Why are the Cowboys Journalist/bloggers so terrible?

[BrAinPaiNt]

For Idgit and Hostile.

:bravo:

 

[Hostile]

There's a tendency for hard core fans to support their teams, that's normal. But that's not the problem with the Dallas media. My problem with them isn't necessarily that they aren't all x's and o's guys. Though a bit of football knowledge would be nice. I don't get giving them credit for knowing about things like the Galloway signing before fans do, because they have access fans don't, and that access is the same for every major sports market. I don't see any evidence that JJT has better inside info than his counterparts here in the Bay Area do, for instance.

There are dozen topics they could cover in between the is-Tony-Romo-a-leader nonsense that directly bear on the team's performance. Why do Wade and Garrett get a pass for an offense that led the league in penalties last year? Why didn't the defense get as many takeaways as expected when we led the league in sacks? What does the team really feel its got for the future at left tackle? Instead they use blog entries to test the waters for sensational stories. Roy Williams doesn't lift weights. Really? Oh, wait: it was Coachable Roy Williams doesn't lift weights. What did TO twitter about Tony Romo again? Give me a break.

It's not that this stuff is negative. It's insipid. And I understand posting this crap 70% of the time--after all, the point is to have people read it and most casual sports fans are stupid--but does it really hurt readership to sneak in the occasional interesting story? Even a tidbit like what a Philly player thought about blocking Spencer instead of Ellis is relevant and interesting now and then. It can be directly attributed and it bore directly on a sensational story that was also circulating during the same news cycle. Breer, getting a comment from Mike Martz on the record about Roy Williams' prospects for the upcoming season is another example. There's meat out there to be had. I don't know why we settle for a steady diet of Fruit Loops.

Oh my gosh this is awesome.

 

[Chief]

There's a tendency for hard core fans to support their teams, that's normal. But that's not the problem with the Dallas media. My problem with them isn't necessarily that they aren't all x's and o's guys. Though a bit of football knowledge would be nice. I don't get giving them credit for knowing about things like the Galloway signing before fans do, because they have access fans don't, and that access is the same for every major sports market. I don't see any evidence that JJT has better inside info than his counterparts here in the Bay Area do, for instance.

There are dozen topics they could cover in between the is-Tony-Romo-a-leader nonsense that directly bear on the team's performance. Why do Wade and Garrett get a pass for an offense that led the league in penalties last year? Why didn't the defense get as many takeaways as expected when we led the league in sacks? What does the team really feel its got for the future at left tackle? Instead they use blog entries to test the waters for sensational stories. Roy Williams doesn't lift weights. Really? Oh, wait: it was Coachable Roy Williams doesn't lift weights. What did TO twitter about Tony Romo again? Give me a break.

It's not that this stuff is negative. It's insipid. And I understand posting this crap 70% of the time--after all, the point is to have people read it and most casual sports fans are stupid--but does it really hurt readership to sneak in the occasional interesting story? Even a tidbit like what a Philly player thought about blocking Spencer instead of Ellis is relevant and interesting now and then. It can be directly attributed and it bore directly on a sensational story that was also circulating during the same news cycle. Breer, getting a comment from Mike Martz on the record about Roy Williams' prospects for the upcoming season is another example. There's meat out there to be had. I don't know why we settle for a steady diet of Fruit Loops.

Great post.

Like I posted earlier, I don't see the effort or the talent with this group. I've been in journalism for 25 years and I know good work when I see it and I know garbage when I see it.

 

[tyke1doe]

Great post.

Like I posted earlier, I don't see the effort or the talent with this group. I've been in journalism for 25 years and I know good work when I see it and I know garbage when I see it.

I've been in journalism nearly that long. I think it's an overall dumbing down of the culture in general. People don't read newspapers as much because they don't read in general.
People prefer packaged news just like they like packaged food.
People prefer reading the package rather than the ingredients on the package.

But the problem with that is the very people you cater to won't be able to sustain you because they'll develop health issues which cause them to abandon your packaged food.

And don't underestimate the impact of the Internet and other media, which give those who like to read more about the ingredients less interest in returning to newspapers (stores, for the sake of my food analogy) because they're comfortable finding what they need elsewhere.

The newspaper industry will never be the same. Papers aren't interested in long storytellers and are trying to compete to get the non-traditional fans or those interested in the scintillating stories because the super fans (the ingredients readers) have found other places to shop.

 

[Chief]

I've been in journalism nearly that long. I think it's an overall dumbing down of the culture in general. People don't read newspapers as much because they don't read in general.
People prefer packaged news just like they like packaged food.
People prefer reading the package rather than the ingredients on the package.

But the problem with that is the very people you cater to won't be able to sustain you because they'll develop health issues which cause them to abandon your packaged food.

And don't underestimate the impact of the Internet and other media, which give those who like to read more about the ingredients less interest in returning to newspapers (stores, for the sake of my food analogy) because they're comfortable finding what they need elsewhere.

The newspaper industry will never be the same. Papers aren't interested in long storytellers and are trying to compete to get the non-traditional fans or those interested in the scintillating stories because the super fans (the ingredients readers) have found other places to shop.

I think you're right. Great post.

 

[Jay]

Idgit and Hostile are dead on, that's why I was trying to point out to Two Deep that it's not all about predictions, or their thoughts on the team. Everyone has a prediction, that is fine.

It's their "material" and their choice for their stories that is the problem. If all they did was predict that the team was crap or that things would go wrong, I wouldn't have a problem with it, because it is their opinion.

But.. that's not what they do. And that's not the problem.