Nats beat writer asks blog readers to send him to spring training

I agree with Rick. This isn't charity. This is payment. It's like Radiohead's "sale" of their album in 2007. They create(d) something worthwhile. The thing is, it's worth more or less to each individual.

 

a baseball beat writer is a 'creative artist'?

that's a groundbreaking idea.

but i won't reject it out of hand. just need to ponder the strangeness of it.

 

Henry, are you saying the service and stories he provides to his readers are worth nothing? If you are, that's fine. But it's worth something — of varying degrees — to others.

 

"artist" may not be the right word, but writing a blog is clearly a creative act.

 

the market speaks - as it did when the times dropped its sports section.

i suspect there is a market for his services now because he appealed to its compassion and pity. to its sense of charity.

he has to look out for himself. and donors need to think about where money is most needed to save lives. maybe they think they're saving his life. if you can save the life of a sportswriter, i suppose that's the same as saving the life of a homeless haitian.

"Give the Gift of Hope to a Hungry Sportswriter"
"A Sportswriter's Brain is a Terrible Thing to Waste"
"Make Your Caring Count for a Homeless Sportswriter"
"Doing the Most Good. Feed a Sportswriter"

 

Again, you are casting this all wrong.

He is a writer who creates works for people's entertainment. He's saying "If you like this stuff, I can produce a lot more if you support it." And they do.

 

Outing alert: Henry is Chief of the Moral Police.

Memo to Henry: People can - and will - spend money on whatever or whomever they want, be it charity or for baseball blogs.

I'm no less a person because I haven't donated to Haitian relief, no matter what you think.

 

If I can find people who are worse off than the Haitians, everyone who donated to them should feel bad.

 

He's providing a service that costs money. Period. If people want the service, they have to pay. No different than having someone fix your sink or mow your lawn.

As for the value of spring training, I think you get more for your dollar than in the season, when travel is more expensive and everything is on TV anyway.

 

Exactly. This is what publishers need to realize. Information is still a product.

 

That committed group of readers currently numbers 235.

 

That's fine but begging doesn't seem to be a sustainable revenue model.