Media Bias - What can we do?

[demosaw 1,025]

Like many I’m sick of the anti-Melbourne media bias in commentary and analysis. We’ve all seen open Barracking against us, reopening and poking of wounds, delight in our misfortune, misinformation, malice and mischief.

Rather than complain which will just make it worse, I’m thinking as a club we need to play the long game and groom select/interested current and recent AFL/AFLW past players/assistants for media roles with a Media College.

Learning would be theoretical and practical and would cover traditional media and new media, marketing, entrepreneurship, management, PR.

Could be delivered with a mix of current and latent club contacts through supports and sponsors, in partnership with a university so delivers a choice of formal qualification.

In years to come we will gradually redress the balance by having more engaging and informed comment and entertainment coming from those who are, know, love and protect demons.

Don’t get angry get even. Could we do this?

[hardtack 10,537]

So, you want a media that is biased towards us? Sorry, but I think you’ll find that regardless of which club you follow, you’d be able to find bias against that club, if you looked hard enough; it’s called <club>SS, for example, MFCSS.

[BDA 22,743]

It was annoying listening to Darcy barrack for the Saints last night but he's still salty because we brutalised his beloved doggies in the 21GF. Very transparent. 

Most of the media are just hacks so tbh I don't really care what they have to say.

[Engorged Onion 10,215]

It is perhaps worth considering that AFL is an entertainment product, not a football code.

And if you take that as a truth, then you can see why there are many many narratives, particularly towards those that have high memberships (higher clicks, greater purchasing power)

Sure, once in a while the 'feel good fairytale' will occur (Western Bulldogs, Melbourne) and, those don't provide a profit, particularly when trying to claw back missed revenue during Covid.

 

[drysdale demon 4,830]

Most of the media just carry on like lovesick hysterical young teens. That is the politest way I could describe them.

Edited July 8, 2023 by drysdale demon
more information

[dees189227 12,388]

Ever listened to the the coverage when the Melbourne Storm play especially in Sydney?

Still remember the grand finals when they actually groaned when we scored a try.

[640MD 3,375]

2 hours ago, demosaw said:

Like many I’m sick of the anti-Melbourne media bias in commentary and analysis. We’ve all seen open Barracking against us, reopening and poking of wounds, delight in our misfortune, misinformation, malice and mischief.

It does annoy but at least he did not play for the saints but outright barracking for the pies by BT turns me off. 
other things missed free kicks   I hate the way this game is going it’s just a rolling scrum.  Free kicks picked out of the air  or from the crowd noise, 

umpires need to be fully professional and subject to critique same for commentary people. 
when old Jack dyer was the caller you could not tell who was winning let alone who was playing 

[The heart beats true 18,123]

I think this need to be taken into account when understanding the emotional context it creates for supporters, particularly during our games.

Last night was the first game I’d been to since Queens Birthday. I really enjoyed it, and greatly admired the effort and discipline of both teams players.

I see the game really purely at the ground - meaning it’s not seen through the lens of someone whose barracking for another team, or whose employer sees more benefit in the other team winning. I saw the saints trying really hard and being fully committed, and I saw us rise to it and be cleaner, more skilful and more level headed.

I just get annoyed watching the TV. We aren’t sexy and glamorous, we are disciplined and structured and organised. That’s not what TV wants, and so it works against us, and impacts our experiences and expectations.

[YearOfTheDees 3,266]

You use it as a weapon, Luke Beveridge almost won a flag in 2021 using the use against them line. Got within 12 goal anyway.

[Fork 'em 6,983]

The commentators expect Us to win most games theses days.
That's why they all sit in hope the opposition can come back and make a game of it.
Makes it a more interesting game both for them to call and the viewer watching or listening.
Nothing more than cheering on the underdog.

And lets face it.
We are a pretty boring team to watch.
Goodwin likes it like that, but the media who want entertaining games don't.

Edited July 9, 2023 by Fork 'em

[demosaw 1,025]

2 hours ago, hardtack said:

So, you want a media that is biased towards us? Sorry, but I think you’ll find that regardless of which club you follow, you’d be able to find bias against that club, if you looked hard enough; it’s called <club>SS, for example, MFCSS.

No. I’d just settle for media that is professional and even.

[Demon17 5,188]

I note most comments refer to Ch 7 media.  Once I discovered Kayo last year I no longer watch 7 for the reasons on this thread.

They're not perfect, Kayo that is,  but watching yesterdays game on Kayo , Hawks vs Giants was great, with the fabulous Huddo on the call and sensible and insightful analysis by others. All they need now is Daisy.

Ch7 have been rubbish for ages. I don't watch them, even if dees on (hopefully I'm at the game anyway.).

Pre and post match listening to 'Richo'  ? - give me strength.

[demosaw 1,025]

2 hours ago, BDA said:

It was annoying listening to Darcy barrack for the Saints last night but he's still salty because we brutalised his beloved doggies in the 21GF. Very transparent. 

Most of the media are just hacks so tbh I don't really care what they have to say.

Yes in 21 GF the Dee’s did brutalise the Bulldogs (on the scoreboard at least). RSPCA almost got involved 😆 

[Melb16 493]

Personally, I’m constantly baffled as to why people care what ‘the media’ says about their club.

Why does it rile people up so much? It also seems contradictory. ‘Luke Darcy has no idea what he’s talking about’ but I want him to think we are the bees knees. Who cares what Luke Darcy thinks! Form your own opinion as a result of hearing different views and analysis. Do people just want an echo chamber to confirm their view?

We’re currently 4th. Do supporters want to hear each media personality say we’re the greatest to to ever exist and we won’t lose again for 15 years? Even if they said that, it doesn’t mean anything.

Then we have an example of a former club legend (Lyon) who openly states he and his kids barrack for the club, and some people thinks he ‘hates us’ because he critiques how we play (his job). Mind boggling.

[old dee 23,787]

Turn the sound off!

[Deebauched 1,220]

The media and AFL is corporate. Media employees are paid alot of money to read from a script even commentators show deliberate bias because its their job. 

 If Melbourne keep winning the media will back Melbourne because there will be public interest. If we play the Pies in Sept  then brace for impact. Nick Diacos is officially (God) because it says so on the running sheet.  He'll win the Browny and the media will go nuts because its their job.

Working in the media is the best paid job outside footy.

Edited July 9, 2023 by Deebauched

[nomed 113]

10 minutes ago, old dee said:

Turn the sound off!

And grab a digital radio....

[Redleg 40,895]

4 hours ago, demosaw said:

Like many I’m sick of the anti-Melbourne media bias in commentary and analysis. We’ve all seen open Barracking against us, reopening and poking of wounds, delight in our misfortune, misinformation, malice and mischief.

Rather than complain which will just make it worse, I’m thinking as a club we need to play the long game and groom select/interested current and recent AFL/AFLW past players/assistants for media roles with a Media College.

Learning would be theoretical and practical and would cover traditional media and new media, marketing, entrepreneurship, management, PR.

Could be delivered with a mix of current and latent club contacts through supports and sponsors, in partnership with a university so delivers a choice of formal qualification.

In years to come we will gradually redress the balance by having more engaging and informed comment and entertainment coming from those who are, know, love and protect demons.

Don’t get angry get even. Could we do this?

My answer is simpler, keep winning.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,503]

The commentators try to sell a narrative to keep the audience engaged.  As we’re a consistently strong team now, they pump up the underdog to keep people tuned in.

They’ll say the losing team is still in it up until the final siren.

 

 

[Fork 'em 6,983]

I usually watch the game on my computer using headphones.
Last night I discovered if I put my headphones on the desk in front of me instead of wearing them the only thing I could hear was the whistle.
I'll be doing more of that in the future.

[rjay 24,917]

3 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

It is perhaps worth considering that AFL is an entertainment product, not a football code.

That's why Max will get a media role when his playing career is done...

The Ian Johnson connection helped Gary get a gig in the past.

Now we have a bit of nepotism with Eddie.

...but in the end it is an entertainment and the most entertaining, engaging or controversial (Kane and Caro) stay in a job

[3183 Dee 2,853]

I find it very stressful to watch on TV or listen to radio coverage, much more so than at the game. However, with the sound off, it’s weirdly less stressful. If they could give an option for just the crowd noise, it’d be perfect for me.

The Ch7 commentary is largely moronic, it’s more like WWF than AFL.

[DeeSpencer 25,678]

The Saints were the underdog last night, of course the commentators were cheering for them to get back in the game.

Al NicHOlSon (that’s his voice breaking mid sentence) clearly doesn’t like us. That’s ok, the feeling is mutual.

Otherwise, bring it on. Try to divide our players and pressure the coach, they could do with it and if they’re fair dinkum it will only galvanise them. 

[P-man 13,366]

Just to play devil’s advocate, Melbourne are almost a weekly discussion point on On The Couch, primarily due to the show being hosted by Garry Lyon. Good or bad, Melbourne are likely to feature on the show. Same with his SEN slot. We get more airplay than several other clubs due to that alone.

I don’t mind at all if the commentary is negative, as long as we’re being talked about. While Lyon has a strong media presence (much to the chagrin of some), that’s a guarantee.

[Clintosaurus 7,843]

10 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

The Saints were the underdog last night, of course the commentators were cheering for them to get back in the game.

Yet they barrack for the Pies from the opening bounce every week. There's a few favourites with the media. Pies, Geelong, Saints, Carlton.