Posted on 05/23/2012 10:02:44 AM PDT by ProgressingAmerica
If you thought to yourself "because it brings in revenue" you'd be correct in a modern sense. But that answer is so overly generic as to be potentially meaningless, because it doesn't get to the root of the question. Why newspapers have sports sections is explained in a study done a century ago of newspapers, done by Will Irwin in his "The American Newspaper". Part 1, "The Power of the Press" explains the following:
On the other extreme, the yellow journals a few years ago, put some of their best cartoonists and cleverest writers into the sporting department. This created an artificial demand for "sporting stuff" far beyond the natural appetite of even an English-speaking people. That demand became so insistent that the other newspapers of all shades of opinion were forced to meet it; and now no newspaper is so conservative and intellectual as not to have a sporting page.
So to be specific, newspapers have sports sections because of propaganda. In one word. Because of yellow journalists. You could enlarge this into a phrase: newspapers have sports sections because they manipulate their readers. Only in the most generic of all senses can it be stated that newspapers have sports sections to make money. They essentially expanded their product line through the use of propaganda.
I wrote a larger posting about what's contained in the first part of this study yesterday, here, where other ways that newspapers manipulate people is illustrated, and he's not talking solely about the editorial pages where opinion rules.
This sounds like some overly-educated type looking down his nose at the attention that a lot of people give sports.
There is a lot to bash on the MSM about propaganda, but this is nonsensical.
Why do cities have newspapers?...They are beyond boring and the news is old the minute you open the paper.
Because it’s the only part of the newspaper that’s interesting, and has fact readily available enough to eliminate most bias.
What’s a newspaper?
Newspapers have sports sections because lots of their readers are sports fans who like to read about sports. Like me.
The sports section sure beats the propaganda, um, er, "news" section.
Perhaps the author of the article has made some valid observations, perhaps, but not complete.
Consider this:
All Sports are stylized games of War.
Everybody, including the spectators, know the rules.
Authorities are on the stylized field of battle to IMMEDIATELY punish those warriors who have broken the rules IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SEVERITY OF THE INFRACTION.
Note: My apologizes, but I have to stop and eat my sardine sandwich now, but you get my drift. Ping me if I need to expand on Sports to include tribal pride, cheerleading, primal athletic skill appreciation,etc., etc., etc. And FUN!
__________
Next Topic: Food for thought, as follows:
We Conservatives are a small voting block, but since Romney is probably going to lose in a very close election, we are an ESSENTIAL voting block to the RNC.
If the RNC wants to win the 2012 National Presidential and Congressional, they must have our full support.
We impressed the RNC with our 2010 efforts, but the RNC has done NOTHING to put the values of our 89 Warriors into effect.
We now hold the balance of power, IF WE INSIST ON AN OPEN CONVENTION.
Without an Open Convention the GOP-E will choose weak Candidate Romney to lose to Obama, just like they did with lame-brain McCain in 2008.
If the RNC overrules their own stupid Primary Rules, then there is the POSSIBILITY that the Delegates will choose a stellar Conservative Dark Horse that we can promote with vigor to topple Dictator (in his own mind) Obama.
Ponder these ideas, chat with others, and let’s visit again on this unique opportunity to not only beat Obama, but slaughter Obama and his Marxist ideas in a massive election Republican Landslide.
Even on the VERY slim chance that Romney squeaks by Obama in November, the Federal problems we have today will be worse in 4 years with Romney as POTUS.
If the RNC wants to win this election, they need us. Let us bring that fact to their attention by a vigorous, grass-roots Campaign for an OPEN Convention.
What say all of you?
So my husband has something to read in the bathroom....
” - - - All Sports are stylized games of War.
Everybody, including the spectators, know the rules.
Authorities are on the stylized field of battle to IMMEDIATELY punish those warriors who have broken the rules IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SEVERITY OF THE INFRACTION. - - - “
Note to self: Next time pose the question: “What if Politics were made into a Sport?”
Why?
So they can sell ads in it to a male-focused audience (that’s where the car tire, etc ads are) and MAKE MONEY FOR THE PERSON WHO OWNS THE NEWSPAPER?
Why?
So they can sell ads in it to a male-focused audience (that’s where the car tire, etc ads are) and MAKE MONEY FOR THE PERSON WHO OWNS THE NEWSPAPER !
That’s true, both observations. But while the sports sections may not be loaded with propaganda like other sections are, that’s a far cry from how they were born.
And for anybody who interpreted my posting as an anti-sports-section discussion, that was not my intent and I apologize. I’m focusing in on the birth of the sports section, to phrase it differently.
Also, since the sports section was typically only read by males, that’s where the advertisers that cater to men could most effectively place their ads.
Many younger people do not realize the main reason newspapers published news and other articles is to get readers to also read the advertisements which generated moat of the revenue.
The ONLY reason to read USA Today is because of their sports section.
The only thing this article is missing is a cogent thought or purpose.
It makes no point whatsoever.
How does putting cartoons and other stuff in the sports section “an artificial demand for “sporting stuff” far beyond the natural appetite of even an English-speaking people”?
Rubbish. I guess we’re supposed to be enlightened and outraged.
bflr
Don’t buy newspapers. It only encourages them.
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