Newspapers vs. Blogs

by Jonathan Willis on May 11, 2008 8:49 AM MDT

David Staples over at Cult of Hockey makes reference today to a John MacKinnon article about the differing roles of the mainstream media and that of blogs. Both articles are interesting reads, as is the article that John MacKinnon refers to over at the Globe & Mail. Frankly, though, I think both of them get it a little wrong, despite making excellent points. Let's start with Staples, who, as much as any Edmonton sports writer, has really embraced what blogs have to offer.

We will play by our own rules, the rules we have always believed in. We will still be mainstream reporters, mainly because most of us truly value the values of mainstream reporting.
We don't just write and report the way to do because our bosses force us to write and report that way. We do what we do, we write what we write, because we believe in responsible journalism, in informing our readers while also being fair to our sources and subjects.
Many folks who post on the Internet may well think it's quaint and fussy that we don't often write curse words, and that our critiques of players, coaches, general managers and fellow writers aren't absolutely blistering. On the Oilogosphere, almost every day we are accused of pulling our punches, sucking up to Oilers management, and not really telling the truth because we're constrained by commercial interests.

Personally, I've always found the uncontrolled blasting of Edmonton writers to be a little tiresome, particularly when it's guys at the Journal getting blasted. Certainly there are times (at least in my own opinion) where these guys seem to take too much of what the team says at face value, rather than digging and determining if it was a good hockey decision or not- the Souray signing would be one example that was accepted fairly easily by Edmonton media but had a number of negatives that weren't initially pointed to in a terribly thorough way. So that occasional tendency to report one side of the story absolutely needs to be critiqued, and it's something that blogs do.

As for being "quaint and fussy" for not cursing, regular readers (all 6 of you, and I really like you folks!) will recognize that I don't curse on this site. Looking over at Lowetide, it's a fairly rare occurence on that end too. I don't think it adds anything, and I think it, to some extent, undermines credibility. Still, if a commenter with many valid points (take Dennis, for example) decides to unleash a bunch of them while making a statement, fine. Or if a blogging team (see Covered in Oil) decides to use it, great. It's an individual choice, and it isn't uniform across all blogs.

I don't see the only future for journalism on the Internet as the discussion boards, or as Eklund, a mysterious guy that nobody knows spreading trade rumours, this kind of unaccountable type. The future is going to have a place -- a major place -- for credibility, for accountability, for named sources and for fair comment, and that place is where the old, conservative but relatively reliable mainstream media is going to be.

If internet journalism turned into Eklund's site, it would be the end. Journalists would be adding nothing of value; selling themselves out in an attempt to reach a wider audience. I think what journalists add is credibility, but mostly in terms of information, rather than analysis. On the information side, if The Score breaks a trade, I trust it. When, on the other hand, when Steve Ludzik tells me that Rob Schremp would be rookie of the year if only the Oilers would play him, I laugh, because it's manifestly not true.

This isn't an indictment of all mainstream analysts. Take Bob McKenzie of TSN, for my money the best analyst in the business. He's well-informed, and forms opinions with a strong basis in reality. Other analysts are less so (see Al Strachan, among others) and each forms a base over time.

On the other hand, to indict all bloggers on the basis of reading the message boards or Eklund's site would be equally bizarre. Frankly, I find it almost insulting when I read about Eklund are HFBoards being talked about as blogs. Eklund's site is a commercial one, he's being paid for it, and he's attracted a host of MSM-employed writers. He's much more mainstream than a traditional blog. HFBoards, on the other hand, is an internet community, a group of fans of all different backgrounds and abilities talking. It's almost a mob, and it's unfair to paint bloggers with the same brush, because bloggers, like journalists are individual and have individual merits.

Let's move on to MacKinnon.

This particular argument is key in that the difference between rooting or fandom and journalistic detachment is at the core of the animosity between the two groups.
The bloggers acknowledge they are fans but tend to forget this in their criticism of ink-stained wretches, whose work they routinely slag, even though, as Bissinger noted on the Costas show, they frequently know little about the constraints of the job.

"Journalistic detachment" is a wonderful idea, and certain MSM writers have an excellent grasp of it and apply it in such a way that you can respect their writings as non-partisan. They are, however (at least in my view) in the minority.

Of the writers based in Edmonton, how many cheer for the Oilers? I believe it was MacKinnon himself (among others) who pointed to an extremely un-detached relationship between certain writers for the Edmonton Sun and the departing Edmonton ownership group.

Sports writers who cover a single team are not detached. How could they be? They spend the vast majority of their job talking to the same people, covering the same players, and watching the same team. Sentimentality creeps in. Take Jim Hughson, one of my favorite sportscasters (he's also from my home town). He was the regular Canucks play-by-play man over at Sportsnet. Now he's HNIC's late-night guy. Yet, watching him call Canucks games, you can feel the pro-Canuck mentality. It's natural; he'd be larger than life if it wasn't there.

Similarly, bloggers are fans. I'm certainly a fan of the Oilers, but I try and stay objective when I write about them. Take the Souray contract. I think it was a bad idea, and I think that from a (mostly) objective viewpoint, because I like Souray the player, I like the team he plays for, hey, I even like Kevin Lowe who signed him. But, when I make myself look at the different sides of the issue (injuries, player versatility, contract length and dollars, etc.) I'm convinced it's a bad signing. That's an opinion based on objective reasoning, not fanboy fervor.

The crux of my point is that, as with individual journalists, individual bloggers have individual sets of writing ethics. Surely MacKinnon would be embarrased to be tarred by the same brush as Terry Jones, much like I'm embarrased to be thrown in with Eklund and the group over at HFBoards. They're different and they offer value to some people, but I am distinct from them, as MacKinnon is from Jones, or that fellow in Ottawa who called for Ottawa players to deliberately injure Sidney Crosby.

The bloggers also are inveterate counterpunchers, backseat drivers and Monday morning quarterbacks. Journalists themselves are, of necessity, reactive. But, in many respects, the life's blood of the blogosphere is the very MSM the bloggers are so quick to derogate.

Absolutely. I wouldn't be able to analyze if the MSM wasn't bringing me information. My opinions would be far less informed (yes, it's possible) if it weren't for the value of listening to articulate, intelligent MSM-types like Bob McKenzie, James Mirtle, and Dave Reid, all of whom offer their verdicts (reactive verdicts, counter-punching verdicts) on the different moves of NHL teams. Without a Jim Matheson reporting behind-the-scenes stuff, I couldn't comment on it. I wouldn't know who Rob Daum was, let alone know what was going on with him.

Finally, I'll close with one comment on the article MacKinnon references.

Bissinger despairs of the dumbing down, the poor quality of writing and the coarseness of the conversation on the Internet. But he made no real effort to distinguish between a sleazy blog and the Internet editions of respected news organizations.

It's nice to see the Globe & Mail acknowledge that not all internet writers are one and the same. Still, that isn't my point here. When Bissinger despairs of the "dumbing down" and "poor quality writing", I'm in his court. It's one of the reasons I love Lowetide's site so much- he's a quality writer. I've always been academically inclined. I wrote 99% on my English 12 provincial exam, and my best marks in college came in academic writing courses. I love reading well-worded writing, and one of the chief purposes of this blog is as a venue for me to improve my own, writing, which can be shaky, rambling, and even flat-out poor. Still, I try to write clearly and well, and hopefully I'll get better at it as I do more of it.

Internet weblogs that gain credibility, those of Mirtle, or Lowetide, or Battle of Alberta (there's lots of others- I have a blog roll on left because I enjoy reading all of the blogs listed there, and it's by no means exhaustive) are well-written. I certainly prefer their writing to that of indivdual sports writers.

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Read More: msm, blogs, john mackinnon, lowetide, david staples

Comments

That's quality stuff Jonathan.

by Black Dog on May 11, 2008 4:33 PM MDT reply actions

Well said Jonathan. You and Lowetide write with the quality of the MSM but have opinions that I value and appreciate(not something i generally get from the pros). Keep up the good work!

by McKenzie on May 11, 2008 8:14 PM MDT reply actions

Nicely written as usual, Jonathan.

I've always found the uncontrolled blasting of Edmonton writers to be a little tiresome

I too tire of the constant blasting of all things MSM from some quarters; for sure sometimes, perhaps even often, they've got it coming, but from some quarters it just never lets up and frankly it comes across as "four legs good, two legs bad" stereotyping. Just as not all bloggers should be tarred with the same brush, neither should all MSM types. Thoughtful parties on both sides recognize the good with the bad, as you have done with this post.

As for being "quaint and fussy" for not cursing, regular readers (all 6 of you, and I really like you folks!) will recognize that I don't curse on this site.

This regular can honestly say I didn't notice until you mentioned it. I just noticed that you are articulate and express yourself well.

One of the things I enjoy about the Oilogosphere is the freedom of expression it affords. It's a relaxed environment where people can say what they think in their own voice. Sometimes a well-placed curse word or even a stream of invective can be appropriate, often funny. Other times it can be overdone, but so it is in life. Just as I wouldn't dream of saying "fuck" at my mother-in-law's dinner table or in my published writing, I wouldn't think twice of it in conversation with a peer group of thinking adults. I liken the atmosphere in the 'sphere to sitting in a sports bar watching a game with my buds. No holds barred, it's one of the little advantages we have over the MSM. No reason to exclude words ... just use the best available.

by Bruce on May 12, 2008 2:02 AM MDT reply actions

Keep writing. This is one hell of a blog. It takes time, but people begin to notice good writing.

by PunjabiOil on May 12, 2008 2:07 AM MDT reply actions

One of the things I enjoy about the Oilogosphere is the freedom of expression it affords. It's a relaxed environment where people can say what they think in their own voice. Sometimes a well-placed curse word or even a stream of invective can be appropriate, often funny.

I completely agree. It's something I chose not to do, partly because of my background and partly because it doesn't really fit with what I want my writing to be, but a lot of guys do and it can be pretty funny sometimes. I figure to each his own, and I'm not going to knock anyone for doing it, but I'm not going to knock anyone for not doing it either.

And thanks for the nice words, everyone. It makes blogging a lot more fun.

by Jonathan Willis on May 12, 2008 8:24 AM MDT reply actions

This site had quickly become one of my daily reads - fine work jonathan

by Oilman on May 12, 2008 1:13 PM MDT reply actions

My biggest beefs with the MSM is when they don't dig for the real story or when they flat out tell lies or commit sins of omission.

Staples has been out of control lately because he's undeniably two-faced.

Example: He loves the idea of teams drafting late signing Group 2's because that means they picks they're abandoning don't have a tonne of value. On the other hand, he fails to apply this logic to the Pronger picks from Ana in reference to just what that meant to the overall value of that package.

Example: he beats the drum all day long about Lowe guessing right on Smyth because of his age, yet he doesn't take the opposite approach to the Souray signing.

Example: he credits the trading of Smyth as a major reason why the Oilers managed to fall far enough to draft Gagner without mentioning all the man games the OIlers were missing because of injuries.

I feel like we lead David Staples to the water but he refuses to drink it.

by Dennis on May 14, 2008 2:35 PM MDT reply actions

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