Front Page Story

[JPonder94]

So I don't wanna toot my own horn... but I will anyway.

I spent a lot of time on the story posted on the main page. Its titled "Give Us a Chance" and it is about press passes and credentials being given to "bloggers" or average sporting websites, such as letsgoblues.com. I really want some feedback on this story, involving your thoughts and ideas. This is a very serious subject for me (and many other people that we all know and have heard of), so anything from you would be a tremendous help. If you agree in anyway with what I wrote, please help me get the word out and make this something that may push the NHL and many other sports organizations in the right direction.

Thanks guys and I look forward to anything you have to say.

[Winning Unlimited]

Someone wants free tickets

The biggest problem for bloggers is inherent; any idiot can create a site, start writing, call themselves a blogger, and try to get a press pass. The good bloggers deserve the higher credentials, certainly. The best ones will find a way to get their foot in the door, and stay there!

[JPonder94]

Someone wants free tickets

The biggest problem for bloggers is inherent; any idiot can create a site, start writing, call themselves a blogger, and try to get a press pass. The good bloggers deserve the higher credentials, certainly. The best ones will find a way to get their foot in the door, and stay there!

I definitely agree; I made a comment on Ted Leonsis' blog that said the bloggers that are accepted as media members need to go through a thorough screening process. Not only interviews, but reviewing much of their content, background checks, etc.

The problem is that with many teams being so restrictive, its hard for the good bloggers to get their foot in the door. I am working on my degree, but getting my foot in the door as a blogger is very tough.

[Winning Unlimited]

Don't forget, this is a business. The teams look at bloggers and think, how can we profit off of these guys? THe people most likely to read blogs are the hardcore fans anyway, so my suggestion would be to find a way to target an audience that isn't, well, us.

[cprice12]

There is no reason why a team such as the Blues couldn't screen bloggers for press passes. I would expect them to have a process if they were to allow bloggers press passes.
Absolutely they should have standards because, yes, any idiot can start a site and call themselves a blogger.

[210]

When the IceCats were in Worcester, I wasn't press credentialed but pretty much had full press access to anything happening at home games, practices, etc...I had no access at road games in the arena, but because in the AHL the player exits are pretty accessible to fans I was able to get to the players by doing that and since the players knew me it became a running joke.

With the Sharks in town I had to be cleared through San Jose to have press access, and since I write for a blog SJ has credentialed in their arena since 1999 I had no problems, and now the same teams/organizations that denied me press access in their arenas when the IceCats were in town don't even blink in giving me press credentials in their arena.

[Nyghtewynd]

Then again, once you have that sort of access (especially if you're an average person who saves a bunch of money with press access), you're pretty much under the team's control. You start criticizing the wrong people, you get threatened with loss of access. And unlike the dinosaur media sources, you don't have the megaphone or the name to prevent it from happening.

[210]

Then again, once you have that sort of access (especially if you're an average person who saves a bunch of money with press access), you're pretty much under the team's control. You start criticizing the wrong people, you get threatened with loss of access. And unlike the dinosaur media sources, you don't have the megaphone or the name to prevent it from happening.

I've found that if you criticize a player or a member of hockey operations and present a logical case for your opinion you'll be OK...simply writing that someone sucks or should be fired in a posting that looks like it should be written in crayon will cause you issues.

[cprice12]

Then again, once you have that sort of access (especially if you're an average person who saves a bunch of money with press access), you're pretty much under the team's control. You start criticizing the wrong people, you get threatened with loss of access. And unlike the dinosaur media sources, you don't have the megaphone or the name to prevent it from happening.

I've found that if you criticize a player or a member of hockey operations and present a logical case for your opinion you'll be OK...simply writing that someone sucks or should be fired in a posting that looks like it should be written in crayon will cause you issues.

It all comes down to voicing your opinions in a well thought out and professional manner. As long as you have the facts to back up your opinion and you don't come off as a whiney blow-hard, you should be fine...but you never know I guess.

[210]

Then again, once you have that sort of access (especially if you're an average person who saves a bunch of money with press access), you're pretty much under the team's control. You start criticizing the wrong people, you get threatened with loss of access. And unlike the dinosaur media sources, you don't have the megaphone or the name to prevent it from happening.

I've found that if you criticize a player or a member of hockey operations and present a logical case for your opinion you'll be OK...simply writing that someone sucks or should be fired in a posting that looks like it should be written in crayon will cause you issues.

It all comes down to voicing your opinions in a well thought out and professional manner. As long as you have the facts to back up your opinion and you don't come off as a whiney blow-hard, you should be fine...but you never know I guess.

That really the key word right there...write like a professional and LOOK like a professional, and you'll be OK.