The Athletic keeps growing .......

Because at least its TWO years.

 

Writing thumbsucker features on players? Sorry, no thanks. I'd like to think I have a little more ambition than that. That's what the Athletic has been - feelgood, thumbsucker features with no real impact on anything. Remember when sports staffs had some bite to them?

 

I’d like to see you do better. I’m sure you’ve won Pulitzers for your work covering Hickory High girls soccer

 

Saw a few writers from The Athletic tweet this with the latest discount offer.

They are touting after latest expansion:

* 38 markets
* 250+ full-time writers
* 40+ editors
* 750 pieces of content per week

 

I feel bad that I continue to be skeptical about the long-term outlook for The Athletic. I just keep seeing The National running through my head.

 

1. None of the numbers make any sense and watching sportswriters try to "Well actually..." explain that they do is getting a little embarrassing.
2. How they will continue to get venture capital money is a mystery. God bless, but this is not Netflix.
3. I fear the day the tech bros realize they have to cut a lot of staff they hired just to make payroll.
4. I'm still rooting for it to succeed.
5. Questioning how it doesn't add up does not mean you are a dying newspaper dinosaur who hates technology and might in fact mean you have the healthy skepticism of a journalist.

All of these things can be true.

 

I am also rooting like hell for it. I know too many good people still in the business to hope it crashes and burns. The industry needs a venture like this to succeed.

I just have little belief that it will.

 

Say what you want about The National - it boosted the careers of a lot of writers.

 

Because there was still someplace to go after it folded.

 

I just know that writers who were working beats before the National were suddenly writing daily columns after.

 

That's great. I'm just saying there aren't nearly as many columnist gigs around these days.