This Started Off As A Comment
... and then it just kept going.
So, the RWD World Headquarters has moved up the highway, inching closer and closer to Duluth. At this rate, we'll be living there by... oh, 2041. So I didn't just ABANDON you all like I normally do, I actually was CUT OFF FROM THE INTERNET. Well, sort of. Because I used the internet a little during my CS class on Tuesday, but that doesn't count. It would be rude to blog during class. I can only write emails and check Gameday.
SPEAKING OF BLOGGING, over at the Blogger Hottie of the Year's site, he talks about some sort of Hockey Blogging Code. Well, they're really more like guidelines.
Chris says "There seems to be two schools of thought in bloggyworld. The first is that blogs don't need the same type of mainstream access to coaches and players that the regular media has. This lack of access helps give them the freedom to say whatever they want and not have to worry about pissing off anybody important. It's an interesting idea, and works quite well for a lot of sites. The other school of thought is that blogs are a legitimate form of media and should be treated the same as mainstream media."
Hello, I think we know which category I fall into over here. There is nothing legitimate about this site, and don't let anyone tell you any different! Clearly, I fall into the former category, because I mostly write fiction, half-truths, and LIES LIES LIES.
But for those of you who might be interested in just what would make this site (or any site) legit, he lists the set of criteria, created by some dude I've never heard of because he's probably a real journalist.
1. Email Media Relations at least 3 days before an event.That's like the only thing on this list I could do. And they'd probably think it was spam.
2. Don't publish objectionable content.
I published content that offended my own grandpa. I lose.
3. Be in operation for at least 3-6 months.
Oh, I guess I did that. We're coming up on 4-8 times that many months.
4. Submit traffic data.
I have a few unpaid tickets from when I was still living in Champaign. But I also had illegal plates on my car at the time.
5. You have to interact with players and coaches and write something about the game.
I'm sure the players already have taken out restraining orders on me. Hey guys, if you haven't, better hop to it!
Rumor has it I do occasionally write "something" about a "game."
6. You have to act professionally.
Did you see me at the Final Five last year?
Because I'm pretty sure no professional people do that.
I don't think I'm going to make the cut. I can't even behave myself in a suite.
But that's fine, because I'm not suffering through "Programming in C" so I can be a SPORTSWRITER.
4 comments:
You have a World Headqurters? I never thought of that. What are the tax implications?
Those rules weren't for everyone. Just people that were interested in applying for press passes to go to games.
I had very poor word choice with what I wrote. I didn't mean to make it sound like blogs that chose the route of having no access aren't legitimate. The two blogs that I read the most(MGoBlog and Deadspin) both strongly believe in not having any sort of insider access, and it works out great for them. There's a lot of great sites like that.
I just meant that some sites would like to have the same type of access as traditional media sites, because there are a lot of sites out there that do as good or better at covering teams that more traditional sites. But in order to do that better, they need to be treated the same as the mainstream media. Setting up ground rules to issue press passes is a huge step towards being seen as equal.
In all honesty, I probably wouldn't apply for press passes if I was just covering Mankato, and I probably won't apply for many Mankato games. Being a beat writer for your favorite team kind of sucks because you miss out on being a fan. I'm just excited because now I can go to more hockey games, and hopefully have better overall coverage thanks to this.
Whoa whoa whoa...
Remember this site is all lies. Or sarcasm.
My whole point is, I don't want to be "legitimate" and I like to drive that home to people. Sorry if it came off sounding offended or anything. I totally agree that now that blogging as a medium is taken seriously (or mocked horrifically, in my case), bloggers who want to should be able to have the same access as the traditional media. And those guidelines are TOTALLY NECESSARY so that people who just want free tickets or write horrible crap aren't cheating the system.
Fear not, the post was all in fun. I love what I do, how I do it, and I wouldn't want it any other way. That's all I meant.
The World Headquarters is necessary because there are RWD correspondents all over the country, as well as internationally.
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