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Re: Players cop a blogging - not from this site, or do we?
Great response there FK and spot on.
Whilst Robbo's article is spot on about internet forum's being a truly annonymous means for people to take pot shots at players and officials, what he fails to acknowledge is a fundemental reason why people flock to these sites, including journalists themselves. Its not simply because people want to be able to extend talking footy to beyond the workplace, schoolyard or pub, but largely because the discussions generated on sites like Woof are generally not subject to the same rules as journalists are subject too.....and I'm not referring to the rules relating to defamation, but to the rules governing the relationships which journalists have with clubs, officials and players.
In 1997 in the post match interview to the WB's R1 loss to Freo at Optus Oval, Rohan Connolly asked Terry Wallace whether the loss would have signifciant ramifications for the future of the football club (or something to that effect). Wallace's reactions was annoyance and dismissive and effectively said to Connolly if you keep asking cr*p like that he would be effectively blackballed by the club. In 1997 as a sports writer Connolly's livelihood depended upon him maintaining a relationship with all of the 10 Victorian based clubs. Failure to do so would have significantly affected his ability to write articles for The Age. His suggestion that the loss could have a significant impact on the financial future of the WB was a real issue, but one which was quelled by Wallace. Hence, his critical and indpendent journalism was compromised.
Forum's represent direct competition for journalists like Connolly. Forum's however do not have these limitations. People who watch games or go to training or see players out in the public arena come on here to provide information to interested viewers/readers, but in most cases without the limitation of having to maintain a close relationship with the club. Forum's also provide a very current medium for the diseminiation of information to a wide range of people. If you take this board for example you have people from all walks of like, from all States of Australia and a number of us who reside abroad who come here for tit bits and gossip about the Bulldogs and their players. We come here because we know that the information we receive is often going to be more incisive, often no less accurate, but importantly much more timely than other forms of media. Where did you hear first that Ayce Cordy had done his shoulder......as reported in today's Herald-Sun?
Yes there is the negative aspect, the annonymous blogger who rants and raves and piles cr*p on every player in the team.....much like that annoying pessimistic bloke/lady at the footy always does. On this site we are relatively lucky, the discussion's generated are typically of a high standard and where there is criticism of players it is usually not personal criticism, but constructive. I think that's a real positive which our mod's enforce, but moreover something which allof us who post here recognise as a key part of making the Woof Board a place where discussion reigns supreme and rarely (if ever ) degenerates into mudslinging, name-calling etc.
In 1997 in the post match interview to the WB's R1 loss to Freo at Optus Oval, Rohan Connolly asked Terry Wallace whether the loss would have signifciant ramifications for the future of the football club (or something to that effect). Wallace's reactions was annoyance and dismissive and effectively said to Connolly if you keep asking cr*p like that he would be effectively blackballed by the club. In 1997 as a sports writer Connolly's livelihood depended upon him maintaining a relationship with all of the 10 Victorian based clubs. Failure to do so would have significantly affected his ability to write articles for The Age. His suggestion that the loss could have a significant impact on the financial future of the WB was a real issue, but one which was quelled by Wallace. Hence, his critical and indpendent journalism was compromised.
Forum's represent direct competition for journalists like Connolly. Forum's however do not have these limitations. People who watch games or go to training or see players out in the public arena come on here to provide information to interested viewers/readers, but in most cases without the limitation of having to maintain a close relationship with the club. Forum's also provide a very current medium for the diseminiation of information to a wide range of people. If you take this board for example you have people from all walks of like, from all States of Australia and a number of us who reside abroad who come here for tit bits and gossip about the Bulldogs and their players. We come here because we know that the information we receive is often going to be more incisive, often no less accurate, but importantly much more timely than other forms of media. Where did you hear first that Ayce Cordy had done his shoulder......as reported in today's Herald-Sun?
Yes there is the negative aspect, the annonymous blogger who rants and raves and piles cr*p on every player in the team.....much like that annoying pessimistic bloke/lady at the footy always does. On this site we are relatively lucky, the discussion's generated are typically of a high standard and where there is criticism of players it is usually not personal criticism, but constructive. I think that's a real positive which our mod's enforce, but moreover something which allof us who post here recognise as a key part of making the Woof Board a place where discussion reigns supreme and rarely (if ever ) degenerates into mudslinging, name-calling etc.
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