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About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with

Right Under Your Nose
2008-06-21 22:18
by Jon Weisman

The Times, which has some pretty thoughtful blogs in its stable, offers in Sunday's editions a lengthy piece by David Wharton that strongly suggests sports blogs have finally started cleaning up their act - once again operating under the assumption that every blog was gossipy trash in need of janitorial. Lip service is barely paid to the idea that most sports blogs have had integrity long before a site like Deadspin even came into existence, or that there are newspapers out there that can outshame almost any blog.

If I were the Kamenetzky brothers, who bust their humps on at least three local websites - two under the Times umbrella - I'd be seriously offended.

Guess what: If you want to write about blogs like Deadspin - that is, blogs that offer a spicier brand of quality but quality nonetheless - feel free. But the ongoing preoccupation with those blogs just reminds us that given the opportunity, newspapers are at least as eager to focus on the sensational as anyone else. If that's the case, so be it - but don't act as if you're above it all. At the risk of being self-serving, it speaks volumes that a site like mine - though it hardly has to be mine, because there are plenty of others to choose from in Los Angeles - can operate right in the Times' hometown and not earn a mention in an article about sports blogging. Mainstream newspapers and writers claim to want integrity in sports blogging, but when it's right in front of their face, they don't find it particularly worthwhile to talk about, do they?

Comments
2008-06-21 22:44:25
1.   Bob Timmermann
Nelson Muntz would say to Wharton:

"Hah hah! Your medium is dying!"

2008-06-21 23:03:23
2.   Linkmeister
Considering that the Times had a business blogger forced out for sockpuppetry (promoting his blog under a false name at other sites) a couple of years ago, were I the editors I'd steer clear of criticizing blogs too much.

The irony was, he (I can't remember his name) wrote a pretty useful blog.

And as you say, Jon, the Blue Notes/Lakers Blog guys have a right to be offended.

2008-06-21 23:10:59
3.   Bob Timmermann
Michael Hitzlik used a sock puppet.
2008-06-22 01:06:37
4.   Andrew Shimmin
When the only people still coming to the church are choir members, you preach to them. Day in, day out, the best section of the L.A. Times is the Fry's ad.
2008-06-22 07:56:43
5.   Suffering Bruin
The last paragraph of this post should be required reading for every "journalist" in the newspaper/television world.
2008-06-22 09:19:25
6.   The Trolley Dodger
I think the Times succeeded in at least one respect -- it got the biggest Dodger blogger to link to its story on blogging. Pageviews are pageviews no matter who owns the site.
2008-06-22 09:21:13
7.   Jon Weisman
6 - Sometimes, you have to break some eggs. Anyway, the story is splashed across the front page of the sports section - page views that I provided won't make that much of a difference.
2008-06-22 09:34:35
8.   The Trolley Dodger
7 True.

After seeing more and more dead media "articles on blogging" lately, I think we're moving into the "fight" stage in Gandhi's "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win" progression. :)

2008-06-22 10:11:31
9.   Vishal
jon, the fact is, your dodger coverage is immensely superior to theirs; why would they want to point out the good sports blogs that would render their sports section mostly irrelevant?

when they're trotting out bill plaschke and you're actually writing thoughtful and quality articles, it doesn't make sense for them to direct their readers over to a better product.

2008-06-22 10:40:22
10.   Michael Green
It's sad. Here in Las Vegas, we have a liberal blog that has more legitimate reporting than our main local paper does, and the editor of that paper thinks blogs are evil. He ought to look in the mirror, just as some of the Times folks should. I can tell you, friends I have told about this corner of the net have said this is the best Dodger coverage they see, bar none.
2008-06-23 20:17:41
11.   3rd gen yankee fan
Here, here.
2008-06-24 10:06:56
12.   lurkingdodger
I didn't know people still refer to mainstream media for information....? [LOL]

They fail to recognize your blog, Jon, because it is better quality than they are capable of performing. You see? Why would they steer people towards a BLOG that is of higher quality than is produced in their print news?

They fear bloggers, because the best, smartest, most productive blogger, is, in my opinion, superior than the most fervent of mainstream writers.

Their time is dwindling, and it pisses them off that their ol' boys club is being swallowed by free enterprise.

Suck it LA Times.

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