Why Local Sports Coverage Is Dying

The Difference Between Wanting and Paying

This week, NFL writer Patrick Daugherty bemoaned what he sees as The Athletic’s retreat from local sports coverage:

The Athletic's slow-motion exodus from local coverage obviously directly contradicts the original stated purpose of the publication, and is exacerbating the problems that were created when they initially vacuumed up so much of the local talent.

To which newsletter writer Kendall Baker replies:

The reality is that everyone says they want great local coverage... but then they don't actually read it, or won't pay for it. Instead, they click on trade rumors, power rankings and hot takes, all while complaining that "the media" writes the stuff they consume.

It’s that gap between stated and revealed preference, but also something else. The collective might want a sort of coverage to exist, but through a tragedy of the commons, won’t allow it to. Obviously, as you easily could have guessed, The Athletic predicament reminds me of Emeril Lagasse’s rise and fall as Food Network star.