I don't think it nullifies the analogy, but it feels like there is some difference in the fact that athletes in major team sports are putting on a jersey with the city or state's name on it and representing that locality through their performance and conduct, in leagues where many venues are heavily subsidized by municipal governments. To me, all this seems to push athletes a notch towards the kind of "representative" figures that the fourth estate is supposed to hold to account, with elected politicians being the ultimate example. Shouldn't journalists expect or push for higher levels of access to people in an industry which trades on a city's name and identity and relies on some level of municipal support in order to function?
"2025 will be the year when sports journalists start to really reckon with the fact that teams and players don't need them anymore." This might sound glib and meaningless, but to me an important focus is when the *audience* decides it doesn't need sports journalists. As long as the audience decides it needs what sports journalists produce, the teams and players will need to recognize that.
I don't think it nullifies the analogy, but it feels like there is some difference in the fact that athletes in major team sports are putting on a jersey with the city or state's name on it and representing that locality through their performance and conduct, in leagues where many venues are heavily subsidized by municipal governments. To me, all this seems to push athletes a notch towards the kind of "representative" figures that the fourth estate is supposed to hold to account, with elected politicians being the ultimate example. Shouldn't journalists expect or push for higher levels of access to people in an industry which trades on a city's name and identity and relies on some level of municipal support in order to function?
"2025 will be the year when sports journalists start to really reckon with the fact that teams and players don't need them anymore." This might sound glib and meaningless, but to me an important focus is when the *audience* decides it doesn't need sports journalists. As long as the audience decides it needs what sports journalists produce, the teams and players will need to recognize that.