After running into some problems with giving bloggers access to the Dallas Maverick’s locker room, Mark Cuban has decided that he is opening up the locker room to any blogger who he feels can write. The move comes after several “real” journalists were blocked from the locker room after a ban on giving blogger’s media credentials. The NBA has now stated that bloggers can’t be banned from locker rooms in this day and age.
Of course, now that the ban is lifted and potentially everyone will be given access, there are yet even more moans from the traditional media establishment, like this one from Mike Fannin of the Kansas City Star:
With all due respect for the potential journalism talent in the middle school ranks, this rebuttal smacks with the tartness of sour grapes. Is this really the standard the NBA wants to set for blogging?
Yes, Mike, we only want bloggers who are from newspapers. That way we can ensure that there is no change in point of view and we maintain exactly the same standard of journalism that is currently driving sports enthusiasts to blogs instead of the incredibly intuitive Kansas City Star sports site.
Although I’m not sure it will really work, what Cuban is doing is probably a sign of things to come and it’s certainly fun to watch it unfold on his blog, where he’s taking submissions from anyone who has a blog and wants access. As the influential media expands beyond print and television, organizations are going to have to find ways to accommodate larger numbers of journalists. I think anyone who’s watched a post-game press conference would welcome some fresh questions.
