Zina Kumok | March 30, 2011
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Recently, the Ninth Inning blog named the NSJC site to its list of “Best Sports Business Blogs You Aren’t Reading Yet.”
“It’s really taken off beyond anything we even imagined in terms of page views and traffic,” said NSJC director Tim Franklin of the site launched in September 2009, It averages 25,000-30,000 unique visitors a month.
“I think it’s pretty universally read by the sports editors,” he said. “It’s finally one place where they feel like they can go and keep up on the industry.”
With three columnists on board, including legend Dave Kindred, the site provides breaking news, commentary and information about the program.
Associate editor for the Sporting News DeAntae Prince, BAJ’10, said Kindred is the main reason he visits the site.
“So, when big issues come up in sports journalism or there is a wrinkle in the sports writing world, I search out his opinion on the matter,” Prince said.
IU sophomore Justin Albers said he thinks sports websites like ESPN and SI.com offer the most important news, but he goes to the NSJC website for something deeper.
“I can get opinion on those stories,” Albers said. “But what I can't get is analysis of the media, which is why I think the NSJC website is so important.”
IU junior Sean Morrison also said that he goes to the NSJC website for under-the-radar news.
“When I'm looking for context on a story I don't know much about, especially if it involves media, I go to the NSJC website,” Morrison said. “It's really helpful when you're trying to get to first-hand analysis and don't know where to start.”
Not only is the site a leading place to get sports news, it has helped recruit prospective students.
Franklin said the inaugural group of 15 graduate students working toward a master’s degree in sports journalism said they learned about the program from the website.
“It’s a tangible, visible way for us to reach students,” he said.
Franklin said his specific goals for the site include adding more multimedia, featuring student and faculty research and adding another contributing columnist.
“I don’t have any specific traffic goals,” Franklin said. “My goal is to have it be known as the best sports journalism website in the nation. I think we’re well on our way to doing that.”
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