Philly Media Hits New Low With Supermarket Journalism
By Mike Silva ~ March 3rd, 2009. Filed under: Mike Silva.
Over at the Perpetual Post Howard Megdal and David Tomar have a debate over the “class of Philadelphia”. Both make great points. Howard about Philly culture and Tovar about some of the media induced comments. Unfortunately, this was run before the news of the Philadelphia Inquirer poll came out last night. I think even David would have had to change his feelings on the city.
The pundits ninety miles south decided to see which collapse is the most colossal: 2007, 2008, or the impending one in 2009. About 52% (as of 8:00 AM today) believe the 2009 will be the best one ever.
This is a poll that I would be embarrassed to run on NYBD, much less a major news publication like the Philadelphia Inquirer. When I first read it, I thought I was reading the Enquirer. But then I remembered I wasn’t on the checkout line at my local supermarket. That made it even more depressing.
Obviously, a poll like this is probably not the responsibility of the writers, but where is the outcry over this clear case of homer-ism? Why does this city, and now the media, focus more on the failures of others rather than the success of their own teams?
I am not an expert on dining, arts, or any of Philly’s culture. I do know that every time I have watched a game there the fans made it unpleasant. Regardless of their teams standing the crowd was filled with negativity, sarcasm, and jealousy. Apparently this includes the newsrooms as well. How does a city expect to grow when a major newspaper sets the trend with childish behavior?
How many times will you hear professionals in the industry scoff at independents like NYBD about their “credentials”? Perhaps I don’t have a journalism degree, but my two degrees in business did teach me professionalism and ethics. Neither is on display at the Philadelphia En, I mean, Inquirer.
The Mets deserve to be mocked by Cole Hamels, Jimmy Rollins, and Brett Myers. There is no denying that they have played with fear the last two years. The Phillies deserve credit for overcoming adversity and accomplishing the single hardest feat in sports – a championship. The rivalry is on the field, not in the newsroom. The city can win multiple championships and, as Howard Megdal pointed out at the Perpetual Post, you will still be second rate. That clearly includes the newspaper industry.
This site, and show, will continue to be the watchdog of this type of behavior. I will continue to point out these journalistic indiscretions. Maybe by the end of 2009 the Philadelphia Inquirer can live up to the standard of Mike Silva’s New York Baseball Digest. They have a lot of work to do because, right now, they belong on the supermarket checkout line.
