Fingers of Fury has some details about how the News and the Star-T are merging their news-gathering operations, specifically in the sports arena. One thing you can look forward to: Evan Grant, named a Texas Sportswriter of the Year for his work covering the Rangers, will be moved to the Cowboys beat. I’ve got a couple of points to make here. You’ll want to jump:
– That scene out at Valley Ranch is not a friendly, inviting one. You know about the players. The media types who cover them can be just as standoffish. Like: “Do you know who I am? I cover the Cowboys.” When Evan Grant shows up for his first day of work out there, I suggest he approach it like he’s just been thrown in jail. Pick the biggest guy out there, and stick a shiv in his gut. Let em know you’re not a punk. (Joke stolen from Zac.)
– When I first heard that the DMN and the Star-T were going divvy up the sports beats, I told Eric the move wouldn’t be good for readers, because without the competition, reporters wouldn’t work as hard to get scoops. Eric asked when the last time was that one of the papers had a real scoop on the other. I couldn’t cite such an instance. Maybe that’s because I don’t regularly read the sports sections. But I don’t think so. I think the papers don’t scoop each other because the beat writers are all buddies with each other. They don’t want to embarrass their friends.
– I’ve heard from a couple sources who tell me that the Rangers aren’t at all happy about the fact that the Star-T will be the only paper covering the team.
14 comments
I’ve been following the posts here about the decline and fall of DMN and ST for some months now.
At what point, if at all, will the D media group move from being observer/editorial to filling the void of reduced or eliminated news coverage?
You clearly have a P.O.V. about what kind of news coverage is deficient or missing.
I’ll hang up and listen.
Ever since Tom Hicks bought the Rangers, they’ve acted like they only care about Dallas anyway.
Which is why their attendance is down.
They are lucky the S-T covers them. Their readers care more about the Cats.
Do you mean a sports scoop? Or any kind of scoop? Because the DMN business section scoops the hell out of the Star T and other publications all the time. Remember, sports reporters and business reporters are competing with reporters around the world. Even if Star T disappears, a good Cowboys scoop will always draw readers, just like a good Southwest Airlines scoop. Metro = no scoops.
Metro = poops, no scoops.
I’ve heard from a couple sources who tell me people don’t give a crap what the Rangers want. Maybe if they ever win a 2nd playoff game, people will care what they think. Heck, they could use a generic story for each game. Pitching sucks, fielding sucks, hitting okay, game takes over 4 hours and Rangers lose.
They should let Evan cover baseball until August. He’s a great baseball writer and nothing of note happens after July 31st for the Rangers.
The Rangers should be happy that anybody requests a press pass.
Oh good. So now I can read Calvin Watkins, Tim MacMahon, Evan Grant, Jean-Jacques Taylor, Tim Cowlishaw, Brian Davis, Kevin Sherrington, Todd Archer and David Moore articles after each Cowboys game. Because Lord knows there nine different angles to take on each game!
Seriously, DMN. We all love the Cowboys and I read a ton of stuff on them. More beat reporters is probably not what you need…having your current crop of reporters do a little bit more might be something to look into.
I’m just sayin’…
Who cares about pro sports anyway? It’s an industry by the rich and for the rich. It costs a family of four $300 to go to a football game to watch a bunch of whiners fumble the ball. And a cup of the watered down beer costs as much as a case of Old Milwaukee.
Joe Sixpack. A couple of things for you to google.
1. NFL ratings
2. NFL Revenue
your welcome
You’re
Chris: I did what you said and Googled NFL ratings. Here’s what I got:
“So far this season, NBC is averaging a 9.9 rating for Sunday Night Football telecasts, on pace for an all-time broadcast record low for a prime time NFL series.”
Here’s the link, Chris: http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/search/label/Ratings
You’re welcome.
Chris: You also wanted me to Google NFL revenue. So I did. Check this out: http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/10/ad-revenue-down-for-nfl-games
And this one, about how NFL revenue is so bad, the league is laying off 14 percent of its staff: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081209/bs_nm/us_nfl_layoffs
You’re welcome, dude.
Oh, I love a good cyber fight.
“Who cares about pro sports, anyway?”…”a bunch of whiners fumble the ball”.
LOL. Are you for f’n real?? If you don’t have $300 to spend, turn on the TV. That’s what I do and I don’t get pissed about people that want to spend their money at Texas Stadium.
FYI…watch out for the DTV switch in February…if you’re using rabbit ears for the TV, that’ll screw ya.