Monthly Archives: March 2007
Bye George
I believe every major news and sports media organization should employ an ombudsman. They provide a valued service by being an independent observer of the work done by reporters, columnists, and editors. They also act as a liason between between the readers, listeners, and watchers and the executives at the news organization.
I applaud ESPN for employing an ombudsman. With an empire that includes interests in television, radio, printing (magazine and publishing), and the web, having someone look at how stories are handled and how reporting can be improved is a good step.
George Solomon served as ESPN’s first ombudsman. He filed his last column this week. I often read Solomon’s column and agreed with much he had to say. Although he did not have expereince in the management of a sports media organization, he was still able to offer constructive criticism and common sense ideas on to how to make ESPN a more repsonsible organization.
The level that ESPN, or any news organization, heeds the advice of their ombudsman is always left to interpretation. Solomon points out instances where he feels the executives at ESPN did a credible job in making improvements. Unfortunatley there are other areas at the Worldwide Leader that still need attention, or at the least, further examination.
The role of ombudsman now falls to Le Anne Schreiber. Here’s hoping she can provide comments as insightful as Solomon.
Taking it to the Fans
We here in New England have followed with great interest the latest venture undertaken by Curt Schilling. On March 7th Schilling took his life to cyberspace with the creation of his 38 Pitches blog.
For some reason there are some in the mainstream media (like the Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy) who feel that what Schilling is doing is self serving and ego driven. Dan is entitled to his opinion, but what is his real fear? That Schilling will use his blog to “break” news instead of giving scoops to the Globe? Welcome to the technological world we now live in, Dan!
The world of blogging has given many of us (myself included) the opportunity to become citizen journalists, or at the very least, citizen columnists with opinions to share. Its impact has increasingly impacted how the world gets its information and opinion.
Schilling has made it clear that he sometimes has problems with how he is portrayed in the media and how he would like to rectify it in through the blog:
“I don’t know that I’ll be changing my style, but I do know that getting ripped for something I say here will be getting ripped for something I actually said–with the entire contents of my comments included.”
I like the fact that Schilling has his blog. It will be a way for fans to learn what is going through the head of a professional athlete…all with no space constraints! I wish more athletes would follow suit. Even though he has a web site, can you imagine finding out what goes through Manny Ramirez’s head each day? Fascinating reading I’m sure!
I do think, however, Schilling needs to be reminded of the role the media plays in covering the team. I agree that it appears Shaughnessey has a hair up his butt about Schilling. I also believe that there are other members of the media who look for ways to make news when there is no need. That’s the unfortunate nature of the business today. But most of the other beat guys do a credible job in reporting what happens to the Sox on and off the field. They deserve respect.
Schilling should continue to use his blog to share his feelings with his fans. Heck, I’m one of them. He also needs to be mindful that by saying he is sometimes misrepresented in the press, that can be viewed as an indictment against the entire Red Sox press corps. That’s unfair.
Sports Radio Review- WEEI Boston
Welcome to the first of what will be many reviews of sports radio stations and their programs. Before we get started you may want to check out my guidelines concerning reviewing sports radio stations as well as what I like about sports radio.
I have always said that sports radio stations cater to a niche audience…you’re either a sports fan or you are not. Unlike regular talk radio, rarely are there topics discussed that attract the masses. Often sports radio ratings (12+) are at best in the middle of the pack of all stations in a market. For some reason I guess the masses in the Boston market LOVE sports radio.
WEEI has been a ratings winner for it’s owner Entercom Communications. WEEI is consistently in the top half of the ratings chart for the Boston market and was a close second in the overall ratings race last summer. Their talk shows consistently are either number one or close behind in the key advertising demographics.
So what makes WEEI so successful? Being a resident of southern New England I listen to WEEI quite often. There is no doubt that the level of sports fan interest in this area rivals or even surpasses the level of “fandamonium” in other parts of the country. It also helps that two of their pro sports teams (Red Sox and Patriots) have been at the top or nearly at the top of their sports for some time.
Another benefit WEEI possesses is it’s wide coverage area, primarily through the use of affiliate stations in the Entercom chain. WEEI programming is heard throughout the entire state of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as portions of northern and southeastern Connecticut. The potential listener-ship of WEEI is indeed expansive.
This type of ratings success must, in part, also be attributable to its programming. Entercom does own the rights to the play-by-play of the Red Sox and the Celtics, although in Boston games are carried by WEEI’s sister station, WRKO. Entercom does use its WEEI affiliates across Massachusetts and Connecticut to carry these games.
The WEEI brand is more known for its sports talk shows. It is one of the few sports radio stations in America that has a totally local line-up from 6am to 12am Monday through Friday. They also have local programming for a good portion of the weekends as well. I like that. To its credit WEEI does not cheapen its programming by relying too much on syndication.
The WEEI talk show line-up is loaded with knowledgeable and informative hosts, all with extensive media ties to the Boston market. All this experience does not necessarily translate into great sports talk radio programming. Boston sports media often find itself making news instead of reporting it. Some of the hosts at WEEI feel that talking about sports is not enough. At times their egos drive them away from what they should be doing…talking sports.
Dennis & Callahan (6am to 10am)- For much of his professional career in Boston John Dennis served as sports anchor at WHDH-TV. Gerry Callahan has been part of the Boston sports media scene on and off for over twenty years and is currently a sports columnist at the Boston Herald. The pair has been on the air for nearly ten years.
If you were to tune into Dennis & Callahan at any given moment you may find them talking about anything else BUT sports. For some reason they feel a need to stray from sports to talk about the latest news headlines. The have a daily 15 minute segment where they often take a sarcastic look at the news. Callahan especially uses this feature to espouse his conservative-leaning views. I’m sorry but there are plenty of alternatives for listeners to get their news fix. Sports radio is not supposed to be one of them.
Despite their straying, Dennis & Callahan do a credible job talking sports. They handle guest interviews well. Many of these interviews are, as others on the station, regularly scheduled paid appearances. These interviews are usually sponsored. This lends to the perception that the duo may not be as thorough as they could be in asking the tough questions. Unlike other station programs, callers are generally well received and knowledgeable.
Sports flash guy Jon Meterparel handles the sports news well, but often sounds like a little kid when he interacts with D&C. I compare it to someone who always tries to talk with the giggles.
Dale & Holley (10am to 2pm)- In my opinion the best talk show on WEEI. Dale Arnold is a native New Englander who began at WEEI when the station first launched in 1991. He also serves as one of the television play-by-play voices of the Boston Bruins. Michael Holley joined the show in 2005 after previous stints at the Boston Globe and Chicago Tribune.
This pair does a great job doing their job…focusing on talking about sports. They do not make themselves the focus of the show. When there is the usual personal banter, it never lasts long and never takes away from the sports topics of the day. Their interviews are informative and enlightening and they interact well with listeners. A truly professional program.
Mid-day flash guy Jon Wallach does an equally professional job providing sports news updates. Not much more to say. Dale & Holley epitomize what is good about sports talk radio.
The Big Show (2pm to 6pm)- The highest rated program on WEEI is also sometimes its most disappointing. Glenn Ordway brings a wealth of experience to the show he has hosted since 1995. His greatest claim to fame (before WEEI) was as the radio voice of the Celtics. He served as the last color analyst for Johnny Most and took over the play-by-play duties after Most’s retirement.
The Big Show employs a cadre of co-hosts, a pair of which sit in with Ordway each day. They are a mixture of former players and members of the Boston sports media corps. Pete Sheppard serves as both the show’s flash guy and daily participant.
Ordway is extremely knowledgeable about the Boston sports scene, and many times this shows through. In my opinion the problem with Ordway is that believes he must do more than just share his knowledge of sports with the listeners. He feels the need to constantly interrupt both his co-hosts and callers, as if he is addicted to hearing himself. The producers of the show also have no desire in credibly screening calls. The show relies on the premise that callers who bring nothing to the table are the ones listeners want to hear most. For the few callers who do make it on the air, Ordway often belittles them albeit subtly. Intelligent callers need not pick up the phone.
Unfortunately the co-hosts on the show feel they must play along with the follies of Ordway, making the show at times unbearable. The other problem with the show is that they rarely interview sports figures, save for those paid appearances.
Sheppard is portrayed as a loose cannon on the show. But when he fills in as host when Ordway is on vacation, Sheppard does a good job in bringing the focus of discussion back to sports.
The powers at be at WEEI apparently feel there is no need to change the show because the ratings prove that what Ordway does makes money. That’s fine. It’s too bad that Ordway’s potential is not more on display during the show. By taking away the petty antics, the Big Show can become a Bigger Deal to Boston sports fans.
Planet Mikey (7pm to 12am)- Mike Adams had been a semi-regular at the station for some time before given the chance to host his own show in December of 2005. Adams joins Dennis as having experience in Boston sports television.
Adams has the difficult task of attracting a sports audience which, at the time of his show, is probably watching some sporting event. By nature Adams is light-hearted, and he often falls into the Ordway model of taking the attention away from sports. He relies heavily on callers, and, when focused, handles them well. His ratings are solid, and I guess he can get away being a little kooky on the night shift.
Weekend Programming- WEEI has local programming on the weekend, which is a big plus. Even though it’s the weekend doesn’t mean people don’t want to talk sports. To its credit WEEI gives listeners that option. Craig Mustard & Larry Johnson (sorry, no link) have been filling much of the weekend programming line-up for some time and are a popular team. They work well together and spend a good amount of time interacting with callers.
In conclusion, WEEI is a ratings winner for a number of reasons, many of which I don’t necessarily agree with. Their hosts have the insight, knowledge, and potential to be really great, as long as personalities don’t get in the way. Call me old school. But I’ll continue listen…and hope.
Guidelines in Analyzing Sports Radio
We plan to give our opinions on the effectiveness of sports radio stations from around the country. In doing this, we want to let you know that we plan to take this task seriously.
To that end, we pledge:
To listen to a station for at least a three week period. We want to get a good feel about the station and its hosts. Listening to just one broadcast may not be a good indication of how the programs are conducted.
To see how the hosts conduct interviews. The best hosts are the ones who provide a good flow to their show. The good hosts handle each interview with the listener in mind. The goal should be of eliciting information, not stroking an ego.
To see how the hosts deal with callers. Good hosts know how to handle callers. The best ones will engage the knowledegable ones and ditch the ones who bring nothing to the table.
To see how the station supplements its talk shows with live sports and information. This includes the “flashes” and bringing lisetners breaking sporting news when it happens. Play-by-play falls into this category.
To make sure the hosts are not the focus of the show. The sporting events and the teams who play them should dictate the discussion. The hosts should moderate and not make the shows about themselves.
What I Like About Sports Media- 2007
As I prepare content for Sports Media Journal, I thought it would be a good idea to let you to know where I stand when it comes to how the media covers sports. (For more about the site, visit the About page.) This will be the basis of my point of view when I comment in the future. As with all opinions, these points of view are subject to change…without notice.
Newspaper and Magazine Reporting: I like when reporters report. Sounds simple? It really is. Too often sports reporters find the need to slip commentary into their stories from time to time. Their job is to tell us what happened and interview those who played/coached the game to give their opinion on why they won or lost. Period.
I also like the notes columns. These are the essence of print reporting. Just sports…no spin. This is not to say that reporters should not inject a sense of style in their pieces. You can exhibit style in writing without the need to inject sarcasm, criticism, etc.
Columnists are the ones who give us their opinions. They usually have earned the honor by first working the beats. They should have enough experience through their beat writing to provide a clear, albeit subjective, opinion on the sports topics which they cover in their piece. Many times these columnists cultivate contacts that result in exclusives the beat reporters wish they had. I like insight based on research. Many columnists are contrarians as a way to sell newspapers. That’s fine, as long as they can back up their arguments. I don’t like complainers.
By the way…despite all the technology we enjoy, I still love the feel of holding and reading the daily paper! I hope it lasts forever!
Sports Radio: Like many of you I drive to and from work listening to sports radio. Residing in Southern New England I can find many sports radio choices.
I like sports radio where the hosts talk sports. Again, this sounds simple. But there are some who feel the need to entertain rather than inform. The games themselves are the entertainment. Talk about the games and the people who play them. I don’t want sophomoric attitudes and drivel along with it. The best talk show hosts are the ones who give their opinions and mix in interviews and callers. That is what sports radio is all about. It is not meant to be flashy. It is a niche industry. If sports radio GM’s think they should be #1 in a market, then they are in for some disappointment. That only happens in Boston.
Radio Play-by-Play:The one thing that drives me batty is, again, the need for announcers to entertain. It’s a game! Let the action do the talking! I like radio announcers to accurately describe the action and for the analysts to tell us why a play developed a certain way. Keep the sound effects and and catchphrases for your friends.
Television Sports Reporting:You can probably guess where I’m going with this. The greatest thing about Sportscenter is that they have so many resources to do a professional job that there is no need for the “Boo-Ya’s” to get in the way. Show me the highlights. Let the analysts tell me why a team won. Give me the interviews. ESPN has done a better job of late doing just that.
Local television sports reporting unfortunately has suffered because of the emergence of ESPN and the Internet. I can’t tell you the last time I watched a local sports report. That’s too bad.
Television Play-by-Play: I don’t need to repeat myself do I? Good.
I like the technological innovations television has made in bringing more action to the tube. Where would we be today with the “Fox Box”? I find myself searching for it while watching the rebroadcast of the 1974 Rose Bowl. How much time is left in this game! Yikes! The first down marker and the placement of cameras in different locations to provide another point of view is fantastic. High definition will soon take all of us to places we wish we were all along.
Sports Web Sites: The future (at least in the short run) is here. If you do not have an Internet presence, you are not credible. In terms of the sports reporting websites, all of my points made earlier apply as well. Just because you use technology, doesn’t give you the right to become sloppy. Being able to read about an event the instant it is over (or, in many cases now, while it is taking place through live blogging) is an information junkie’s dream. Count me in!
What I envision will happen (and maybe should) is that newspapers with a web presence will soon be charging for content found in the hard copy version of the paper. Papers claim they are losing subscribers because they get their information from the newspaper’s web site. It is logical for them to charge for the right to read that material. Before the web you had to buy the paper to read the columns. Same thing here.
Sports Blogging: The world of weblogs has made everyone potential citizen journalists. I like the fact that anyone can use technology to spew forth their opinion on anything. The corresponding dialogue (via comments) allows for interaction and debate. I don’t like that these sites are sometimes viewed as “legitimate” reporting organizations. When “news” breaks on these sites, it is usually concerning an athlete’s personal life. On a rare occassion a blog will report a REAL SPORTS story, but usually it’s about an athlete having run-ins with the law; dealing with a drug problem; or facing personal issues at home. Although these events can have an impact on a player’s performance, (or future with the team) sometimes they are best left for the gossip pages (see Tom Brady).
Sports blogs are what they are…a narrowcasting of opinion. That includes Sports Media Journal.
