Ap Guy & Britt Robison Join the Athletic

[UnFadeable21]

Both are leaving the associated press and minn post to join the new sports outlet the Athletic to cover the Twolves.

Russo left Star Trib to cover hockey there.

They are having a special this week to sign up for 3.49 a month for the year to celebrate Ap guy joining on.

I might have to sign on. I enjoy Ap guy and Britts work

[beetlebum71]

Brandon Warne went over there to cover the Twins, too. They got a real murderer's row. It's absolutely worth 50 bucks a year. I'm loving the content so far.

[T_J]

There's no way I'm paying for that. Especially knowing people can just copy paste it in here if there's something interesting.

Thanks for allowing me to mooch!

[beetlebum71]

There's no way I'm paying for that. Especially knowing people can just copy paste it in here if there's something interesting.

Thanks for allowing me to mooch!

Just for that, never will I ever copy and paste from the Athletic.

[T_J]

There's no way I'm paying for that. Especially knowing people can just copy paste it in here if there's something interesting.

Thanks for allowing me to mooch!

Just for that, never will I ever copy and paste from the Athletic.

Dammit.

[Mandatory]

After the disgusting and unethical comments by their founder/CEO/whatever they've guaranteed that I will never sign up. I hope the whole thing crumbles and is a massive failure. Terrible name on top of all the other bullshit.

[UnFadeable21]

What did he say?

[Mandatory]

By the time you finish reading this article, the upstart sports news outlet called The Athletic probably will have hired another well-known sportswriter from your local newspaper. In a couple of years, once The Athletic has completed its breakneck expansion, perhaps that newspaper’s sports section will no longer exist.

“We will wait every local paper out and let them continuously bleed until we are the last ones standing,” Alex Mather, a co-founder of The Athletic, said in an interview in San Francisco. “We will suck them dry of their best talent at every moment. We will make business extremely difficult for them.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/spor ... apers.html




He initially stood by his comments before later apologizing. People are already cancelling subscriptions.

[RubeTube]

There's no way I'm paying for that. Especially knowing people can just copy paste it in here if there's something interesting.

Thanks for allowing me to mooch!

This! Who pays for this shit?!? It's like paying for porn nowadays. It will be all over the internet 5 mins after they post something.

[Dan33185]

I don't get it, I can see content without a subscription just fine

https://theathletic.com/135062/2017/10/ ... -athletic/

[RubeTube]

By the time you finish reading this article, the upstart sports news outlet called The Athletic probably will have hired another well-known sportswriter from your local newspaper. In a couple of years, once The Athletic has completed its breakneck expansion, perhaps that newspaper’s sports section will no longer exist.

“We will wait every local paper out and let them continuously bleed until we are the last ones standing,” Alex Mather, a co-founder of The Athletic, said in an interview in San Francisco. “We will suck them dry of their best talent at every moment. We will make business extremely difficult for them.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/spor ... apers.html




He initially stood by his comments before later apologizing. People are already cancelling subscriptions.

Lol. Print is going to die on It's own eventually. Let's get this straight, these guy's are leaving because it's already dying.

[RubeTube]

How long until Russo tries to bury the bone in one of these dudes?

[beetlebum71]

I don't get it, I can see content without a subscription just fine

https://theathletic.com/135062/2017/10/ ... -athletic/

They typically make a writer's first piece accessible to the public. Go try to open Russo's newest article. You'll get a preview and that'll be it.

[dapperathy]

meh, I don't care much for long-form sports journalism anymore. I get enough Kryswesnewski on twitter.

[Mandatory]

By the time you finish reading this article, the upstart sports news outlet called The Athletic probably will have hired another well-known sportswriter from your local newspaper. In a couple of years, once The Athletic has completed its breakneck expansion, perhaps that newspaper’s sports section will no longer exist.

“We will wait every local paper out and let them continuously bleed until we are the last ones standing,” Alex Mather, a co-founder of The Athletic, said in an interview in San Francisco. “We will suck them dry of their best talent at every moment. We will make business extremely difficult for them.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/spor ... apers.html




He initially stood by his comments before later apologizing. People are already cancelling subscriptions.

How is what he said even remotely bad?

I was expecting something scandalous. Not a business guy saying he's gonna hire the best talent and win.

You are a heartless bastard. The guy is a Silicon Valley Tech-Bro who claims he invented blogging, wants to charge you out the ass for it and put hardworking people out of a job. If you are buying in... well good for you.

[Mandatory]

I hope this doesn't hurt Kraw's career.

I'll still look to him for breaking news coverage, but if new AP guy gets info quicker...

I'm personally shocked that Russo and AP Guy would take this risk. I'm guessing it's the promise of more national exposure and a bigger paycheck. I think it's a bad move and also hope it doesn't bite them in the ass. Hearing Russo and Jon explain what this move "allows them to do" sounds like a bunch of bullshit.

[UnFadeable21]

It definitely is a risk. Jon leaving an institution like the associated press for a new platform.

Old saying is true, no risk no reward.

[weimy froob]

meh, I don't care much for long-form sports journalism anymore. I get enough Kryswesnewski on twitter.

there might be a market for this type of product. i don't know. i do know that i'm not part of that market though. i'd never pay for something like this.

ruff ruff

[memyworld]

By the time you finish reading this article, the upstart sports news outlet called The Athletic probably will have hired another well-known sportswriter from your local newspaper. In a couple of years, once The Athletic has completed its breakneck expansion, perhaps that newspaper’s sports section will no longer exist.

“We will wait every local paper out and let them continuously bleed until we are the last ones standing,” Alex Mather, a co-founder of The Athletic, said in an interview in San Francisco. “We will suck them dry of their best talent at every moment. We will make business extremely difficult for them.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/spor ... apers.html

I mean, if you keep reading:

"To understand why The Athletic is so brazen about its vulture strategy, one must appreciate the state of play at local and regional newspapers throughout the country. Under dire financial duress, many have put extraordinary demands on beat writers to produce heavy volumes of content, often without wage increases. The reporters are sometimes the most knowledgeable sources of information on the teams they cover, but they are afforded little opportunity to step back and write impactful articles.

These reporters are skilled experts feeling the strains of a crippled industry, and many are looking for a way out."

While their co-founder didn't position their business very tactfully, if they're able to better accommodate writers while providing better stories and make money on top of it, more power to them.

They're certainly imploring non-traditional revenue streams. If the Wolves want to pay for my membership, I'll join:

"Mather and Hansmann also don’t hew to traditional — they would say antiquated — norms about the separation of business and advertising efforts, and are already cozier with the teams they cover than many outlets. They have an agreement with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, for instance, whereby Argonauts season-ticket holders can receive a trial subscription to The Athletic, paid for by the Argonauts."

Traditional media outlets have had decades to see this coming and instead of reapplying their talents to new mediums, they're scrambling to make antiquated outlets profitable at the expense of the consumer experience.

[Mandatory]

By the time you finish reading this article, the upstart sports news outlet called The Athletic probably will have hired another well-known sportswriter from your local newspaper. In a couple of years, once The Athletic has completed its breakneck expansion, perhaps that newspaper’s sports section will no longer exist.

“We will wait every local paper out and let them continuously bleed until we are the last ones standing,” Alex Mather, a co-founder of The Athletic, said in an interview in San Francisco. “We will suck them dry of their best talent at every moment. We will make business extremely difficult for them.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/spor ... apers.html

I mean, if you keep reading:

"To understand why The Athletic is so brazen about its vulture strategy, one must appreciate the state of play at local and regional newspapers throughout the country. Under dire financial duress, many have put extraordinary demands on beat writers to produce heavy volumes of content, often without wage increases. The reporters are sometimes the most knowledgeable sources of information on the teams they cover, but they are afforded little opportunity to step back and write impactful articles.

These reporters are skilled experts feeling the strains of a crippled industry, and many are looking for a way out."

While their co-founder didn't position their business very tactfully, if they're able to better accommodate writers while providing better stories and make money on top of it, more power to them.

They're certainly imploring non-traditional revenue streams. If the Wolves want to pay for my membership, I'll join:

"Mather and Hansmann also don’t hew to traditional — they would say antiquated — norms about the separation of business and advertising efforts, and are already cozier with the teams they cover than many outlets. They have an agreement with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, for instance, whereby Argonauts season-ticket holders can receive a trial subscription to The Athletic, paid for by the Argonauts."

Traditional media outlets have had decades to see this coming and instead of reapplying their talents to new mediums, they're scrambling to make antiquated outlets profitable at the expense of the consumer experience.

I disagree... the guy is a huge prick and is acting like he invented the idea of a paid blog. Enough for me to not subscribe regardless of how he treats his writers. Sorry Mike, sorry Jon... good luck to them. Hope it works out.

[UnFadeable21]

7 day free trial

[LordNu]

Maybe Abe could hire Zgoda to write for us here.

[dapperathy]

Maybe Abe could hire Zgoda to write for us here.

How much to not hire Zgoda?

[UnFadeable21]

I just signed up for the annual subscription for 30% off.

$40 for the year. Hate paying for news but I spend $40 on misc stuff all the time so let’s see how this new platform goes.

[Donovan McNabb]

there's no way I'm paying money to read articles by these buffoons.

[Donovan McNabb]

there's no way I'm paying money to read articles by these buffoons.

I think your just being over-competitive. Now that you've entered the journalism field with your blog entries, you are freaked out that they might steal all of your hot takes!

You should charge froobs for access to my blogs.

[Mandatory]

How is what he said even remotely bad?

I was expecting something scandalous. Not a business guy saying he's gonna hire the best talent and win.

You are a heartless bastard. The guy is a Silicon Valley Tech-Bro who claims he invented blogging, wants to charge you out the ass for it and put hardworking people out of a job. If you are buying in... well good for you.

DEY TERK ER JERBS!!!!!!!!!!111

[Mandatory]

Newspapers were once on top, but now that they're losing, they're morally superior!

Great logic.

That's a pretty big leap you're taking.... I don't read the paper or really care what happens to the industry. The guy was/is a colossal prick and put it out there for everyone to see. I don't want to buy his service. Fuck him, fuck the papers... fuck em all.

[T_J]

Can someone post AP's article from last night?

Thanks!

[Ask Not]

Can someone post AP's article from last night?

Thanks!

Cliff's notes:
Fans booed. This is different than the apathetic era.