Off Wing Opinion: Selling The NHL To The Print Media

Off Wing Opinion: Selling The NHL To The Print Media:

If I’m the NHL, I’m flying in a few writers � the hockey guy, a features guy and at least one big stud columnist � from every major metropolitan newspaper that isnt covering the Stanley Cup Finals. I’m putting them up in a great hotel, and giving them a tote bag full of food, booze and hockey swag that’ll make them the envy of the newsroom.

There’s only one problem. Most newspapers have strict rules about reporters accepting this kind of thing from teams, to avoid any pretense of conflict of interest.

Do you think entertainment reporters seriously want to write about the latest Tim Allen film? Do you think there’s an audience clamoring for coverage of the live-action “Underdog: The Movie?” Of course not.

Actually, there’s a huge audience for things like that. I know people involved in the production of web sites that deal with this kind of “entertainment” schtick, and the reality is, they get huge traffic and amazing amounts of advertising revenue.

There is, in fact, a reason why there’s been wall to wall Paris Hilton coverage recently, while the Stanley Cup has been relatively ignored; it’s because every time Paris Hilton burps, servers reporting on it melt down from the traffic.

Sad? I guess it depends on your perspective (but I agree, yes, very sad — as a metaphor of society’s overall priorities) — but true.

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  • http://www.thefourthperiod.com Greg Wyshynski

    Accepting what kind of thing, Chuqui? If it’s the swag, there are rules in place at some papers, but ultimately it’s usually up to the reporters to follow them. I’m the kind of guy who’s weary of taking free food at an event; others are a little more liberal with their acceptance of perks.
    If it’s the charter flight, go back and read the original piece — the editor from the Tampa Tribune suggested that, not me.
    But, as always, thanks for the linkage.

  • Chuq

    sorry, eric. you’re correct. bad editing on my part.

  • http://offwing.com Eric McErlain

    This quote is very misleading. Those lines are from an article by Greg Wyshynski that I quoted from, not my own words.