As many of you know WEEI re-launched its website in an attempt to be a local version of ESPN.com or Yahoo! Sports and other national sites. As part of this re-launch they have hired Rob Bradford, Mike Felger, Will Leitch and others to write articles and blog entries for weei.com. Now they want to add two more people, locals to blog about the Boston sports scene.
The “winners” will write 5 pieces a week and get paid to do it for one year in the “Next Great Sports Blogger” contest sponsored by TD BankNorth.
I wanted to let you know that “I choose not to run” and the reasons for my decision not to enter the contest.
First off I really don’t think the average everyday blogger, the true Boston sports fan who writes his or her opinions stands a snowballs chance in hell. Even though the rules prevent someone who has been paid to write for a sports site in the past it doesn’t prevent someone with a degree, fresh out of college with a writing background from entering. Someone with that experience of having been edited and molded in a college setting will be leaps and bounds above the average fan. Also it doesn’t prevent some of the comedians in waiting, guys and gals who are looking for a platform to break their career, from getting involved. Someone with comedy writing experience is in the same book as the previously mentioned possible candidates.
In the Boston blog market someone out there has the chance to be the next “Fitzy” (Nick Stevens) or the guys who do the “Red Socks Diaries” or if you listen to WEEI the Francona guy or the Bob Kraft guy those aren’t sports radio callers who are funny, they’re actual comedians looking to get noticed. That is the type of person who will win and while I don’t begrudge them the chance at launching a career I don’t think that is the intent of the contest.
The playing field will be far from level. It will look like the opening auditions of “American Idol” with the wannabe’s against the more polished writers. It can and will be ugly.
But my biggest problem lies with the judges of the event. While I highly respect Rob Bradford, the weei.com editior, and Michael Holley, who has written three books including “Patriot Reign” and was a sports writer for the Boston Globe prior to coming to WEEI, I just can not and will not allow myself to be judged by the likes of Gerry Callahan, Glenn Ordway and Mike Felger.
Callahan and Ordway are the biggest hypocrites of the bunch as they have done nothing but knock blogs and the people who write for them. Calling them many things but constantly referring to a lack of professionalism and accountability. They have no clue what a blog is, what it does, what its purpose is or how it relates to the topics it covers. Now these two assholes will be judging the very people they put down and mock openly on the air. Felger is a whole separate entity, he is just a pompous ass who is so full of himself as he constantly carries his big stick trying to stir the pot to see what shit rises to the top. He is why people loathe the media and the Boston Sports Media specifically. Just watch him on Comcast SportsNet and you can feel the smugness ooze through your television screen and onto you making you feel dirtier than if you had just watched a Mexican Donkey Show.
I just can’t bring myself to be judged by this trio. And neither should you.
This is going to be like the so-called “auditions” for the midday slot that Bob Neumeier got way back or the “sit-in” Mike Adams did. WEEI/Entercom doesn’t know an honest contest if it came and slapped it square in the face.
Good post, Steve.
And what’s bad about it too is that they are paying you a whole $9.61 before taxes instead of paying you on how many pageviews you get.
Thanks Ken.
That’s $9.61 an hour for a max of two hours a day or 10 per week. It comes out to about $5,000 before your taxes. You’re right Ian they shoudl pay on views.
I dont know shit about what’s going on in Boston, but you made your case Steve. Those judges you pointed out are douchebags.
I also want to give a shout out to my Uncle Peter…Happy 60th!!!!!
I’m going to try – why the heck not?
Blogging isn’t meant to be professional journalism….blogging is an informal way to communicate and certainly isn’t on the same level as traditional print media, and so I don’t think they’re looking for that kind of perfectionism.
I think they’re looking for someone entertaining and sportsminded – rather than someone in the industry – they don’t have to hold a contest for that. You know what I mean?
Anyway – if you choose not to enter, well – then you’re just leaving more room for someone else (like myself!) — but truthfully, you should really try if you have an interest in it.
Good luck to ya rebecca.
Personally, my problem with the contest is the fact that those 3 asshats are judging it. I have no problem whatsoever with Rob Bradford and Michael Holley as well.
I second the good luck to you Rebecca. You have a good understanding of what the contest SHOULD BE. Unfortunately as Ken said “WEEI/Entercom wouldnt know an honest contest if it slapped them in the face”.
The average Joe or Cindy is really up against it in this one especially based on who is judging you. I wish I had a catalog of the negative commrnts they have made about blogs/bloggers it would make your head spin.
Personally I hope no one enters just to show them and make a stand but I also know that won’t happen.
LOL, thanks – and i totally know what you mean Steve about their negativity on bloggers, I hear it all the time! There have been times where I’ve ranted on my blog that I think I need to boycott sports radio because they infuriate me sometimes. But, it’s the nature of the beast.
And funny thing is there’s a clause on the rules stating that you understand that you stand a chance of being ridiculed! LOL. I don’t remember it verbatim off the top of my head but I laughed out loud when I read it.
Oh I know what the ridicule is. It’s $9.61 an hour before taxes. I worked in radio for 23 years (14 with the big daddy – Clear Channel) and when you run a contest with a prize of $5,000 you get the dead presidents when you win the contest then you get a 1099 for taxes from the feds and state.
I have never, ever in my 23 years in the business seen a station or company pay a $5,000 prize out over the course of 52 weeks.
$5,000 in pocket up front could help someone out big in these tough times economically. $100 a week before taxes doesn’t do shit.
Why would people go in a contest to be able to write on a blog when they can set up a blog for free anytime they want. If they have talent people will come to their site, if they want some money for blogging then they can trow some adds up on their site. The traditional media is trying to play catchup and it is not working well. It reminds me of a company like Anheuser-Busch trying to make a microbrew.
Great post Ian, stay where you belong on your own site where you are free to go in your own direction.
Thanks Matt but I didn’t write the post. Steve did.
That’s the point too Matt. Why have a “boss” for a blog when you can be your own boss and do you what ever you want.
Good comment, Matt. It’s nice that WEEI wants to bolster its website, but to be honest, they have a lot of writers who are used to working for the man.
I like having my own blog and Steve & Ian do a great job here. There’s no need for us to work for the man because we have our own thoughts and ideas of how we want our sites to run.
I know some people who are entering the contest like Rebecca and I wish them luck. I just hope that this contest is really on the up-and-up.