An Open Letter To Murray Chass
by WiHaloFan on Mar 24, 2009 4:41 PM PDT
in Angels News
Email
Print
"The times they are a-changin'..."
Murray Chass is a fantastic writer, having covered the Yankees and baseball for the New York Times for over 40 years. Elected to the writers' wing of the Hall of Fame in December of 2003, Mr. Chass continues his outstanding career writing columns on his website MurrayChass.com. (you can read his entire biography here).
I don't have a problem with Mr. Chass, in fact I have the utmost respect for him and his writing abilities, but I have a hard time swallowing his attitude about bloggers and the future of internet reporting. Mr. Chass writes on his website, "This is a site for baseball columns, not for baseball blogs. The proprietor of the site is not a fan of blogs. He made that abundantly clear on a radio show with Charley Steiner when Steiner asked him what he thought of blogs and he replied, “I hate blogs.”".
Dear Mr. Chass-
I read your column regularly and enjoy your work, and I admire you for being the only old-school newspaper guy to have the guts to express your opinions publicly. However, it's a shame you have decided you're above the rest of us, as you could easily be at the forefront of historic times. If you were to step-up and identify yourself with the millions of other bloggers and lead us into the next phase of sports journalism, or should I say journalism itself, you may well be remembered as the spear-tip of a new era.
We bloggers are the future of sports reporting. While I lack the talent to be thought of as the future "Murray Chass", there are many who write with the same passion and excellence that you've shown throughout your career that will step-up to become the next era of sports reporters. As these times evolve, and the brick-and-mortar establishments continue to shut their doors, it will be the blogs (like this one) that will feed the sports reader's appetites with the information they crave.
As you already know, the newspaper industry as we know it is dying and there's nothing anyone can do about it. At the end of the 19th century, New York City had 15 newspapers serving a population of a little over 2 million people. As the years went on, the weaker newspapers with lower circulation (readers) either merged with other papers or shut down. As the current internet era progresses, we are going to see the same thing happen to blogs. There are millions of blogs, covering everything from making cookies to nuclear medicine. The weaker of those will be swept up in the internet's version of natural selection. The blogs with good content will continue to grow, likely to be bought and/or merged with other sites, just as the smaller newspapers from the early 20th century were merged together, and those that provide weak content will die due to lack of readership. I'm not saying newspapers will vanish completely. There will always be a need for printed media, whether it is libraries, businesses or a doctor's waiting room. But the world as we know it in regards to newspapers and magazines is changing. Why fight it? With your experience and knowledge you could become a leader in this new era by mentoring the new reporters and writers, instead of distancing yourself from us. As more and more newspapers shut their doors, the internet will be flooded with writers looking to continue their careers. Where will they go, what will they become? Blogs and bloggers.
While I agree there is no substitute for experience, and I feel education, in regards to writing, doesn't have the effect on the quality of work a writer produces as much as a lot of people think. Take myself for example. As you've probably already noticed, I am limited by my minimal talent. For example, I could take years of lessons to become educated in music, and one day possibly play a very nice rendition of "Greensleeves", however I'd be wasting my time if I wanted to be taken seriously as a musician if I didn't have a God-given ability to play an instrument. The same for my writing. After taking many writing classes and spending years gaining writing experience, my work would be more "polished", but without talent, it'd be like polishing a turd. You would be better served claiming you're more talented than most of the bloggers you're competing with and there'd be no argument. And it will be the blogs who employee writers with talent who will survive, becoming the next generation of reporters.
I completely understand your reluctance to being called a "blogger" as you've been an award winning writer for over 40 years. To be called a "blogger" gives the impression of being an amateur, or new to the writing gig. Everyone has heard the stereotype view of a blogger; The kid in his mother's basement spewing posts, "with no experience, no credibility and no accountability." Maybe you would feel better with a different moniker other than "blogger".
You've had a career which anyone would be extremely proud of, but your legacy could the father of internet reporting if you were to embrace the future rather than being the crusty, old curmudgeon who yells, "Hey you kids, get off of my lawn". You're already in the pool; you may as well admit you're wet.
Respectfully-
Jim Gardner
I have no idea what the future will look like after the transition from news on paper to news online. Small, hand-held digital renditions of newspapers will probably be the next big step in delivering the daily news (something like this maybe?). Whatever the method, the change is coming and the Murray Chass' of this generation should embrace that change rather than fight it. Halo's Heaven and the other blogs on the SB Nation website are in a prime position to take over the sports reporting hole that will need to be filled when newspapers continue to fold. As internet sports' reporting continues to evolve, this new era is on the horizon. In an email from Mat Gleason (Rev Halofan), "I saw this coming but now see it happening, like driving toward a rain cloud on a highway, now we are in the middle of the storm and when it breaks we will see the rainbow. I am totally happy to have you along for the ride."
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.
-Bob Dylan
28 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Agree
There is a general resistance to blogs by many of what I will call “staple figures” in American news media. It is understandable. Blogs have no one accountability and are often blatantly bias. However, as media changes, there are certain methods by which one can differentiate between a credible blog and the rants of a crazy loon (which can be great too sometimes!).
I think Chass’ is another case of an older generation not understanding the so-called “new media” so they immediately dismiss it. We generally dismiss that which we don’t understand.
There is no doubt that whatever new media will be, via Kindle or some other form, blogs will continue to play a vital role in how we obtain our news and information. Many major news stories are first broken via blogs already.
Great post. I don’t blame Chass’ though. Think about it: PC’s didn’t even exist when he first went to work. So much has changed, its probably too overwhelming for the guy.
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Mar 23, 2009 10:04 AM PDT reply actions
the irony, of course
is his site technically is a blog, whether he wants to call it something else or not. I don’t think its worth kissing his ass to attempt to get him on board with the blog revolution. He’s already shown his disregard for it, and with a few exceptions (hello, Peter Gammons) you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. We don’t need a crusty old reporter to bring credibility to this format. The best bloggers have already done that.
I feel similarly.
While he’s got points on some subjects, his talking-down to those of us who have the temerity to write what we think about sports without employment at a major newspaper leaves a lot to be desired.
I think it’s hilarious that he slams bloggers and Red Sox fans for profanity use, yet cheers Bissinger’s HBO rant.
~Till the Halo burns out...
The dinosaur media was already on the way out.
The current economy has hastened their fate. Thrashing and flailing at seeing their fate…extinction-in-waiting.
Teh Irony
is that without his “credential” to have access o the club he is just another blogger, but as most of the Dinosaur Media, he has never maximized the value of that credential to enlighten his readers, just used it as a method to create space between him and the competition.
I generally agree, but can't quite figure why the lack of enlightening readers.
About 10 years ago, I bought some old issues of Life magazine from a neighbor. The were from early 1942 to 1948 or thereabouts (the war and post-WWII years).
I was stunned at the quality of the writing. Even the commercials were better written that most “news” reporting of today.
The print media used to offer an excellent product. I am not sure how/when this changed, and more importantly why the change occured. But most of the product I see offered today is contrived garbage. The emphasis on “celebrity” is a neon sign flashing general intellectual laziness.
Adios amigos.
He refers to himself in the 3rd person. Nice.
Arrogance Meter just went off the charts. Not even enough humility to give it the old “your correspondent” journalist thing.
You pushed the "rant" button
For the most part, I put Murray Chass in the same “you damn kids get off my lawn” file that includes other cranky old-timey baseball personalities such as Joe Morgan and Tim McCarver. That’s not really fair, because Murray actually has interesting things to say sometimes, whereas Joe and Tim are the reasons I watch Fox and ESPN broadcasts on mute. Still, his irrational blog hate and overblown fear that sabermetrics and fantasy baseball will outcast the great American past-time into the dull and soulless realm of numbers and spreadsheets is just plain annoying. Grown men still living in mom’s basement, geeks at the computer all day, it’s all been said before, and better. Now it’s just cliché.
Murray Chass presumes to know how the game of baseball should be enjoyed, and further declares that anyone who doesn’t conform to his model must not really appreciate it. Please. No one believes that numbers play baseball. They can, however, let fans enjoy the game in contexts other than spectatorship. They give people tools to measure performance, to compare their subjective experiences with more impersonal judgments, and of course—what fans love the most—to praise or criticize their favorite team’s progress (or lack thereof) for swinging at too many breaking balls or not throwing enough strikes. All of this can be done by anyone with a computer, at home, at any time of day, essentially for free—and not just by those privileged few beat reporters who happen to have clubhouse connections and a personal booth in the press box.
I don’t have a problem that Murray doesn’t like blogs or stats. I wish he didn’t have a problem with the fact that I do, because his criticism seems mostly empty. I am old enough to remember life before the Internet, and I think there is some valid reason for concern about younger people who have grown up believing that Facebook and Blogspot mean that everyone cares about their life, their opinion, their prom pictures, etc. etc. but sports blogs? That’s the great anarchic front of the twenty-first century? Maybe if the dumbass “analysis” that passes for journalism on Sportscenter and MLBN wasn’t so godawful, I wouldn’t feel so compelled to get my baseball information from blogs. Blogs like Murray’s.
Until then, I maintain that Joe Morgan, Tim McCarver, Jon Kruk, Steve Phillips, Kevin Kennedy, and other purveyors of vapid “such and such needs to step up” pseudo-analysis are the real villains of baseball journalism. Give me something worth listening to—not sound bites—and you might surprised to find me listening.
by Suboptimal on Mar 24, 2009 10:38 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
People like you are the reason newspapers will go under
Well thought out and well written.
email me; jim at thehaloislit dot com
I was uncool before uncool was cool.
Perfect
Until then, I maintain that Joe Morgan, Tim McCarver, Jon Kruk, Steve Phillips, Kevin Kennedy, and other purveyors of vapid "such and such needs to step up" pseudo-analysis are the real villains of baseball journalism
That’s a drinking game right there, Watch baseball tonight and take a shot everytime someone says “Need to step up”, “key to victory”, or “x-factor”.
by Graham Filler on Mar 25, 2009 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Rule 313
No deep philosophical discussions about the “Man” vs “The Bloggers.”
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
But...
But… you are “The Man”.
I know.
So… you’re sticking it to yourself?
Maybe.
Angels fan since '67
Are you high?
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
by vladtheimpaler on Mar 26, 2009 1:40 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't disagree with the general idea...
…and I’m usually not a spelling nazi or anything, but the “your wet” part at the end kind of made me cringe. That’s the sort of thing a newspaper guy will point to and say “See! See! I told you bloggers were dumb.”
But, yeah, Chass is a twit.
Chass had an editor for years
He posts and edits and re-posts if you pay close attention to his site, some of his syntax is terrible.
Visiting from LetsGoTribe.
You were way too nice to Chass. He’s a decent writer but nothing special. He’s a very capable reporter. He’s a horrible, retrograde analyst, which (like most old-guard sportswriters) does not stop him from offering analysis by the bucket. His head-entirely-submerged-in-sand approach to the subject of media upheaval is, in this respect, no different from his often clueless points about baseball. The writer’s wing of the HOF is greatly diminished by his presence.
Murray Chass has a blog now, just like you and I have our blogs. There is little if anything to separate him from us in status, and the market will eventually rule as to who is “better.” He may be too ignorant — willfully ignorant — to realize that he’s a blogger, but he is a blogger nonetheless.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Devil's advocate here
First, let me state that am 53 and have been a voracious newspaper reader for most of my adult life. The advent of the internet allowed me read newspapers from across the country. I loved getting the perspective from New York or Boston on a game that was previously unavailable.
The problem with newspapers disappearing isn’t with the columnists as much as it is with hard news, especially local. In it’s first generation, bloggers were basically amatuer columnists. As stated a couple of times above, some were very good and some were clueless. The basic difference between what newspapers put out and what comes out of blogs is fact checking. As blogs progress into reporting facts on local events such as town meetings, HS games, etc., the void that has been created by newspaper cost cutting is beginning to be filled.
Newspapers are not going out of business because of blogs. Newspapers are going out of business because they could not figure out how to sustain income. Most people are unwilling to pay for a newpaper online. And if the newspaper is available online for free, why have it delivered and clutter my recycle bin week after week.
Now, most newspapers are beginning to embrace blogging. The LA Times has a number of excellent blogs covering such things as real estate, entertainment, business, and sports. Some of the columnists also blog while others stick to their columns. Most of that missing local news is now coming from these blogs.
You are very right in that Chass has an old school bias against blogs and bloggers. I am very certain it comes from how he had to work his way up to being a columnist and now anybody with a laptop can become a columnist. I can sort of see his point. On the other hand, most bloggers are not able to rub elbows with the people they talk about, so their insites into events are from other sources rather than having any kind of opportunity to get information first hand. I am speaking about the majority of amateur bloggers.
For example, if you are blogging about local government, it would be very easy to establish a relationship with the local council and mayor’s office. Of course, if you tick them off, you may lose that relationship. On the other hand, if you have secret contacts on the inside, that may not matter.
However, if you are blogging about the Angels, how many of you have an actual opportunity to get an interview with a player or coach to explain their side of what happened? Most do not, so they will run with comments from newspaper reports, television interviews, blogs and newspaper colums. Not exactly a perfect world when it comes to fact checking.
I personally feel that newspapers will eventually figure this all out. Hopefully, there will still be a place for amateur bloggers. There is plenty of room for both mediums.
failure of advertising
Once they are online, they are no longer passing out your ad as a flyer on the pages of their product. That was where the money was at in print – the certainty of the print run and distribution, but with the internet, advertising is just flat out tougher to sell.
by Rev Halofan on Mar 25, 2009 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Times are a changin'
Back to proper grammar and and enlightened prose? Oh, I see, we were moving away from this and now you internet elite are going to bring us back?
I like this blog site because I can talk about something I like, Angels and Baseball (probably shouldn’t of capitalized baseball – ah shit I guess I’m stupid).
If I want prose I’ll read Mark Twain.
I don’t read newspapers because they cost a buck, and I get get all the information I need free on the internet. That is why newspapers will decline.
Let’s get more moderators, like all the “editors” that stupid Angelswin site has. Let’s become full of ourselves and our awesome abilities. To do what, I don’t know.
Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- The Cardinals Hall of Fame can now be found at Bill Clinton’s library in Arkansas (Huh?)
- Will Bryce Harper start the season with the Nationals?
- Mitch Mustain puts football behind him, signs reported rookie deal with White Sox
- Robinson Cano and Denzel Washington face off in Jay Leno’s Yankees trivia contest
- Shane Victorino lands role on ‘Hawaii Five-0′
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
