portion of it’s staff. When it launched in the summer of 2012, general manager Steve Madden stated that the project was “very much planting a stake in the ground and saying that we are about the written word.” USA TODAY, two years later, decided that it didn’t quite value quality quite as much as they thought, cutting their ties with MLBAM—meanwhile, this is still alive and well.1
Whereas I waited until this very WWW to discuss this topic—one which, as you can see, is very important to me—Elevendub’s Ramzy Nasrallah struck while the iron was hot, sharing a few words that may have very well pre-echoed (if that could even be possible) my exact thoughts.
Blaming the consumer here is easy and short-sighted. We’re not dumber than ever; we just have better visibility into our least sophisticated citizens than ever before. The biggest problem here is that we still have not yet figured out the optimal way to profitably distribute quality content. Since cognitive skidmarks like slideshows and lists are cheap to produce and humans are helpless against the charms of rubbernecking, that’s exactly what’s winning out among media assets. Quality writing and shitburgers use the same distribution channels. […]
We need to figure out distribution because long-form journalism, stories with depth and provocative prose (not just photos) are vital to sportswriting’s biodiversity. It’s needed for the annals future historiographers will use to try and figure out what the hell we were up to. It’s nourishment for those of us who have never taken or needed Ritalin or Adderall.
We need to figure it out soon, because if we don’t – someday we’ll run out of writers like SoE’s who are all braver than me, and I’m totally uninterested in clicking on a list of reasons long-form journalism died and finding out it’s a slideshow.
Writers like Patrick Hruby and Tomas Rios and Jessica Luther have, for years, covered countless hard-hitting topics that extend well beyond box scores and cheerleaders are now unemployed while myopic jerkoffs like this guy get to continue counting on some form of paycheck hitting his checking account on a frequent basis. Wherein said jerkoff couldn’t even pick up the phone to get word from anyone impacted by the cuts (or research data, etc.), the number of pieces published that are rooted solely in commentary (as opposed to analysis, research and/or reporting) is increasing at a nauseating level. This isn’t to say that long-form writing should be the only form of writing that exists or gets a distribution-type push, but even the quick-read columns should be done with some level of pride.
Honest to God, we need to start labelling all stories with "Number of Sources" at the top, so if it's "0" I can spare myself.
— Chris Jones (@EnswellJones) August 7, 2014
And this isn’t about on-line writing or “blogs,” necessarily. Newspapers died because they waited too long to adapt to changing landscapes. But rather than recreating the playing field as a whole, those willing to take a leap years ago—those with the foresight and balls to add electronic, engaging content to run alongside their preexisting high-quality work—are alive and well while the rest flail around like small mouth bass clutching for that last breath. The term “blog” has become even more nebulous and blurry than ever before as sites like ESPN housed their stunning World Cup work under the “blog” tag and Grantland’s blog “The Triangle” puts out pieces like this and this. Talk about raising the bar—these guys are hoisting that bar, taking it down, clubbing the lazy square in the mug, and then ratcheting it up a few pegs higher.
Grantland works because ESPN is willing to offer resources to a word-focused arm in addition to their news distribution. Like The Mag, this website is far from the big earner that the television network is, but it continues to exist because John Skipper sees the value in quality and cross-promotion. Same can be said for VOX, SB Nation Longform, FiveThirtyEight, and their respective homes. They’ve managed to be flanked with a sales staffs that focuses on the longevity of visits rather than how many times a URL reloads.2 Perhaps Sports on Earth had to cut ties due to poor compensation planning—we don’t know if these writers were contracted, salary, at large, or paid on a per-piece or per-word basis. What we do know is that Trader Joes and Whole Foods don’t make money on milk and bread, but they continue to stock the shelves with each, obtaining larger margins elsewhere, all while the Walmarts of the world continue to exist, catering to different types of consumers.
That image above is the result of a Google search for “Advertising Journalism.” Note that nowhere in said word cloud do the words “lists” “slideshows” or “commentary” show up; “human,” “intelligence,” “content” and “story,” do. Just saying.
***
While we’re on the topic of quality writing and those who are compensated for it, Scott Raab’s profile of Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine was indeed completed by it’s September-issue deadline. I don’t believe it’s on-line yet, but I also didn’t give it much effort because you can subscribe to the magazine for a full year at a cost less than a couple of non-fat Venti lattes. It’s excellent and is essentially a must-read for Cleveland fans.
Sunday coffee #longread: @ScottRaab64's profile of Mike Pettine in the September @EsquireMag pic.twitter.com/O8vjnnKuoM
— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) August 10, 2014
The lede is terrific: “Skull shaved tight, default goatee, eyes of flint, mandatory frown.”
This quote from Pettine is also worth sharing: “Look, I know I have zero credibility. The Browns right now have zero credibility… There is no benefit of the doubt here. None.”
It discusses Doylestown, Pennsylvania as much as Cleveland, Ohio. There’s Manziel and Gordon and Pettine Sr; there’s also a boat load of football. Go get the September copy. You don’t need those lattes anyway.
***
I’m sensing a theme here. Behold this week’s edition of #ActualSportswriting
“The King of Roam” by Jack McCallum (Sports Illustrated): “[David] Griffin valued not only [David] Blatt’s brain but also a lower part of his body, something in the groin area. Blatt is most certainly the only coach in history who can be caught on one YouTube video conducting a press conference in flawless Hebrew; on another telling his Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv players, in unequivocally plain English, to “shut the f— up” during a timeout huddle; and on a third kicking two Russians off the squad during an Olympic game for the same offense.”
“Behind Corey Kluber’s Success…” by Jeff Sullivan (FOX Sports): “The Corey Kluber story is complicated, as all of them are. He’s extremely dedicated and focused off the field. He’s changed the fastball that he throws. He’s made all kinds of little tweaks and adjustments, and he’s benefiting now from just having gotten an opportunity in the majors. But there is this one little signature of his that’s never been as good as it is today. Recently, Baseball America polled big-league managers on the best tools in the league.”
“Bernie Kosar Unmasked” by Dan Pompei (Sports on Earth): “In a cup on an end table in Bernie Kosar’s family room are three teeth, knocked from his mouth by Mark Gastineau, and two screws from an ankle surgery gone bad. He shows off the cup as if it is a picture of his kids. Football has taken so much from Kosar, making his life’s journey more treacherous than any journey should be. wenty-one years after his last pass for the Browns, Kosar remains as much of a rock star in Cleveland as anyone inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
“Hunter Pence and Heckling in the Internet Age” by Ian Crouch (New Yorker): “The signs appeared during the first game of the series, on Friday, written in Sharpie on neon poster stock and held aloft deep in the right-field stands by a pair of young men in Mets jerseys. The guys were back at it for the remaining three games of the series, and, after TV cameras picked up some of their greatest hits, other people started bringing their own signs to the game. Copycats noted that Pence “hates bacon” and “prefers baths.” Meanwhile, away from Citi Field, the hashtag #HunterPenceSigns allowed users to provide their own critiques of Hunter Pence’s various innocent foibles on Twitter. Mets fans had spread a bit of humor to the sports world with their deadpan jabs, but they still couldn’t catch a break: the Giants took three games out of four. Pence was untroubled, with six hits and two home runs in the series. No one said he couldn’t play.”
***
And finally, FiveThirtyEight’s Nate Silver forecasts the Cavs as currently constructed to win 65 games. Too high? Too low? Just right?
Have a good Monday, kids.
- Just two weeks ago, I was speaking with a writer from SoE who referred to USA TODAY as the father who goes out for cigarettes and shows back up at the most inopportune times, while MLBAM was more of the caring, mother figure. I chuckled at the time, both of us having no idea about what train was coming down the tracks. Thankfully, it appears his job is safe—for now. [↩]
- Grantland, for example, averages roughly two page views per visitor, but the average time on the site is just shy of four minutes—this, coupled with their brand loyalty, is huge in the advertising world. [↩]
40 Comments
If you read anything here, make it that Kosar piece over at (imagine that) Sports on Earth. It’s incredibly detailed and very well written. Cheers.
I don’t read a lot of longform sports stuff, but how much is really needed for those that do?
You linked 4 pieces here plus the Raab one. Are people reading all that and more? Pre-internet there was what, Sports Illustrated, Inside Sports, The Sporting News, and a few more weeklies?
Is it that there’s less longform sports journalism than before, or is it that there’s so much more content overall, we feel a higher percentage of it should be of a higher quality/aspiration?
I don’t know the answer and don’t mean to imply anything – am just asking. From a distance it seems if I wanted to read good sportswriting on a weekly or even daily basis, I have plenty of choices.
65 games is way too high. It will take them a few months to get gelled and for Blatt to adjust to the NBA. Plus you figure Kyrie and Love will both miss some games and LeBron may take a few off as well. I’d guess around 55 or so.
Nah. Make it the Pettine profile. And buy a few dozen copies for friends and family.
Great Kosar and Kluber articles. Thanks for the links.
At least a few dozen.
Plenty as in sufficient?
I guess I’m asking if you ever feel you’re left in a position of not having enough longform sports stuff to read?
No, but I’m also of the position that there’s no such thing as enough quality writing or high-end production. It’s like asking tech companies to chill out—we’re cool with 1080p and wifi; no need for any more advancements. There will always be stories to tell. Why limit the dissemination, if even on the margins?
I agree, but I also think there’s a little bit of a “the sky is falling” reaction to Sports on Earth downsizing, when it might only be a maintenance of the status quo.
Maybe there are only x number of people who are interested in reading longform sports stories. It’s a cross-section of hardcore sports fan with a bit more of an intellectual mindset. It’s a niche – a fairly large one, but still a niche.
Reading McCallum’s excellent profile on Blatt just ticked me off. Not a single local journalist attempted such a deep piece in the months since his hire. The same people who dutifully churn out cookie cutter valentines to every up-from-poverty athlete who stops here for a cup of coffee, who repeat ad nauseum that Benjamin catches rabbits with his hands and Hillis pulls trucks with his shoulders, really missed all of Blatt – the lifetime away from his family, the chameleon-like ability to instantly adapt to cultures, languages and rosters.
Why is it that they will all now be referencing the McCallum piece for background? Because Blatt hasn’t been in town and local scribes don’t make calls lest they miss making their quota of 10 daily tweets? Because there currently is no competent person covering the Cavs? Honestly, I don’t get the full picture of what is happening in whatever passes for “local sports journalism” in a medium size city with 3 major sports franchises.
I think a huge part of Grantland’s success is also based on the huge success of Simmons 30/30 series. Those things made so much money for ESPN they almost had no choice but to look the other way if Grantland doesn’t make huge profits. Their piece on soccer in WWI was also really well done for what its worth.
I think part of my problem with long form sports writing is that currently I’m just burnt out on it. The Grantland piece on soccer caught my attention because it combined sports with human interest and my secret nerd passion of post industrial revolution history. I’m 40 with kids and a wife and I was raised on all sorts of stories of athletes overcoming long odds or being on top and falling from grace and rising – or not rising again. I can’t care anymore about how athletes struggle to cope with the sudden “end” of their lives at 35 or even 25 when injury or age takes their sport from them. I might just be far too jaded but I don’t want to read about athlete’s charity work and what it means to people. I believe a guy like Tom Brady genuinely gives a crap about people with cognitive disabilities but I can’t read a long form piece about his Buddy foundation without it feeling a bit like there is some product placement for both the NFL and his personal “brand”.
Sorry I’m having a grumpy morning I guess
I agree that it’s a niche. As is WFNY. As is every music or cinematic genre.
I don’t think the sky is falling by any means. I’m more disheartened by the fact that we still haven’t figured out a way to properly co-exist multiple forms. Plus, a major media company pulling the plug on a start-up just two years in simply sucks.
Silver himself notes that the 65 games is merely based on their statistical output and that it IS too high for all the reasons you note.
I’ll just reiterate that my thoughts aren’t necessarily hinged on long-form as much as well-written. Not everyone can immerse themselves in multiple five-thousand word pieces in a given day. But there’s no reason why the 900-word columns can’t be beautifully crafted. Red Smith made a living on it; several columnists today, while not at Smith’s level, are noticeable when it comes to word choice and sentence structure.
Do I prefer narrative journalism? Undoubtedly. Does it necessarily I have to be long? Not at all.
as for SoE, it depends on where they go from here. it could be (as you noted) that they didn’t structure the contracts or what they wanted out of the site correctly. if they re-adjust and move forward, then it could actually be better. if they were truly just pulling the plug and not planning on a different try at it, then I completely agree that it’s disheartening.
Long form journalism needs to take the route that ESPN is going with it. While I harp on them, they do a bunch of things correct. Their website is fast and efficient to navigate (do you hear me SI!!!). They have lots of quality output if you know where to look for it. And, they understand that they can keep people who enjoy the deeper dive long-form coming to their page by making it easier to find where to look (hence the spin-off pages).
I honestly go to espn.com to see the headlines on the pages of theirs that I might want to read on grantland, 5thirty8, OTL, etc. OTL has gone a bit downhill lately (they have switched to political style documentaries rather than investigative reporting on many pieces), but, again, there is quality stuff to have for those willing to look.
Oh, and I do not think that you have to worry too much about running out of these pieces. They may get buried and become harder to find and perhaps not quite as investigative if things do die out (which is sad itself).
But, too many people love sports. I don’t remember who linked to the B/R article last week that detailed life as a B/R reporter. But, more than showing how B/R was taking advantage of people (it is), it showed me how much people care about sports. People care so much they are willing to work for free for years just for the chance to continue working with sports.
Same goes for low-level coaching and FO (no reason those guys shouldn’t be paid more other than they are willing to do it for cheap).
yesyesyes.
Each outlet has a choice on what qualities it seeks in its hires and what it demands of those it hires. Don’t pretend to know much about this subject, but there appears to be some sort of disconnect between the mass popularity of guys like Simmons who can write their asses off and the company line of wanting hits under any circumstances, no matter if attained through quality or crass and unsourced rumor. Media has always stood for profits, but sometimes wonder today whether each outlet knows what it stands for. Almost like the landscape is shifting so quickly most media sources are figuring it out on the fly.
Amen. That “daily tweet quota” comment rings too true.
I totally agree I was just doing some venting due to 3 days of 4 hours of sleep. I really hate the #hotsportstake version of writing that seems to be infecting everything. I just read a piece on ESPN about McIlroy’s win yesterday that spent 1 paragraph recapping the weekends action and thrilling conclusion and 5 paragraphs breathlessly pondering whether Rory is the new Tiger, or is he already even better than old Tiger or if something something something. There is so much content emphasis on creating an argument and putting events into some hypothetical historical context immediately after they happened. Its tough finding people that can write about something or someone in sports in a way that isn’t a naked attempt to convince readers to storm the comment section.
I wish I understood how advertising dollars and the internet really worked because I feel like I’d only be commenting about this relationship with writing quality from a point of ignorance.
Gross.
Agree wholeheartedly, Scott. I generally don’t read long articles on the ‘Net, but the Kosar piece grabbed me and kept me. Thanks for that.
And speaking of Bernie — or more precisely, the anti-Bernie — how ’bout that Solomon Wilcots, eh gang? Holy moley, three hours of boring banalities and gratuitous and unmerited praise.
My favorite low point was when it looked like the Browns D might have forced a turnover, and Wilcots praised Manziel for “having the presence of mind to grab his helmet” so that he could run onto the field if necessary. Yeah, there aren’t many guys who have the presence of mind to grab their helmet. Jeez, what an unmitigated hack. Nice call, channel 3.
the sound went to mute for me during the 1st drive of the game.
http://journal.innovationjournalism.org/2009/11/digital-identities-and-journalism.htmlJOURNALISM CONTENT – HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND JOURNALISM MAY CO-DEVELOP AND WHY SOCIETY SHOULD CARE
Innovation Journalism Vol.6 No.7
By Noam Lemelshtrich Latar and David Nordfors
There’s the citation for your word image, since you couldn’t be bothered to attribute it. (You know, using someone else’s content for free, the devaluing of the word etc…)
And Blatt. Great day of links.
One would think that as successful, confident and well-written as Raab is, he wouldn’t have to go around making random plugs for himself. Let the work speak on it’s own merit.
RGB don’t look!
http://www.si.com/sports/nfl/2014/08/10/buffalo-bills-sammy-watkins-one-handed-catch
Can you please chop up your rambling into slideshow format
In that case, one would be disappointed, I suppose. Or entirely devoid of any sense of humor.
where was that article referenced?
You want citation for a word cloud generated by a third party application? And are comparing it to actual reporting? You’re cute.
Classic Raab. Always quick with the insult. Never change. I’m really glad for you that so many blue collar Clevelander will gobble up whatever regurgitation you put on a page about their teams. It must be tough paying for those fancy NYC lunches/puff pieces with celebrities.
only if he ranks the articles in some obtuse fashion
Now your just being acute
too much scalene solution this morning I guess
LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uVIOjsZ-s0
A ‘real’ response to what? Your imaginary version of my existence? Your apparent disdain for my work? Or your baseless, frankly moronic, undisguised enmity? I can’t help you, Steve. Have a cookie and a sweet life.
You too Scott, you too. It must be a nice life to want take time out from the important world of asking Connie Britton about men’s bathrooms to namecall on message boards.
It’s likely too fine a distinction for an idiot to grasp, but insulting someone isn’t necessarily name-calling.
Your pathetic envy and your upthread slap at ‘blue collar’ people make me wonder what you do to earn a living, Steve. I’m guessing ‘not much’ is the answer.
There’s no way this is not some shtick. Kudos to you for going into the role so deep. Oscar performance really.
I’m really happy for you Scott, you seem like you’ve got it all put together.