With All Good Intentions

An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.  (Buddha)

 In 2007 I started Sports Media Journal (SMJ).   As our About Us page states, the idea was to create “a site where you’ll find out more about the people and organizations that manage and report sports.”

Even though the sports media beat was well-covered on a national and local level back then, I felt a need to delve deeper.  My idea was to provide commentary and interview the people who make up this industry.  I was able to do much of that over the last six-plus years, especially on the podcast we launched with Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites, Sports Media Weekly.

I began Sports Media Journal as a hobby, as do many others who create blogs.  I knew that the success of the blog would be based on consistent, quality writing that is not found anywhere else.  Even though I did have advertising on the site, the future of SMJ was never contingent on making a profit.

I have a full-time job outside of SMJ which is the focus of my weekdays.  Spending time with my wife and daughter take-up the remaining hours of the week.  I could not be happier when it comes to my personal and professional life.  I am truly blessed.

In recent months it has been more difficult to post regularly on SMJ.  My level of interest in sports media has waned.  And as I creep closer to 50, I feel the need to simplify my life.

Therefore, as of January 1, 2014, Sports Media Journal will be no more.  I will still own the domain and over the next few months the blog’s content will be migrated away from a hosted site to a free website service.  I can still be reached at keith@sportsmediajournal.com.

I am eternally thankful to those of you who made SMJ a regular stop for news and information.  It amazes me how many of you are as interested in sports media as me.

I have met some incredible people both inside and outside the sports media industry over the six-plus years I have owned SMJ.  I have made many new friends.

Even though I leave the sports media beat, there are so many people doing great work. Among them:

• For coverage on day to day news from the networks there is no one better than my Sports Media Weekly partner Ken Fang at Fang’s Bites;
• For breaking news within the industry, please read John Ourand and the others at Sports Business Journal;
• Few have built up a greater resume nationally than Richard Deitsch at Sports Illustrated;
• Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report always provides unique takes on sports media;
• Jason McIntyre at the Big Lead and Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing have built impressive operations with heavy emphasis on sports media;
• and The National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University is a great site for research and trends in sports media.

Looking back I have no regrets in starting Sports Media Journal.  Ideas spring to life.  People evolve.  Peace.

 

 

 

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