Ryan Glasspiegel · @sportsrapport
5th May 2015 from TwitLonger
Response from @MacEngelProf of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on media credentials
Ryan
I'm the sports columnist from the FW Star-Telegram. I covered the fight.
Your piece on free access to media is an interesting take. I've thought about that often; what's the point? Certainly putting media in the "worst seat in the house" is the realization that there is no point in sacrificing the most lucrative seats for media.
There is a balance. I think if you ask any marketing person with access to metrics, more coverage is simply better for the bottom line. My gut tells me that. That and changing anything is damn near impossible.
I think most of it is rooted in the origins of media coverage, which acted like a free and very successful PR/marketing tool for teams, leagues, etc.
And it still does. As far as the degree, I have no idea.
More coverage is still very cost effective. If it wasn't, they wouldn't do it. All of this chatter, talk, coverage means more eyeballs and ears that potentially could turn to PPV, ticket purchases, etc.
As much coverage as teams provide on their own news now, more is better. It is all part of a large economic machine where everybody "win$". In theory, anyway.
There is a point of over saturation that we all cross, however, and I think we all know it. I went out there and cranked out quite a bit in terms of videos, columns, etc. Some were better than others.
I have to be honest with myself - was it worth it for my outlet to have their own guy there? I have no idea. I have reasons to believe yes, and no.
I wrote some very critical stuff of Mayweather, and I thought I may be relegated to the ballroom where the fight was being shown on closed circuit TV. I wasn't. I had a seat. I am betting they never read a word I wrote, but ... oh well.
As far as these companies granting access to guys like you, me and the rest, somebody somewhere with the metrics has shown them a graph that says more coverage means more money.
As long as that's the case, it won't change.
That's just me.
Nice job.
Mac