Cricket Journalism

[Jono]

Sorry, completely misread GIMH's post, and thought he said it was inevitable because of the advertising, not it was unnecessary.

Ignore my "stating the obvious" Microeconomics 101post then

Agree regarding online advertising btw.

Hate the AFL.com.au ones though. Hate that whole site all together. Just **** off.

[Uppercut]

Don't think i've ever once clicked on an online ad.

[howardj]

Wow, why so cold and cynical Howard?

the copper and fireman comment was said in jest.

[GIMH]

Don't think i've ever once clicked on an online ad.

Not even on a search engine?

[Smudge]

I would have thought that with internet websites as news mediums increasing in popularity (and numbers), the chances to make a career in journalism is actually increasing.

I wouldn't think so, certainly not enough to make a career and living out of (aside from a few). Happy to be proven wrong and not really talking from any first hand experience but all the sackings at papers like The Age have been very worrying.

On a side note it looks like they're going to start charging for The Age site.

Yeah, at least in New Zealand, newsrooms are being rationalised all over the country, while sub-editing is being centralised as well (which, in my view is idiotic, as it removes local knowledge from the sub-editing process).

As for getting into journalism, be prepared for a decent slog of average rounds for a couple of years, learning your craft on council meetings, 100th birthday parties and writing mundane captions. But once you get into a sports reporting role, it's worth it. Well, the money isn't, but the job is. I simply tired of it myself as I disliked the recent trend to move away from analysis towards personality-based news.

[Son Of Coco]

True, but people should be exposed to the realities of any profession. I've found it hasn't always been the case and you only find out down the track that things have been extensively sugar coated.

True, but you can make someone aware of the realities without telling them to forget about it before they've even started.

[Richard]

The point is, don't get your hopes up, because your chances are pretty slim, however hard you try.

Anyone attempting to enter the field must be aware of that and not just expect to be able to guarantee results by doing the right preparation.

If you want it so badly that to not try would leave rest-of-life scars, go for it - but do so always being aware of the low level of prospects, and (as pointed-out on a couple of occasions) if you've not got a contingency plan be aware that you're probably going to be in trouble.

[Son Of Coco]

The point is, don't get your hopes up, because your chances are pretty slim, however hard you try.

Anyone attempting to enter the field must be aware of that and not just expect to be able to guarantee results by doing the right preparation.

If you want it so badly that to not try would leave rest-of-life scars, go for it - but do so always being aware of the low level of prospects, and (as pointed-out on a couple of occasions) if you've not got a contingency plan be aware that you're probably going to be in trouble.

The point was taken I presume. It can be made a number of ways.

[Tim]

I'm involved in Radio and TV sports journalism...or are you looking to be in print??

[Pringle]

I haven't got any qualifications in journalism, but a couple of years ago managed to get some online football journalism work and last October was able to quit the day job and go fully freelance. I concede that there are more opportunities for football writers than for cricket, but it shows that it can be done.

As others have suggested, concentrate on blogging about cricket and building up the readership of your blog. Put links on your site to other cricket blogs and before long, some of them will reciprocate and you're readership will start to grow. The more you write, the better you'll become and you'll have examples of your work to show, when you start trying to get paying gigs.

It's true that the papers are tending to go with ex-pros rather than journalists, but the web is creating lots of opportunities. As well as normal cricket sites, there's lots of work going for betting affiliate sites, who need people that can write match previews.

[Matt79]

Don't think i've ever once clicked on an online ad.

Same - well not intentionally. I have this very imprecise mouse, and I think once I accidently clicked on a penis enlargement ad. But that was because of the mouse. Not because I need the cream. I was actually looking for extra LARGE underpants anyway, so I don't know why that ad was up onscreen. Stupid really, who's going to pay $49.95 for a cream promising to increase your length AND girth. And surely there's some sort of requirement for a no-refund policy to be flagged in the advertisement.

So yeah, I don't think online advertising works.

[pasag]

Same - well not intentionally. I have this very imprecise mouse, and I think once I accidently clicked on a penis enlargement ad. But that was because of the mouse. Not because I need the cream. I was actually looking for extra LARGE underpants anyway, so I don't know why that ad was up onscreen. Stupid really, who's going to pay $49.95 for a cream promising to increase your length AND girth. And surely there's some sort of requirement for a no-refund policy to be flagged in the advertisement.

So yeah, I don't think online advertising works.

Just because it doesn't work on you doesn't mean it doesn't work in general also remember that not all online ads are meant to be clicked. The foxtel one under the QR is a good example.

[Matt79]

The cream or the ad?

[Jono]

I reckon most online advertising you don't even realise has worked on you tbh.

People overrestimate themselves a lot of the time. What's the old adage, "advertising works on everyone else... but not me?"

[Athlai]

I reckon most online advertising you don't even realise has worked on you tbh.

People overrestimate themselves a lot of the time. What's the old adage, "advertising works on everyone else... but not me?"

As your drinking your coke with the label showing towards the camera.