B.C. online news magazing, The Tyee, has received awards, accolades and more awards for its high calibre of investigative journalism and innovative funding model.

The news site and its editor, David Beers, also deserve credit for embracing the web’s ability to interact and engage with readers — a generally tuned-in, intelligent and critical audience that doesn’t stop short of sizing up Tyee news judgement.

Case in point: a column about Tiger Woods, which many readers criticize for pandering to vapid, mass media schloctainment that many praise The Tyee for avoiding. It’s getting personal, too, if not totally extreme in some cases: a few readers say they have crossed the columnist and the site off their list of credible and respected news sources.

Entertainment columnist Vanessa Richmond weighed in on Tiger’s continuing media saga. Hers is a smart and insightful take on the unravelling of a carefully maintained brand that I could have linked to in a previous column that appeared on this site. In Catching a Tiger by his Hypocritical Tale, Richmond asks:

What’s the biggest public relations sin? It’s not infidelity, not kinky or non-hetero sex, not even making or watching sex tapes. But hypocrisy: pretending to be one thing — profiting from it — and behaving otherwise.

Is anyone really surprised that a billionaire celebrity may have committed infidelity? No. With American infidelity rates at between 30 and 60 per cent, it’s hardly shocking. But the commenters in blogs, tabloids and mainstream media sites are overwhelmingly indignant about Woods’ possible affairs because they constitute a kind of fraud.

As of this writing, the article has shot to the top spot of The Tyee’s best rated stories and five days after posting, is second among the most read articles on the site.

Many readers are less than impressed, but their complaints aren’t voiced aimlessly into the wind. No, The Tyee founder and editor is not only listening, but also responding. And he is doing so on a platorm where all readers can take it in.

On the comment entries for Richmond’s column, Adam M is sanctimonious:

Christ sakes

Not here. Not here. I thought that I wouldn’t have to involuntarily imbibe one more line of Tiger Woods car crash bullshit by avoiding the regular media, and here I am, my mind invaded by speculation about inane GARBAGE that MEANS NOTHING. NOTHING.

I even read part of the article because I thought it had to be a vehicle for some media criticism, or something else of value. NOTHING. NOTHING. Just more spin about SOME GUY THAT PLAYS GOLF.

Whenever I see a Vanessa Richmond article I will not read it. I don’t care if you’re breaking the biggest story of our generation; I’m taking an irrational, prejudiced stand against any of your work, FOR LIFE.

bakoonin_mik replied to a suggestion he start his own “e-zine” if he doesn’t like what The Tyee is doing:

None of the critical remarks here suggest a desire for a 100% hell-bent dystopian journal. I love the lighter stuff, the music/film/arts articles. I just think the Tyee does not need to jump on the Tiger Woods bandwagon. I’d sort of hoped that this is what makes a magazine like the Tyee distinct from the mass media.

But hell, I’ll let this one slide, and mark it down as one of those Tyee anomalies that pops up from time to time.

And no, I will not gather investors and start my own e-zine. Why would I, when the Tyee is the best going in this region? The fact the Tyee allows a free flow of “bitching” is further evidence of their value as a community online magazine. But this doesn’t mean I have to agree with every editorial decision or story choice

And this shaming from ladze:

Wow, so much for quality alternative news

I took thetyee off my list of reliable alternative news resources on the net several weeks ago, but have checked back every now and again to see if the site has restored its commitment to quality journalism. Guess not.

David Beers responded:

Thanks for the criticism

Great conversation here, and I do note the concerns of those who think we should have steered clear of Tiger’s tale entirely. On the other hand, I note that this story has quickly become the ‘best rated’ by readers. For those who don’t know, every story gives you the opportunity to rate it from one to five. The results are displayed on the home page.

Have a good weekend all.

But jwstewart doesn’t let Beers off the hook:

“Great conversation here,

“Great conversation here, and I do note the concerns of those who think we should have steered clear of Tiger’s tale entirely. On the other hand, I note that this story has quickly become the ‘best rated’ by readers.”

So then, Mr. Beers, to what extent does pandering to the masses drive editorial content?

So Beers clarifies:

to jwstewart

Re:

“‘Great conversation here, and I do note the concerns of those who think we should have steered clear of Tiger’s tale entirely. On the other hand, I note that this story has quickly become the ‘best rated’ by readers.’

“So then, Mr. Beers, to what extent does pandering to the masses drive editorial content?”

No. I don’t think of Tyee readers as ‘masses’ who can be pandered to. We published Vanessa’s piece because (we think) it provides a valuable and critical lens on the Woods media frenzy moment. You don’t agree. But the fact that it is ‘best rated’ means a lot of readers have found the read worthwhile.

By the way, if I WERE pandering the list that would obsess me would not be ‘best rated’ but ‘most read.’ Here are the most read recent stories on the Tyee as I type this:

Weird and Wacky HST Debate in BC’s Legislature

BC First Graders Get Book Rejected as ‘Racist’ Elsewhere

‘Sustainability’ the Hot Word (Again) at NDP Convention

The Girls Can Jam

Is Canada Criminally Negligent on Climate Policy?

This list of most-read stories has since changed (and now includes Tiger’s tale), but if anything,  speaks to the kinds of readers drawn to The Tyee’s reporting and opinion.

The fact that some readers also feel such indignation when the disagree with the choice to include certain content, testifies to their sense of ownership and investment in The Tyee. The news magazine and its editor deserve credit for fostering this relationship.

—

Post script: as I’ve come to expect from Tyee readers, there is reasoned, insightful and hilarious commenting, too.

For example, Lynn weighs in several times. Here are two gems:

Of Tigers and PABlum

Quote: “What’s the biggest public relations sin? It’s not infidelity, not kinky or non-hetero sex, not even making or watching sex tapes. But hypocrisy: pretending to be one thing — profiting from it — and behaving otherwise.”

But the mortar of public relations has always largely been a calculated mix of hypocrisy and lies.

The real sin when it comes to PR is getting caught at the game.

We don’t have to look far for an example of how the lies of PR are created to camouflage and protect the corrupt ways of BIG MONEY – or to understand why the supposed perfection of the “best place on earth” would require such a massive and sly Public Affairs Bureau if indeed that “best place on earth” branding was the truth.

Life Inc. is about selling stuff

Nothing is about real politics, sports, or literature or the arts etc. or even “real” people anymore…..it’s all about what sells and about….

The Importance of Being Marketable.

Image by miss604 via Flickr