Changes in Sports Media

By Blake Barington

Texas State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication welcomed local sports journalists Jeff Howe, Kirk Bohls and Tim Griffin Tuesday morning to discuss their experiences with the changes that are taking place in the sports industry.

The trio talked about how readers’ habits are changing as well as how social media is altering the way journalists function.

Howe, a staff writer for Hookem.com, said the way media is perceived now is a different game.

“People’s attention spans are not what they used to be,” Howe said.

Howe travels near and far looking at prospects around the state of Texas in addition to going to watch future Texas Longhorns. He said the job is unusual in that it comes at all hours of the day.

“I’ve had commitments come in at 6 a.m. or 1 a.m.,” Howe said. “It’s a tough balance sometimes.”

Bohls, a columnist for the Austin American-Statesman, says newspapers are still important to him as a news source and as a career.

“It’s educational, informative and entertaining,” Bohls said. “Personally, I think I have the best job in America.”

Griffin, who covers the Spurs for the San Antonio Express News, said although his job revolves around a professional organization, he relates to the experiences that Bohls and Howe have been through.

“They run their program a lot like a college does,” Griffin said.

Now with social media sites like Twitter, people are finding out breaking news quicker than ever before.

“They want their news fast,” Griffin said.

Bohls discussed a time when he was told by a source, early before other media sites had revealed information, that the PAC 12 would not add Oklahoma or Texas. Bohls said he had to remain loyal to the source’s wishes by not breaking the news even though it would have been huge.

“There are standards you have to abide by,” Bohls said.