OT: Anonymous articles on DetNews/FreeP websites?
I've been noticing that a number of sports articles on the DetNews and Free Press websites are posted without any author information. I find this to be a rather strange practice. I thought the whole point of attaching your name to an article was to take credit for your work, stand by it, and add it to your publication list. Even guest authors usually attach their name to their prose.
But for some reason, stuff like this...
...ends up being written anonymously.
Could someone enlighten me on why news agencies do this? I can understand if there are multiple contributing authors that are too many to list, but for a small recruiting article based on information that can be found via a quick google search, why not list your name and take credit for your work?
February 1st, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^
It means, "Compiled by the News Sports Staff from other sources."
February 1st, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
copypasta.
February 1st, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
Not unusual. These things are usually cited with some kind of "Staff" something-or-other citation. When it says "The Detroit News," or "The Detroit Free Press," usually means it was written/compiled by staff writer underlings instead of name-and-mugshot columnists.
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:45 AM ^
Michael Rosenberg should have his own mugshot taken in front of the height scale holding the numbered sign, with front and side views.
February 1st, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
Probably written by a committee of unpaid interns. They don't give them credit so they don't get picked up by a competitor who might actually pay them. Soon life will be better without these rags once called papers. Long live MgoBlog!
February 1st, 2011 at 8:35 PM ^
No different than an article in any major newspaper with the byline "Associated Press" I suppose.
February 1st, 2011 at 8:37 PM ^
they are briefs that are used on the margin of some of the sports that are derived from AP/newswire content. having worked "in the business," i can guarantee this.
February 1st, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
The article I cited was based off information from a blog post. I could be wrong, but blog posts don't normally get transmitted over the wire, do they?
February 1st, 2011 at 9:16 PM ^
The wire is purely Associated Press content -- but sometimes the AP writer will, if he closely follows a team/sport, be looking around and come across blog posts and message boards and find some information, and if he deems it reliable, he might mention it in a story or try to dig deeper with his sources and see if there's anything of value in the rumors.
February 1st, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^
Articles without bylines are typically written by someone who's not an official writer but works on the desk. I wrote many of those when I was a layout guy.
Basically, if all the staff writers are unavailable and something interesting is going on -- be it National Signing Day or, as I once had to do, a kidnapping story on deadline -- I might have to write up a short story based off other news reports or based off information from a phone call with someone who would have information (like a coach).
February 1st, 2011 at 11:11 PM ^
Who would want to put his or her name on an article that ended up in the Freep?