MMA Media

[FrankieNYC]

On SD, there is a thread about how MMA sucks.

It made me realize how many MMA fans have no real clue what journalism actually is.
Because MMA is a newer sport, we only have a few that have been in the game for decades with journalism degrees.
Most are just fans with access & follow people that care about tweets & being backstage at events.,

Here is MY response in that thread:

Again, it is what the individual decides is "media"
If you go by 20-somethings with zero journalistic background, you are getting a lot of Sherdoggers who have websites.
If you want people who are actual journalist for decades that don't go to every event to get "camera time" & report on real things in MMA (like Nash & Meltzer) you will be better off.
The people that realize Ariel & FRB are NOT journalist are ahead of the curve.
Helwani is a great host, but when has he ever done anything journalistic in nature? NEVER

UFC won't publicly release finances? Meltzer & Nash go & investigate & report it.

The reason we have proof that UFC screws fighters as far as pay (13-17% in 2015-16) is due to journalist that actually went to school for it like Meltzer/Nash.

90% of the others are fanboys that want passes backstage.

-

I can tell you by my minimal time working websites & breaking news, that most MMA media are more about "re-tweets" than journalism.
There is no journalism, it is about hits/tweets.
Real journalist don't care about being at every event for free flights, tix & UFC catering ... they care about INVESTIGATING
Thankfully guys like Meltzer & Nash do that & they are the reason we have actual figures what UFC makes/pays & the actual real numbers from the sale.

When I started doing stuff that was getting news, I was approached by sites that asked "how many hits can you bring?", nothing about substance/content.

The fact that I broke the UFC/Amazon news & that I had an exclusive with Mayweathers camp should prove how most in "media" are just tweeters with website credentials.
The Mayweather exclusive took me 2 minutes to get.
The Amazon thing, someone who liked my SD post gave me a tip & I researched it.
I did both while others were re-tweeting the latest Conor gossip ... lol


RANT OVER

 

[nuraknu]

On SD, there is a thread about how MMA sucks.

It made me realize how many MMA fans have no real clue what journalism actually is.
Because MMA is a newer sport, we only have a few that have been in the game for decades with journalism degrees.
Most are just fans with access & follow people that care about tweets & being backstage at events.,

Here is MY response in that thread:

Again, it is what the individual decides is "media"
If you go by 20-somethings with zero journalistic background, you are getting a lot of Sherdoggers who have websites.
If you want people who are actual journalist for decades that don't go to every event to get "camera time" & report on real things in MMA (like Nash & Meltzer) you will be better off.
The people that realize Ariel & FRB are NOT journalist are ahead of the curve.
Helwani is a great host, but when has he ever done anything journalistic in nature? NEVER

UFC won't publicly release finances? Meltzer & Nash go & investigate & report it.

The reason we have proof that UFC screws fighters as far as pay (13-17% in 2015-16) is due to journalist that actually went to school for it like Meltzer/Nash.

90% of the others are fanboys that want passes backstage.

-

I can tell you by my minimal time working websites & breaking news, that most MMA media are more about "re-tweets" than journalism.
There is no journalism, it is about hits/tweets.
Real journalist don't care about being at every event for free flights, tix & UFC catering ... they care about INVESTIGATING
Thankfully guys like Meltzer & Nash do that & they are the reason we have actual figures what UFC makes/pays & the actual real numbers from the sale.

When I started doing stuff that was getting news, I was approached by sites that asked "how many hits can you bring?", nothing about substance/content.

The fact that I broke the UFC/Amazon news & that I had an exclusive with Mayweathers camp should prove how most in "media" are just tweeters with website credentials.
The Mayweather exclusive took me 2 minutes to get.
The Amazon thing, someone who liked my SD post gave me a tip & I researched it.
I did both while others were re-tweeting the latest Conor gossip ... lol


RANT OVER

Ariel went to journalism school. He said when he was crying that he always wanted to do big interviews.

I agree about his actions not being those of an investigative journalist though, for the most part. But he has investigative journalists on his team, just like he has long form writers - they seem to split up the work pretty clearly.

I do think in mma in general our "journalists" do far too much of just reporting on each other's articles, feeling self-important, expressing their own opinions about everything.

But they want to think of themselves as professional, which is why they freak out over always finding the person who reported news first and crediting them.

The whole dynamic is odd. From the perspective of a random reader, it seems like now there is a group constantly badmouthing the guys like Ariel, who meanwhile started an association but won't let a bunch of people into it who are clearly up-and-coming competition, under the guise of wanting to make sure mmaimports writers don't get in. The whole thing is weird.

Then of course there is Snowden who thinks he's a gift but we could all do without.

The mma media world is full of bitterness with a only a few good talents among the garbage.

 

[Ted Williams' head]

On SD, there is a thread about how MMA sucks.

It made me realize how many MMA fans have no real clue what journalism actually is.
Because MMA is a newer sport, we only have a few that have been in the game for decades with journalism degrees.
Most are just fans with access & follow people that care about tweets & being backstage at events.,

Here is MY response in that thread:

Again, it is what the individual decides is "media"
If you go by 20-somethings with zero journalistic background, you are getting a lot of Sherdoggers who have websites.
If you want people who are actual journalist for decades that don't go to every event to get "camera time" & report on real things in MMA (like Nash & Meltzer) you will be better off.
The people that realize Ariel & FRB are NOT journalist are ahead of the curve.
Helwani is a great host, but when has he ever done anything journalistic in nature? NEVER

UFC won't publicly release finances? Meltzer & Nash go & investigate & report it.

The reason we have proof that UFC screws fighters as far as pay (13-17% in 2015-16) is due to journalist that actually went to school for it like Meltzer/Nash.

90% of the others are fanboys that want passes backstage.

-

I can tell you by my minimal time working websites & breaking news, that most MMA media are more about "re-tweets" than journalism.
There is no journalism, it is about hits/tweets.
Real journalist don't care about being at every event for free flights, tix & UFC catering ... they care about INVESTIGATING
Thankfully guys like Meltzer & Nash do that & they are the reason we have actual figures what UFC makes/pays & the actual real numbers from the sale.

When I started doing stuff that was getting news, I was approached by sites that asked "how many hits can you bring?", nothing about substance/content.

The fact that I broke the UFC/Amazon news & that I had an exclusive with Mayweathers camp should prove how most in "media" are just tweeters with website credentials.
The Mayweather exclusive took me 2 minutes to get.
The Amazon thing, someone who liked my SD post gave me a tip & I researched it.
I did both while others were re-tweeting the latest Conor gossip ... lol


RANT OVER

Good shit and as someone who works in the media, I can tell you real journalism is becoming a lost art in EVERY area, for many of the reasons you just described.

Like you said, quality is measured by the amount of hits, likes, retweets, comments, etc, which is just sad.

 

[GSPTrainingInAPool]

I think we're very lucky on TMMAC. We've got a lot of members who write original content and openly share their sources, connections, and methods. So to everyone who write their own shit - thank you

 

[MyrddinWild]

Nice breaking up the difference between investigative journalism & those who pose as journalists but are really just re-posting everything.

Of course even those who actually investigate stuff on their own are going to be doing some re-posting & stuff... because their readers need to stay in the know... no matter who broke the news first. However, there is a big difference between an investigative journalist doing that... compared to someone who "only" does that, but never breaks any news themselves.

 

[Mad Dog]

Helwani went to school for Journalism and he has won multiple awards as MMA Journalist of the Year.

Journalism is not only one thing. It's more than just investigative journalism.

You have to take into account that each sport is different and the biggest org they cover has a guy that will shut you out if you do to much investigating and reporting on things.

 

[Yossarian]

I agree about his actions not being those of an investigative journalist though, for the most part. But he has investigative journalists on his team, just like he has long form writers - they seem to split up the work pretty clearly.

Ariel is not an investigating journalist, he is an instigating journalist.

 

[Yossarian]

On SD, there is a thread about how MMA sucks.

It made me realize how many MMA fans have no real clue what journalism actually is.
Because MMA is a newer sport, we only have a few that have been in the game for decades with journalism degrees.
Most are just fans with access & follow people that care about tweets & being backstage at events.,

Here is MY response in that thread:

Again, it is what the individual decides is "media"
If you go by 20-somethings with zero journalistic background, you are getting a lot of Sherdoggers who have websites.
If you want people who are actual journalist for decades that don't go to every event to get "camera time" & report on real things in MMA (like Nash & Meltzer) you will be better off.
The people that realize Ariel & FRB are NOT journalist are ahead of the curve.
Helwani is a great host, but when has he ever done anything journalistic in nature? NEVER

UFC won't publicly release finances? Meltzer & Nash go & investigate & report it.

The reason we have proof that UFC screws fighters as far as pay (13-17% in 2015-16) is due to journalist that actually went to school for it like Meltzer/Nash.

90% of the others are fanboys that want passes backstage.

-

I can tell you by my minimal time working websites & breaking news, that most MMA media are more about "re-tweets" than journalism.
There is no journalism, it is about hits/tweets.
Real journalist don't care about being at every event for free flights, tix & UFC catering ... they care about INVESTIGATING
Thankfully guys like Meltzer & Nash do that & they are the reason we have actual figures what UFC makes/pays & the actual real numbers from the sale.

When I started doing stuff that was getting news, I was approached by sites that asked "how many hits can you bring?", nothing about substance/content.

The fact that I broke the UFC/Amazon news & that I had an exclusive with Mayweathers camp should prove how most in "media" are just tweeters with website credentials.
The Mayweather exclusive took me 2 minutes to get.
The Amazon thing, someone who liked my SD post gave me a tip & I researched it.
I did both while others were re-tweeting the latest Conor gossip ... lol


RANT OVER

I'm distracted by all the "&" in your post

 

[FrankieNYC]

I'm distracted by all the "&" in your post

 

[Yossarian]

 

[member 3289]

@FrankieNYC great post. I agree with everything you said except for the part about the latest Conor gossip not being news.

 

[Sheepdog]

MMA 'journalism' is gutter trash. Buy I'll take trash MMA journalism over pseudo-MMA journalists quoting themselves from Shitdog.

 

[FrankieNYC]

@FrankieNYC great post. I agree with everything you said except for the part about the latest Conor gossip not being news.

lol, duly noted

 

[FrankieNYC]

Nice breaking up the difference between investigative journalism & those who pose as journalists but are really just re-posting everything.

Of course even those who actually investigate stuff on their own are going to be doing some re-posting & stuff... because their readers need to stay in the know... no matter who broke the news first. However, there is a big difference between an investigative journalist doing that... compared to someone who "only" does that, but never breaks any news themselves.

Thank you man

 

[FrankieNYC]

I think we're very lucky on TMMAC. We've got a lot of members who write original content and openly share their sources, connections, and methods. So to everyone who write their own shit - thank you

Very cool. I tried to bring more over.
Maybe we will see some more contributors with content coming now - @Wild & team to want that direction & it brought me here & it has been fun.

 

[aghof]

Ariel is not an investigating journalist, he is an instigating journalist.

and also perhaps a "broadcast journalist" though nowhere near this league:

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

The people that realize Ariel & FRB are NOT journalist are ahead of the curve.
Helwani is a great host, but when has he ever done anything journalistic in nature? NEVER

I really don't understand it when people have this opinion regarding Ariel. He always gets his breaking news correct, seems to have incredible sources and he gives fighters a voice more than any other journalist in MMA. Journalism isn't all about think pieces. Who out there gives more people trustworthy news in MMA, and who gives the fighters more of a voice?

 

[FrankieNYC]

I really don't understand it when people have this opinion regarding Ariel. He always gets his breaking news correct, seems to have incredible sources and he gives fighters a voice more than any other journalist in MMA. Journalism isn't all about think pieces. Who out there gives more people trustworthy news in MMA, and who gives the fighters more of a voice?

That is cool
I disagree though & don't want this to turn into an "Anti Ariel" thing

Agree to disagree

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

The other side to Ariel is that he creates news by instigating issues.
Legends like Frank Deford never shit-stirred (for lack of a better term).
Also he has broken a lot less news since the rumored leak was found & canned from UFC (Nick The Tooth)
That coincidence is jarring as far as timing.
As far as "always correct", that is less & less true in the past year, but nobody is 100% so I won't slam him for that.

Like I said he is a great host, but many disagree he is a quality journalist.

That is one thing I would definitely criticize about him- he does stir shit. I do think it is a bit exaggerated by some, but he is guilty of it.

He still breaks news on Twitter all the time prior to it being released, and I personally have never seen him break something that wasn't true without the caveat that it wasn't confirmed or official. I could have missed some, though.
FRB is definitely not a journalist, as he just throws shit against the wall to see if it sticks, but I think Helwani overall does a great job. I wouldn't put them in the same category at all.

 

[MMAHAWK]

I really don't understand it when people have this opinion regarding Ariel. He always gets his breaking news correct, seems to have incredible sources and he gives fighters a voice more than any other journalist in MMA. Journalism isn't all about think pieces. Who out there gives more people trustworthy news in MMA, and who gives the fighters more of a voice?

 

[FrankieNYC]

That is one thing I would definitely criticize about him- he does stir shit. I do think it is a bit exaggerated by some, but he is guilty of it.

He still breaks news on Twitter all the time prior to it being released, and I personally have never seen him break something that wasn't true without the caveat that it wasn't confirmed or official. I could have missed some, though.
FRB is definitely not a journalist, as he just throws shit against the wall to see if it sticks, but I think Helwani overall does a great job. I wouldn't put them in the same category at all.

Quick on the reply
I backspaced my post bc I didn't want to go off on Ariel alone.

But there has been two recent things he was wrong about, I forget what, but no biggie - everyone gets things incorrect

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

Thanks brother.
I am back to work for the first time in 5 months, so I will likely be on here more. During my leave I had access to video games and porn all day so you guys kinda took a backseat.

 

[FrankieNYC]

Re: Nick The Tooth/Ariel
I re-read what @Andrewsimar Palhardass quoted (before i deleted) & realized some might not know.

Supposedly Ariel's hook up for the Brock/200 info was Dana's friend "Nick The Tooth".
The next day Nick was fired from "Looking For a Fight" & replaced by Din Thomas out of nowhere. They were already filming an episode.
Weird that the rumor was it was Nick & within hours Dana fired & cut off a log-time friend & Ariel had less & less scoops since.

This was the next episode where they reference Ariel & replaced Nick

 

[MMAHAWK]

On SD, there is a thread about how MMA sucks.

It made me realize how many MMA fans have no real clue what journalism actually is.
Because MMA is a newer sport, we only have a few that have been in the game for decades with journalism degrees.
Most are just fans with access & follow people that care about tweets & being backstage at events.,

Here is MY response in that thread:

Again, it is what the individual decides is "media"
If you go by 20-somethings with zero journalistic background, you are getting a lot of Sherdoggers who have websites.
If you want people who are actual journalist for decades that don't go to every event to get "camera time" & report on real things in MMA (like Nash & Meltzer) you will be better off.
The people that realize Ariel & FRB are NOT journalist are ahead of the curve.
Helwani is a great host, but when has he ever done anything journalistic in nature? NEVER

UFC won't publicly release finances? Meltzer & Nash go & investigate & report it.

The reason we have proof that UFC screws fighters as far as pay (13-17% in 2015-16) is due to journalist that actually went to school for it like Meltzer/Nash.

90% of the others are fanboys that want passes backstage.

-

I can tell you by my minimal time working websites & breaking news, that most MMA media are more about "re-tweets" than journalism.
There is no journalism, it is about hits/tweets.
Real journalist don't care about being at every event for free flights, tix & UFC catering ... they care about INVESTIGATING
Thankfully guys like Meltzer & Nash do that & they are the reason we have actual figures what UFC makes/pays & the actual real numbers from the sale.

When I started doing stuff that was getting news, I was approached by sites that asked "how many hits can you bring?", nothing about substance/content.

The fact that I broke the UFC/Amazon news & that I had an exclusive with Mayweathers camp should prove how most in "media" are just tweeters with website credentials.
The Mayweather exclusive took me 2 minutes to get.
The Amazon thing, someone who liked my SD post gave me a tip & I researched it.
I did both while others were re-tweeting the latest Conor gossip ... lol


RANT OVER

I tend to agree with most of this, journalism as historically known is dead. Today most of these guys are nothing more than bloggers. Covering a few events here for the site, I've seen it first hand. The complaining about access, not the right seats, and so on. Watching these bigger name guys on their phones during the fights drives me crazy. I myself am certainly a fanboy of MMA and thats my angle. Heck if you didn't know I won a contest that named me the biggest mma fan through HBO sports. The UFC vp twitter account calls me the GOAT fan. Although I've been named journalist of the year here the last couple years, I know my place. There is nothing more in this world that I enjoy more than the fight game and in the last couple years getting to share my historical experiences has been fun. I'm currently working on a few different possible ways to get more involved. Tonight I'll be doing a tune up podcast with @Carbazel , that we hope to launch soon and produce weekly. So layoff the fanboy bashing, cause one day I might be the one balling my eyes out on FS1

 

[Onetrickpony]

I really don't understand it when people have this opinion regarding Ariel. He always gets his breaking news correct, seems to have incredible sources and he gives fighters a voice more than any other journalist in MMA. Journalism isn't all about think pieces. Who out there gives more people trustworthy news in MMA, and who gives the fighters more of a voice?

In my opinion journalists report the news without personal input. They provide facts and information and let the reader / viewer decide on their own opinion.

I think of Ariel as the TMZ of mma. He tries to work angles and emotion on every story he breaks. He has the connections but plays up the drama at every turn. I’m not denying or knocking his ability to get scoops, but the manner in which he presents them to the public.