ESPN's College Football War, the Year of the Media Bro, and One Last Jolabokaflod Gift
Dec 30, 2024
01:11:33
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Quick takeaways
The podcast highlights the personal sacrifices journalists make when covering major sports events during holidays, revealing the tension between career ambition and family time.
ESPN's critical commentary on the college football playoff selections underscores ongoing biases in media narratives, particularly regarding conference strength and playoff integrity.
A significant focus on the increasing trend of media layoffs reflects broader concerns about job insecurity and the future of quality journalism.
Deep dives
Todd McShay's New Show and NFL Draft Insights
Todd McShay introduces his new show focused on providing year-round NFL draft information, including player rankings and mock drafts. The show aims to include discussions on player movement and insights on who’s rising or falling in the ranks. McShay plans to engage with fellow football analysts, creating a platform for thought-provoking conversations around draft strategies and college football performances. Weekly episodes will also react to important college football playoff polls and provide previews for upcoming games.
Reflections on Working Holidays in Sports Media
The podcast features a discussion on the personal sacrifices media members make when covering major sporting events on holidays. One speaker reflects on their experiences working through Thanksgiving and Christmas, highlighting the excitement of being part of big games while appreciating the family time that is often missed. The conversation reveals a cultural understanding of how younger journalists may gain opportunities to cover significant events during these periods. It also touches on the nostalgia and personal fulfillment that come with working in high-pressure environments during the festive season.
Challenges of Being an Insider Journalist
The hosts explore the difficulties Black reporters face in becoming insidery figures within sports journalism due to social barriers and networking opportunities often tied to legacy connections. It’s emphasized how many successful reporters have strong personal connections that facilitate their work in the field. The conversation also critiques the industry’s inequitable reward system that favors a select group of journalists over the broader pool. This reflection highlights how systemic issues within media can impact career trajectories and access to resources.
ESPN's Coverage Critiques During College Football Playoff
The podcast dives into ESPN's controversial commentary regarding the quality of teams within the college football playoff, particularly criticizing Indiana's presence in the competition. Analysts voice their frustration about the assumptions made about the strength of various conferences and the resulting playoff selections. The hosts relate how analysts like Kirk Herbstreit express contradictory opinions regarding teams from the Big Ten versus the SEC, shedding light on biases that affect media narratives. This discussion raises questions about the integrity of playoff selection processes and the impact of broadcast partnerships on commentary.
The Impact of Media Layoffs on Journalism
The podcast reflects on the alarming trend of media layoffs, which have increasingly affected journalists across various outlets over the past year. Discussions convey a feeling of insecurity among media professionals as major networks and online platforms cut jobs amid uncertain business models. The conversation hints at the broader implications for quality journalism as experienced reporters find themselves without platforms to share their work. The analysis concludes with a somber prediction that the trend of layoffs will likely continue into the upcoming years, further shrinking the media landscape.
Hello, media consumers! Do not adjust your podcast feeds, as Bryan is joined by Joel on the Monday edition with David away on assignment. They kick off the show with J School, where he discusses a few things, including covering big games on holidays and the Netflix NFL broadcast team (1:30). Then, they exchange Jolabokaflod Gifts (13:31).
Then they discuss college football and how ESPN has been critical of the College Football Playoff… while televising it (17:53).
They close out the show by recapping 2024. First, they talk about it being the year of the “Media Bro,” where they discuss athletes/sports pods rejecting Democrats (37:37), then it being the year of the “media layoff” (48:22), and lastly, it being the year in “ducking media” (52:40).
Finally, they reflect on the lives of Jimmy Carter and Greg Gumbel (56:31).
