I share with you the links at the top of this post. This was just some of the excellent work as a result of Blogger's Day at Nationals Park on Saturday. And while Nats News Network will provide a slideshow of the sights of the day a little later, I think it's important to discuss the process, effect, and potential outcome of the day in addition to the fine work displayed by my internet writer colleagues.
There are all kinds of blogs. In this space, we try to concentrate on giving you the news and offer some opinion on what happened and why. Soon, we'll be rolling out a spin-off, Nats News Network: Off the Field, which will concentrate on the public and community relations aspect of the team, plus the human interest side of the players.
In the Natosphere, there are stat-driven blogs, fan blogs and photography blogs. There are blogs that center on the female perspective, blogs dedicated to individual players, and blogs dedicated to mascots. There are blogs affiliated with national networks of bloggers, and single-person outlets. Some try to be funny, others try to be ironic. Some of us post multiple times a day, and some that post once a month.
Be you sycophant or cynic, the thing everyone in the Natosphere shares is a passion for the Washington Nationals.
We all add to the discourse and consumption of the Washington Nationals, just like the professional publications do. There are two things that separate bloggers from "the press": editorial process and access. The editorial process has long been a primary concern of Major League Baseball and it's Advanced Media department (MLBAM), which governs its electronically published content.
The access issue is a two-fold concern: Teams are concerned about security and papers are concerned about exclusivity.
But the newspaper industry has significantly changed how it covers sports, and baseball specifically. Because of the six-month season, travel expenses are outrageous and news outlets simply cannot afford to have multiple writers on a beat. Papers are limited to the number of columnists they can employ as well, so "value added" content suffers just as the daily exposure does.
In addition, most papers also now require their beat reporters to maintain their own blogs in addition to writing game stories and the occasional research piece. While the folks at the Post and the Times do a mostly excellent job covering the team, they need to tailor their work to a very broad audience. Their work must make sense to the neophyte as well as the sophisticate. It's a tough job.
Internet writers write about what they are interested in, and how they feel about it. It's the great thing about writing a blog...you are you own editor. That is also a tough job, especially since most bloggers are also fans. We want the team to win; not because it makes a better story, but because it makes us feel better writing it.
But because we are fans, it does not mean our opinions are any less valid than the professional writers. Since we do not have to cater our writing to any specific audience, we can be as detailed and in-depth as we like, on any topic that we like.
As I have related to many of the other internet writers that attended on Saturday, I think it was a great experience for those of us that attended, but it was an even greater experience for those that hosted. I was left with the impression that the team was surprised, maybe amazed, that there are so many diverse and talented independent outlets covering the Washington Nationals.
Eventually, the people that are going to be providing the bulk of coverage and dialogue about their product are going to be independent electronic sources, and the team seems genuinely interested in getting out front and developing a strategy for integrating these independent electronic sources into how they conduct business.
It won't happen overnight, but it will happen. Many other sports already invite and credential bloggers and internet writers into their press boxes and locker rooms (myself included), and baseball will have to eventually follow suit.
As for giving independent bloggers that type of access, if there is an application process and code of conduct, and a particular outlet is willing to meet and adhere to those qualifications as those in traditional media are required to, then bloggers should be given that type of access if they so choose, to be able to better cover the team.
The Nationals hope to have another event for bloggers later this season, so hopefully those that did not participate Saturday will have that opportunity in the near future.
I think the goal for all parties involved should be the same: improving the quality and quantity of coverage of the team, and developing a strategic method for promoting and distributing that information.
Saturday was a big step in that direction.
Remember this: an educated consumer is a better customer.
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