Every business is trying to adjust to the new era of media, instant access through Twitter and other social media outlets. Major League Baseball is an entity that has actually done a very good job of harnessing the power of the internet.
Their MLB At-Bat app is the number one sports streaming site. That success has added to the already rich coffers of baseball team owners. But Major League Baseball's oldest franchise, the Cincinnat Reds might still be struggling on the uses of digital media. Well, at least their second year manager Bryan Price.
Price blew up at 'beat writers' for his baseball club, upset that they were reporting on personnel changes. In one case, the reporters were announcing a change in the roster even before Price had a chance to break the bad news to the player being sent back to the minors.
The five minute and thirty four second rant featured several f-bombs and some creative ways to describe animal waste. While this rant was very good, it wasn't the best in baseball history. That still belongs to former Chicago Cubs manager Lee Elia.
While we can laugh at a crazy baseball guy who was frustrated by poor performances from his team, I do believe there is a media lesson to learned here. If a reporter is talking to you, even if they are really friendly, remember they have a job to do. And that job is to find out information that people want to know about you and your organization, and report it.
Perhaps someone should tell that to Price. Here is one of his quotes from the rant: "Your job is not to sniff out every f****** thing is about the Reds and f****** put it out there for every other f****** guy to hear. It's not your job."
Actually Bryan, it is.
Long gone are the days of beat reporters not telling all they see. Babe Ruth got away with that, President Kennedy got a way with that too. But that was long before social media made everyone a reporter, and breaking news 24 hours a day.
Being combative with the media is rarely successful. Partner with them, and while they won't bury news for you they will often work with you to make sure things run as smoothly as possible. Any company spokesperson needs to be trained on the latest in social media; how it works but also why things happen the way they do.
