I wrote this post with the working title "Refining the strategy regarding TSFN" but I figured I could get more views with a loud and abrasive headline. This stuff is simple! Anyway...
While some things (e.g. recent arrests) are obviously worth reporting in depth, it's been noted -- in case it wasn't clear enough -- that the sports arm of nj.com is, above all, interested in getting clicks. This has been noted here and the idea of boycotting their site is a good one. However, I think we're going about it all wrong.
nj.com attempts to get the traffic it desires on RU football via two approaches:
1. Blow up anything remotely or potentially controversial as much as it can. I suppose I could add a caveat such as "until the point at which they'd be exposed to a libel suit," but there have many ways to frame a situation deceptively without publishing outright lies.
2. Provide reasonable updates and articles on what happens on the field. The beat writers do this consistently, through the times of calm and the times of controversy.
Here's where we come in: we can boycott the hatchet jobs all we want, but we are not the target demographic for approach #1. Those articles are designed to draw traffic from other folks, such as people who like reading about scandals (a lot of people!) and people who don't like Rutgers. nj.com is fine with a group of Rutgers fans boycotting the site for a month, because they're getting all the clicks they want from the people who crave these articles.
We are the target demographic for strategy #2. When it's time to take an in-depth look at how the offensive line looked against an FCS team or how the redshirt freshman on defense are progressing in spring practice, nj.com seeks the attention of Rutgers fans.
What we should do is, yes, boycott the site, but more specifically, when things calm down, boycott the articles that need our attention. Furthermore, make it known that you will no longer read practice reports, game notebooks, or any content designed for big Rutgers fans. If you think Kevin Manahan is the problem, let them know that you will not go to their site until he's out. If you think Duggan is a problem, use him too. Voice your displeasure in a way that will get through. Then follow through. We have Bobby and Shawn to give us reports on the team, perhaps some of you also use other similar sites. We don't need nj.com. nj.com, at least to some extent, needs us. Use the leverage we do have and we can change the narrative.
While some things (e.g. recent arrests) are obviously worth reporting in depth, it's been noted -- in case it wasn't clear enough -- that the sports arm of nj.com is, above all, interested in getting clicks. This has been noted here and the idea of boycotting their site is a good one. However, I think we're going about it all wrong.
nj.com attempts to get the traffic it desires on RU football via two approaches:
1. Blow up anything remotely or potentially controversial as much as it can. I suppose I could add a caveat such as "until the point at which they'd be exposed to a libel suit," but there have many ways to frame a situation deceptively without publishing outright lies.
2. Provide reasonable updates and articles on what happens on the field. The beat writers do this consistently, through the times of calm and the times of controversy.
Here's where we come in: we can boycott the hatchet jobs all we want, but we are not the target demographic for approach #1. Those articles are designed to draw traffic from other folks, such as people who like reading about scandals (a lot of people!) and people who don't like Rutgers. nj.com is fine with a group of Rutgers fans boycotting the site for a month, because they're getting all the clicks they want from the people who crave these articles.
We are the target demographic for strategy #2. When it's time to take an in-depth look at how the offensive line looked against an FCS team or how the redshirt freshman on defense are progressing in spring practice, nj.com seeks the attention of Rutgers fans.
What we should do is, yes, boycott the site, but more specifically, when things calm down, boycott the articles that need our attention. Furthermore, make it known that you will no longer read practice reports, game notebooks, or any content designed for big Rutgers fans. If you think Kevin Manahan is the problem, let them know that you will not go to their site until he's out. If you think Duggan is a problem, use him too. Voice your displeasure in a way that will get through. Then follow through. We have Bobby and Shawn to give us reports on the team, perhaps some of you also use other similar sites. We don't need nj.com. nj.com, at least to some extent, needs us. Use the leverage we do have and we can change the narrative.
