The Athletic keeps growing .......

Why?

 

I don't understand the hostility toward The Athletic. It has created a ton of new sports journalism jobs. In what world is that a bad thing for sports journalists? And anyone who suggests that journalists owe loyalty to their newspapers is incredibly naive. (The only exception to that, in my mind, is a newspaper that has hired back someone who had quit for what seemed to be a more glamorous job. And even then ......)

 

Only if those jobs go poof in 12 months.

 

So, it’s just like every other journalism job in the industry?

 

But if the preexisting print positions the journalists left aren't being filled, did The Athletic create new positions? Or merely move the deck chairs on the Titanic that is sports media?

I don't begrudge anyone for getting a new job, even if I'm utterly jealous. But I'm also not sure The Athletic, or any new venture, is a savior for the industry. Certainly not yet.

 

If someone goes to the Atlantic it may well save the job of someone else. At roughly the same time as DFM announcing the Denver Post staff would be reduced by one third three members of the Post's staff left for the Athletic. I don't think anyone who was left in sports got a layoff notice. Without those three leaving I think someone would have.

As for the Athletic being a savior for the industry I doubt it. I will throw this out. I think most newspapers in North America will effectively die. The largest owner of newspapers in North America is Gatehouse. They run their business in a liquidation mode. So does DFM. The management of these companies think their papers will not be around in 10-15 years. I think the management of these companies are correct in their assessment of the industry. And if they are correct a whole lot of other papers will also be dying.

I think somehow that sport journalism will survive. To many people are interested in sports. But, bluntly, how many sportswriters will be required? There are 124 teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL. I would guess there are about 120 D-I football programs. Anyone who is not on one of those beats has a hell of a good chance of seeing their job disappear.

So the Athletic provides partial relief but I think there is no savior out there.

I say this with great sadness as someone who subscribes to eight newspapers.

 

A year or two ago, I would have argued that local sports coverage would have some impact on how slowly sports journalism dies. But now I see newspapers totally ignoring local beats they once covered, and either the aggrieved parties aren't making themselves heard or nobody really cared in the first place.

 

Agree. And JMHO, but it sucks. I'd rather read features and gamers on hs teams in the newspaper than look at updates on twitter or
video on some web site.

 

For transparency sake, no sports reporters were let go. Who would be cut was already known before our three left for The Athletic. We still have open reporter spots in sports we are working to fill. Our night editor left for The Athletic and we did backfill his position with someone who was previously in a more print-focused role. Her position was being cut, but I was grateful we were able to keep her. And she's already done a wonderful job in her new position.

 

The Athletic should do it then. Wouldn’t that be great they had a site dedicated to Indiana high school basketball?

 

I remain amazed by how many really good sportswriters are now under The Athletic's umbrella.

I still won't subscribe because, at least in my city, the three hires don't break any news whatsoever. But I am edging closer to at least considering it.

 

This is intriguing to me because the idea behind the Athletic, as I understand it, is that writers don't focus as much on the day-to-day beat grind but instead focus more on big picture storytelling. That's the whole appeal, I think. If you want breaking news, there's a handful of reporters you can get that from, but few have the time to dive too deep on stories.