I’ve been around this block before, but haven’t moved

June 25, 2009

Thanks to Cheryl for taking the photo!

[ Photoset ] I covered Bloggers Night hosted by the Washington Nationals as an event of its own rather than covering the game. Don’t get me wrong, I did score the game (A win! Go Willie!) and tweet like crazy, but the event itself was so progressive for the team, it deserved its own coverage, plus it’s right up my alley. However, it did not afford me the opportunity to cover the game the way I normally do, so I improvised. Had blogger night been offered by the Nationals two or three years ago, my world would have been so totally rocked! It was still pretty rocking for those “new media” who have never been in the press box or on the field before and that’s awesome for them. Plus, not many MLB teams have done this yet — to my knowledge only the Dodgers have. So pardon me while I do a little navel gazing (sorry, Chris!). It took me a while to even figure out what to say about the night as I have a mixed reaction.

Yesterday at the Wil Nieves ESPN Zone Q&A, I received one of the best compliments to date. The woman who handles the events told me she loves my photos and that they always make events feel fun and like she was there when she wasn’t able to attend. Even gameday sets. Wow! That’s totally my goal, and dare I say forte, but to hear someone say it was phenomenal. (Thank you!) The other came last weekend when the editor of SBNation said I know more about the Nats than anyone he knows (probably not reflected here because I tend to cover the quirks). I’ve done my own thing, often unconventional, since the Nats came to town in 2005. I’ve forged relationships and had the good fortune of credentials for the photo pit and field pre-game a handful of times until they stopped doing that last year. Those are the credentials I crave, fit what I do perfectly, and I think I have the credibility at this point given I’ve sold and had several photographs published and not made any glaring faux pas. I mean, do teams allow freelance photographers in the pits? I would think so given the scene one particular Mother’s Day when a photographer visiting town came on the field dressed.. um… well let’s just say that was her faux pas!

So for me personally, the night felt kind of like a cattle herding demotion, but that’s not to say it wasn’t totally worth it and hopefully a baby step in a positive direction for new media. It did give us some exposure to players who didn’t know who any of us were (Dunn: “What’s a blog? Is that like Facebook?”). Again, I find myself in that weird mid-gravity suspension between media and fan — or actually trying to define myself and unable to. While I appreciated the audience and Q&A with the players, manager Manny Acta, and Mike Rizzo and Stan Kasten, the group press conference style setting is hard for me, but seems to work well for others. I do better one on one conversationally (I think of it as being like a columnist). Everyone hearing the same thing in a group Q&A is replicating the same old media model, IMO.

I’ve felt like “The Blogmother” for the last couple years, particularly as the first female all-Nats blogger — I’m friends or friendly with everyone including traditional media, love the social scene, have settled disputes between cliques, calmed nerves when the newer members feel intimidated, but always kind of remained a lone wolf who talks to everyone and keeps a pulse on everything going on while maintaining a low profile. I’ve been disappointed in the past to be lumped in with other bloggers and judged by their actions and denied access. But I do not police people. I cannot control comments on my blog (and encourage free speech unless it’s vulgar) nor can I say what people can or can’t tweet on Twitter, the newest entry into the social media scene.

During Mike Rizzo and Stan Kasten’s visit to our auxiliary press box, Stan said he wasn’t sure he wanted to know who any of us were (too late for me!) when we asked questions, encouraged us to just be ourselves and informal, have fun (woo!) and realized that new media was the direction things were going. He repealed the “no cheering” ground rule, but advised it should be done quietly given our position between other press. So I ended up being the jerk not even sporting a Curly W hat or item of red. Because that’s how I had been conditioned. I had tweeted upon entering the stadium, “one guess who’s going to blogger night in full Nats gear” or something to that effect, because there are some fans who will not deny their fandom and hard work no matter what. Stan has called them out on it before in press situations. I’m a rule follower, he’s a rebel. And on this night, kudos to him. Some Twitter replies were not so nice, others guessed people who weren’t even there. But I learned my Twitlesson – it seems like a conversation between friends, but it’s public and will get back to people even if they’re not on Twitter.

I’ve heard I’ve recently been judged on replies in my blog and tweets and replies on Twitter. I was only trying to have a little fun because that’s what I do – make things fun. I was not intentionally trying to hurt anyone’s feelings. I think a sense of humor is required in this biz. I knew I’d be mocked for the commercial and took it in stride. I still get mocked for other things as well – it comes with the territory of putting yourself out there. Rather than take it personally, you can choose to roll with it and have your own fun or feel victimized, which is not fun. I would encourage whoever reported my tweets to read the end of my Drew Storen post and see that I fleshed out what little I could blurb in 140 characters into a better explanation on my blog about needing to work on my elbowing in skills, not placing blame on someone else.

If getting judged for credentials hinges on poking a little fun, let me throw this out:

When radio broadcasters Dave and Charlie promote “all you can eat” night at the Pfitz, they joke MLB.com reporter Bill Ladson will be all over it…

How is that any different?

Everything works out eventually. I can name several bloggers who were viewed poorly during different periods, but have redeemed themselves or ingratiated themselves into good graces over the years. So everything is fluid and doesn’t remain an everlasting snapshot in time. We all do our thing differently with different personalities, strengths, appeal and devoted followers. You can’t define us or shove us into a hole with the same shoehorn because it doesn’t work or fit. And I don’t think we can be evaluated as a whole group, but more as individuals.

Many thanks to the Nationals staff for taking the giant leap for Natskind! I will send my suggestions and feedback in after blogger night (probably shorter than this) and hope for the best :-)

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Posted in Gameday, MLB, Washington Nationals