100% agree Jarrod. We have some quality writers in NZ who fill the role of detail-oriented writers, but they also have their time split amongst other sports and platforms to earn enough money to survive. The Niche Cache is a great example of this, covering pretty much everything but rugby, but despite this, they have recently had to push for more money as they don't have enough coverage. Allowing them to write without also having to take on their own marketing I imagine would be a dream for them.
In India, it's extremely difficult to get ideas following in established companies. Everyone wants to make money with SEO and the focus has always been over quantity more than quality. When you suggest ideas, it takes ages for the bosses to get out of this comfort zone of free flowing money.
I have tried to write a couple of data stories and non-SEO based stories which 'answer' questions by taking inspiration from the The Athletic and it has worked brilliantly for traffic. But here's the problem: such stories take time and triple the effort, and you can get paid the same by doing 2 random news pieces in 30 minutes. The publications that promote brilliant features, like the Sportstar magazine, pay peanuts.
With so much competition, you need to stay afloat and make money. So if you are someone who really wants to do good journalism and writing between the chaos of content aggregation and have to make money too, the only way is to work extra over your 8 hour shifts or on weekends.
Absolutely agree with you, I wonder if starting a publication or a stack on Substack where we get access to several writers at one go will be a good point to test it out?
1. For example I was really keen to follow the Scotland fast bowler who in the WC qualifiers bowled 150kph and thought he maybe a good investment for RCB for long term.
2. IPL point is great, I absolutely find myself disconnected with the RCB team after the IPL. There are no real good articles. The IPL feels like a one night stand. There is really nothing before or after!
3. Test cricket is another one. For example the Indian team finds itself having batters, and now after Jadeja a bowler with little international experience. I mean how did they get here? What was RD and RS thinking? Everyone keeps coming and giving their opinion but quality cricket writing goes beyond that.
Another point is even though cricket is second most searched most of it will be from India. India’s per capita GDP is 2,200 USD. Englands is 45,544. That is insane. But the catch is Mumbai’s per capita GDP is USD 23,000! So how do you maintain the pricing for a such a disparate set of audience? One thing that could really work though is fantasy sports writing and detailed discussion. I am sure that will be a big draw even in India. You assume that subscription is USD 40 a month. But there will be 4/5 guys putting together and getting the subscription. Could that work?
Anyways looking forward to Athletic for Cricket! I will be glad to read that. I have almost stopped reading Cricinfo articles and only read the ones in Substack. But multiple good writers get expensive quickly. Will advertisers help with that?
100% agree Jarrod. We have some quality writers in NZ who fill the role of detail-oriented writers, but they also have their time split amongst other sports and platforms to earn enough money to survive. The Niche Cache is a great example of this, covering pretty much everything but rugby, but despite this, they have recently had to push for more money as they don't have enough coverage. Allowing them to write without also having to take on their own marketing I imagine would be a dream for them.
In India, it's extremely difficult to get ideas following in established companies. Everyone wants to make money with SEO and the focus has always been over quantity more than quality. When you suggest ideas, it takes ages for the bosses to get out of this comfort zone of free flowing money.
I have tried to write a couple of data stories and non-SEO based stories which 'answer' questions by taking inspiration from the The Athletic and it has worked brilliantly for traffic. But here's the problem: such stories take time and triple the effort, and you can get paid the same by doing 2 random news pieces in 30 minutes. The publications that promote brilliant features, like the Sportstar magazine, pay peanuts.
With so much competition, you need to stay afloat and make money. So if you are someone who really wants to do good journalism and writing between the chaos of content aggregation and have to make money too, the only way is to work extra over your 8 hour shifts or on weekends.
Absolutely agree with you, I wonder if starting a publication or a stack on Substack where we get access to several writers at one go will be a good point to test it out?
1. For example I was really keen to follow the Scotland fast bowler who in the WC qualifiers bowled 150kph and thought he maybe a good investment for RCB for long term.
2. IPL point is great, I absolutely find myself disconnected with the RCB team after the IPL. There are no real good articles. The IPL feels like a one night stand. There is really nothing before or after!
3. Test cricket is another one. For example the Indian team finds itself having batters, and now after Jadeja a bowler with little international experience. I mean how did they get here? What was RD and RS thinking? Everyone keeps coming and giving their opinion but quality cricket writing goes beyond that.
Another point is even though cricket is second most searched most of it will be from India. India’s per capita GDP is 2,200 USD. Englands is 45,544. That is insane. But the catch is Mumbai’s per capita GDP is USD 23,000! So how do you maintain the pricing for a such a disparate set of audience? One thing that could really work though is fantasy sports writing and detailed discussion. I am sure that will be a big draw even in India. You assume that subscription is USD 40 a month. But there will be 4/5 guys putting together and getting the subscription. Could that work?
Anyways looking forward to Athletic for Cricket! I will be glad to read that. I have almost stopped reading Cricinfo articles and only read the ones in Substack. But multiple good writers get expensive quickly. Will advertisers help with that?