Comments on: Could MMA Blogs Pick Up The Slack Of Mainstream Media?

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:11:45 +0000

I try to keep my opinions out as well, unless its an editorial… which is different (and mine are usually pro-UFC)

By: sjava

sjava — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:08:00 +0000

That’s the beauty of it though, this way the UFC can pick and choose which internet journalists it wants to credential, as opposed to just blindly accepting the AP credentials of any hack writer out there.

There aren’t many journalists in print or television any more who keep their bias from their reporting. It’s not about facts anymore it’s about spin. From what I’ve seen here Kris and Eric do a very good job of keeping the actual reporting of the facts in the initial article as unbiased as possible. Once that’s been done then they’re as free as anyone else to comment with their thoughts and opinions.

By: GSP

GSP — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:28:54 +0000

Interesting article but do you guys really think the Internet will be as credible as print, television, and radio? Zuffa’s policy basically says it all. The Internet has way too many wannabe journalists, not you guys, but you are the ones who pay for it. Even still, this site has a lot of opinion and speculation sometimes. Is that really credible journalism? You shouldn’t be shocked that Zuffa does this. As journalists, can you really blame him?

By: Quinton

Quinton — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:45:52 +0000

Wha It’s going to be a while before everybody in america is into MMA like there into Football or Basketball or even Baseball

By: Eric Shapiro

Eric Shapiro — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:21:16 +0000

thanks gunslinger, i hope so too!

By: chrisl

chrisl — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:05:09 +0000

Great article Eric. I’ve always found it rather interesting that the sportswriters who actually bash MMA are brand new to the sport and usually have never actually seen more than bits and pieces. Seems like the ones who know MMA are not in position to adequately cover the sport.

By: gunslinger

gunslinger — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:15:26 +0000

good luck kris and eric, hopefully zuffa will realize that two of the best mma credential applicants in the world are only a website away

By: Kris Karkoski

Kris Karkoski — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:58:04 +0000

Thanks for stopping by Ryan. It’s in everyone’s benefit to allow major websites to cover the UFC. Here’s hoping they embrace all the blogs and sites that give them free press and credential them for events soon.

By: Kris Karkoski

Kris Karkoski — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:54:15 +0000

It’s unlikely Sherdog will ever be credentialed whether other sites are or not because they’re basically blacklisted by the UFC for releasing The Ultimate Fighter results before they aired.

I can personally say the UFC sent me a credential application for UFC 97 so we’ll see soon enough whether they’re changed their stance but it’s apparent they’re becoming more internet friendly.

By: Eric Shapiro

Eric Shapiro — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:07:15 +0000

The whole thing is rather tricky. Sherdog cannot get credentialed from their website (last I checked at least), but if someone on their staff does a broadcast radio show or is maybe covering the event for a newspaper or espn- then they could get in that way. However if the UFC knows that the reporter also works for say a blog, then they would stipulate that any content the person obtained stay off of the blog.