WHY THE TIMES IS NOT ON THE BEAT
A note from NY Times sports editor Tom Jolly
My love for the Times was never diminished just because the paper dropped the Islanders as a daily beat. I battled, begged and pleaded for as long as I could, then tried to make the best of it. At least once a month in season, I would pitch a story of interest and more times than not the Times would do a feature.
In my first three game recaps I mentioned what newspapers covered the game and how the Times did not assign a reporter. I was particularly surprised the paper did not at least send a writer to the Devils’ home opener on Friday and the Islanders’ on Saturday. I took some playful shots, then acknowledged in my report on Monday they won’t be coming to many Islanders games this season.
I received the following note from New York Times executive sports editor Tom Jolly today. You have to appreciate his candor and willingness to take the time to explain the Times’ philosophy on coverage:
Chris,
An acquaintance pointed out your latest blog post about the Times and since it seems to reflect a long-running theme, I thought I’d take the time to try to express our coverage philosophy and emphasize that we do not harbor ill-will toward the Islanders.
Our mission is probably unique among daily sports sections these days. With the expansion of our Web site and our integration with the International Herald Tribune, we’ve evolved into an international news organization. Obviously we’re based in New York and still have a substantial readership here, but our national and international audience continues to grow and, in order to serve such a diverse group of readers, we’re focusing more on news and issues that go beyond individual teams.
You’ve no doubt seen that we have an active Web page devoted to hockey coverage and I see that your Web site links to our lively Slap Shot blog, evidence of our commitment to the sport. We wrote about Brandon Sugden because of his compelling back story, which we thought would be of interest to a wide swath of readers regardless of his team affiliation. We wrote about Martin Brodeur’s new hockey mask because his switch in gear and the commercialization of his equipment was so unusual and, we hoped, of interest beyond Devils readers. Our story about new Islanders Coach Scott Gordon was less sweeping in meaning, but an example of how we remain committed to important stories involving New York teams.
A few years ago, you posed a question on the Islanders Web site that went something like: when did the New York Times turn into a daily Sports Illustrated? I think it’s fair to say that your intent was not particularly complimentary, but I’ve repeated the observation several times because it accurately captures our larger purpose. In an age when game recaps are so readily available via Web sites (including ours) and 24-hour sports networks, our aim is to give our readers coverage that goes beyond results. Don’t get me wrong. Game results are important. But if we are to give our readers coverage that is distinctive from other publications - coverage that matches the big-picture approach of the rest of the paper - we need to deploy our relatively small reporting staff differently than we did when we thought of ourselves as predominantly a New York newspaper.
Our coverage continues to evolve in all sports as we look for opportunities to do stories of interest to the most readers, including stories that transcend individual teams and games. In other words, we’re looking for news, features and enterprise stories that cover the breadth of individual leagues, the breadth of sports.
I hope this note doesn’t come off as off-putting or give you the sense that I’m offended. I don’t begrudge your comments, nor am I upset by them. I’ll concede I’m a bit baffled because I can’t figure out your purpose in repeatedly making such remarks, but since you’ve made them several times, I thought I’d at least express our view.
All the best,
Tom
Join the discussion with me on this subject in Comments…CB
30 Responses to “WHY THE TIMES IS NOT ON THE BEAT
A note from NY Times sports editor Tom Jolly”
Please Wait
I give the guy points for writing a good letter. It is sad how papers like the NYT have dropped the Islanders. But it is not just the NYT and it is not just the Islanders. The Daily News barely writes about hockey and when they do, its about the Rangers. The NYT got too big and benefits more from writing about other teams and other sports more than our loney, new arenaless, New York Islanders.
CB:
That seems to be a very reasonable response to the NY Times issue. I wonder if Mr. Jolly could also answer why the Times never spelt Alexei Yashin correctly (Aleksei Yashin). That always bugged the crap out of me.
However, CB, I have a bone to pick. I hope you get a chance to read this comment because I feel that you may have perceived me to be the “douche” that repeatedly was commenting about scott gordon getting fired. I was not. I did make a comment about it earlier this afternoon and noticed that it has since been deleted.
I was reading Greg Logan’s chat on Newsday.com this afternoon and someone made a comment that Gordon was stepping down. You also made it seem that you wanted to get some chatter going about how he missed practice today. Is it not a reasonable thing for a fan to ask? Especially considering the circumstances (him not being at practice, the media scrutiny of the DP issue, the “douche-y” comment on Logan’s blog). Frankly, I’ve been a fan of this team for a long time and have grown up in these lean years (I was 10 when Volek beat Barrasso). It would not have surprised me if something like this happened to this franchise and this fanbase. I was simply curious if there was any validity to it.
Clearly I could not find anything to substantiate such a “douche-y” claim anywhere else on the Internet and since your blog is THE place for Islanders info, I felt it to be the best forum to pose the question.
I fail to see how this makes me a “douche.” I also hope that the moniker I use hasn’t been grouped into any sort of “douche” box that is banned from posting comments on this site.
Thanks.
The Times covers Nassau County politics, local news and real estate so the “going global” excuse is hard to accept. Are the national and international readers demanding coverage of the Rangers?
The Times stock price is stuck in the toilet, reflecting the lack of success of their product in the marketplace.
The Times has been, still is and always will be an also ran in local sports coverage.
CHRIS
I think, even though he doesn’t mention it, a lot of this has to do with the fact that the islanders are not relevant. We, the die-hards care, but look at what Wang, Snow and the rest have given us…a team of aged (no longer aging, beyond that point) vets mixed in with 1 top prospect and some mid-range guys and a goalie who can’t stay healthy and has a joke of a contract….no playoff series wins in 15 years! 15 years! We can cry all we want, but if the islanders had an exciting and successful team, fans would care and the times, along with other media outlets, would be more interested. It is the chicken or egg situation. If you build it, they will come! Any more cliches?
My issue with this kind of thing when you were with the isles was that it was deflecting attention from the real problems. Don’t look at the brutal state of the franchise, the 20 day Gms, the 15 year deals, the coaching carousel, the constant bad trades, the 25 yr cup drought and 15 year playoff series drought…look at the NY Times…honestly chris, and i hope other posters will either agree or disagree, but my feeling is that most islander fans really couldn’t care less WHAT the times does these days. We just want to see some quality hockeY!
The response from the NYT’s editor was rational and insightful. You should, however, respond with the following question to verify the veracity of the statmenet: does the NY Times send a beat writer to every or most Rangers, Knicks, Jets, Giants, and Devils games? If yes, then his response goes from being rational and credible to patronizing to Isles fans and false.
While I’m loathe to agree with the Times on whether the sun comes up in the East, Tom Jolly at least makes a case for his paper’s stance.
He’d make a better case about not having a writer at games if the Times would send someone to the morning skate more often — and generate more features, analysis, etc.
I would agree that the rise of the Internet has made the traditional newspaper game story less important — not unimportant, but less than it was when we were growing up, Chris. What’s more distressing is that a growing number of papers are opting out of covering their home teams, or doing as little as they can get away with. Even our local papers offer little other than game stories and setups — no analysis, nothing that helps make the players more human (as opposed to a guy with a jersey skating in a game).
On the other hand: Hockey blogs like this one and hockey sites like NHL.com and the various team sites would get a lot less traffic if newspapers (and broadcast media) were more prolific.
How incredibly off-putting!
At least when one is bitchslapped by a representative of the Times, the tenses match and no sentences end in prepositions, even if the argument is contradicted by mere facts (see “Where else do we send beat writers?” - mentioned above).
Newsday Sports page WTF?
Blog: Islanders may relocate?
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/columnists/jimbaumbach/blog/2008/10/forbes%20_islanders_among_10_fran.html
That was indeed a very insightful response from Mr. Jolly. As far as their sports coverage goes, I can only say they did a spectacular job covering the olympics. It was fascinating. I would not go there to read about every game played daily. While it would be nice to have that sort of major publication coverage on a daily basis, it’s not necessary for them…. or the Islanders.
CB ! Great stuff! Keep these guys on there toes, Mr.Jolly showed Class and insight without being rude. And it is nice to see that there eye’s are watching, as well as yours.
bCarey: my comments had nothing to do with you, but a Ranger fan who - using 20 different names - posted his own bogus rumor about Gordon quitting. I deleted all posts related to the subject because everyone was responding to the guy’s garbage and it only gave his stunt cred…You sir, are not a douche…CB
agree with shoe, problem with islanders is the organization complains about things like the times, how about we stop becoming an embarrassment of an organization, lets win, the only playoff series we had a chance of winning since 93 was vs toronto, only us diehards care, if i were the dailynews or post i would probalby not send anybody either, if the organization the last 15 years would have cared about putting good product on the ice all this other garbage would take care of itself, can’t complain chris about the times, nobody outside us diehards care about the islanders
GReat job Chris. They do pay attention. They know there is a team here. How sad that we aren’t worth the ink. Kudos to Mr. Jolly for taking the time to answer in such a professional manner.
Keep up the good work Chris.
CB - What’s the deal with the disabled link on Newsday’s webpage - noted in comment # 8 above - about the team re-locating ? I will assume its a hoax…..but clearly - looks like Chris Dey made a call to Newsday and stifled Jim Baumbach’s column.
I will refrain from venting till I can learn more about the situation - but would appreciate any comment or details you can share. Thx
Shoe and Lachance7: I hear ya, but understand that when I was with the team, it was part of my job. I had no control over the team’s inability to win a playoff series the last 15 years. That’s why the subject is relevant on a blog by a former PR director.
Know this: if the Islanders had won three Cups in the last 15 years, they still wouldn’t be covered by the Times. I know this because they do not cover the Devils anymore. Again, that’s what this item was about.
But yes, of course I know where you’re coming from, guys. It is merely one story on a blog that updates constantly on every subject pertaining to the Islanders. Hope you understand…CB
Nice try by Mr. Jolly. They cover Steinbrenner on a daily basis. They cover the Knicks. Giants. etc.
Just admit it Mr. Jolly - your paper has deemed the Islanders to be not worthy of assigning a beat writer. You don’t deem it to be worthy of the cost.
I will agree with Mr. Jolly - that his paper does cover some interesting stories….and he does make some compelling points. But for goodness sakes - hire a kid from Fordham - or Adelphi or Hofstra and put him/her in charge of the Isles beat for the NY Times. Treat it as an unpaid internship. Bet you get some eager young kid who wants to make a name for him/herself and the cost is minimal. Home games only. I think you can find some space in both the print edition or web to host this. You guys are just cheap. I don’t buy your argument - but I do appreciate your taking the time to write to the blog.
Pat, here ya go its a forbes article on the 10 most likely franchise’s to move and the Isles are #6
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/columnists/jimbaumbach/blog/
Think the problem might be the downturn the NHL has taken since Bettman has taken over is also a huge factor. NHL has fallen off the map. Hitting, intensity is basically gone from most games unless its the playoffs. Expansion has just killed the NHL, too many teams in too many markets especially any teams south of DC. I go to about 15-20 games a year and avoid any games that involve a columbus, nashville, san jose, etc. Now when you go to games its all about fluff, mascots and hanging stages. when my dad took me to games in late 80’s early 90’s i went to watch hockey, not to see mascots. Jolly is right, Islanders are not worth the ink now, but I think if the Islanders were winners and played a nontrap, exciting style of hockey they would be covered. While Devils have won 3 cups, they have no interesting stars besides brodeur and have played a very boring style of hockey over past decade.
I think the issue here is more about the “New York City” based attitude of what we call are major papers. The NY Times, the NY Post and the Daily News are NYC based papers that focus on the major sports teams based within the city limits (excepting the NFL of course). Whereas in Newsday’s coverage while weak in the last two seasons, has been increasing to a more “acceptable” level in regards to volume of content. Of course Newsday is based in Nassau/Suffolk which has one major sports team located here. The Islanders. I wish there was more coverage, but the papers devote their resources where they deem best. That is why I love Point Blank and B.D.’s column on “that site which cannot not be named”.
By the way as an example of my meaning from above, my father recently returned from Ontario Canada and informed that he brought me back a few days worth of sports sections so I could read the hockey coverage. Newspapers there predominantly cover hockey as that is what their readership demands.
Write a letter (e-mail) to your local paper if you want more coverage. If enough people speak up, they’ll oblige. If not, bring on the blogs.
All i know is Jim Baumbahs comment (go down a little past the Franchise moving comment and read where he say ” I would make fun of the Islanders” I dont like the fact that this organization turned into a Joke of a Franchise in the sports world, it piss’s me off!
CB:
Figured as much. Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t a douche. You’ve been doing a great job since launch and I just wanted to run with the whole “douche” thing. Douche, after all, is a funny word.
On this Baumbach blog thing about the Isles relocating, it is in regard to a completely speculative piece that Forbes.com did on the Top Ten Sports Franchises Most Likely to Move. I thought Forbes was a more reputable publication than this. Take a look. It has more lists than VH1.
Link: http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/08/vikings-bills-marlins-biz-sports-cx_tvr_1008moving.html
Since you are taking issue with The Times for not sending a writer to games can i ask why no islander player/coach/assistant is alowed to speak with Steve Sommers on the air????
Chris
I understand exactly what you are saying. My point is not that YOU are the problem, but that the isles are the problem. I feel that this attitude of looking anywhere but inward is prevalent for the isles. Don’t you think this ridiculous injury policy is more proof of it? Look how much time they are dedicating to it…Scott Gordon is like a lemon used car salesman with his contradictory comments, DP is denying obvious reality, Snow is mum…over WHAT? Geez, all we want to see is a freakin quality team! Maybe Snow should be more interested in seeing if a maclaren, shanahan or someone like that might be able to help this team as opposed to trivial nonsense like this.
It is petty and, whether accurate or not, it gives the appearance of an org that has lost touch with reality and is completely lost with regards to its own fans….
I thought the times letter was great and I was only relating this to the isles to make a point about where the priorities of the team lie. I feel that it is appropriate for the media relations director to tackle this issue but the rest of the org seems to wrapped up in how little respect they get.
Keep up the great work!
Sarnia Sting forward DiBenedetto named OHL player of the week http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=386655
Thanks to Mr. Jolly for taking the time to write that response! And props to CB for continuing to raise the issue!
I have never liked the New York Times, and this just further supports my decision to never read it. At least when I read the Wall Street Journal, I know not to expect loca sports coverage. The Times is so full of itself it makes me sick. Besides, it should stick to what it does best, pushing a liberal agenda.
New York Times?
Who gives a chit?
There was a time, way back when I still lived in the NY area, that I thought the world revolved around the NYT.
After being out of NY for about 5 years, I figured out that THEY thought the same way about themselves. And I lost interest in their megalopolis pandering that completely ignores about 80% of the rest of the country (geographically speaking)
Screw ‘em. The entire newspaper industry is changing, and dinosaurs like the Times and the Washington Post will be the slowest to adapt. Some will not survive.
I’d be interested to know how many people from this blog have ever searched out a hockey blog on the NYT.
Cuz, I couldn’t be bothered.
I’d also be interested to know how many “readers” of the NYT actually go there (the paper version) looking for hockey news. My guess is NOT MANY.
The demographics of the NYT and Hockey simply don’t mix.
Fuhget ‘em.
The Islanders need NEWSDAY and NEWSDAY needs the Islanders.
(Unfortunately, too many powers that be at Newsday are slow to figure that out…but they are getting there).
Just my opinion…from two time zones away.
That was a very interesting read, I was never one for the NY times, I’ll say this much..this dude could make a great politician, he knows how to dance around the issue very nicely.(just my opinion)
NY times has never been a paper for the sporting fan.
i met a times reporter a few years ago when i was drunk at a game …he had never seen a hockey game before and didnt know shit.he had previously worked in fashion …he was also slammin down gin and tonics
Mr. Jolly makes many good points and quite frankly I don’t see why anyone assoicated with the Islanders whether it be fan, player, employee or what not, would feel slighted becuase the Islanders are not part of their regular coverage. The NYT has a different mission and readership then lets say the Post or Newsday. And honestly, the Islanders aren’t really all that relevant on the New York sports scene, they probably rank somewhere between the Red Bulls and Liberty. The only people who really care are us loyalists. Here’s an easy way for the NYT to notice the Islanders, put a winning team on the ice, make people stand up and take notice, put the onus on them to send a beat reporter out to the NVMC. Its not a given right unfortunately the Islanders do not belong to the NY sports royalty in fact they’ve given organizations like the NYT every reason pass on covering them from vague and misleading reports on injuries to a front office that at times looks like The Gong Show. Make them take notice, the best way to cure that is to win. Just win.