All I ever needed to know about newspapers, I learned from Brett Favre
Jacqui Banaszynski of the Missouri School of Journalism, has a unique perspective on the retirement of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
She says Favre is a lesson in how to deal with the troubles that face us in the news industry.
Missouri’s Jacqui
Banaszynski
—
She writes in today’s Poynter centerpiece:
* He gave everything he had in the moment. Athletes have a term for it: Leave it all on the field.
Editors: What would happen in your newsroom if everyone (starting with you) gave all to the work in front of them, then carried no baggage home. People would produce more, stress less and maybe stay married. You can’t solve the news industry crisis tomorrow, so quit gnawing at it and go chase some stories.
* He took big risks. He threw more what-the-hell passes (and interceptions) than anyone in the history of the league, and more touchdowns. When things got hard, he got bold.
Editors: There has never been a more troubled time in our industry. Do you respond with fear and caution – or dare to do your most courageous and creative journalism ever? Are you willing to succeed by daring to fail?
* He knew how to call an audible. When the script failed, he improvised.
Editors: Are you clinging to the way it’s always been done, or are you open to a bold new move or idea that meets the demands of the moment?
Really interesting stuff. And a fresh point of view. I’m a huge Packer fan — I own a Brett Favre jersey — but I never would have thought of this.
Jacqui grew up in the shadow of what later became Lambeau Field. Her dad took her to Packers games during the glory years of the 1960s. She won a Pulitzer in 1988 while at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and then was AME of The Seattle Times. She’s currently the holder of the Knight Chair in Editing at Mizzou.
However, I think her analogy would be stronger if she took out this bit:
* He created an extraordinary team from questionable talent. (Or, as we say in Wisconsin, he danced with them that brung ‘im.) This past year, he led the youngest and least-tested team in the league to One Song Shy of the Big Dance. He didn’t let an iffy roster or a small market limit his ambitions or expectations.
Editors: Do you believe the crew you have can play above its head – or are you scouting around for a few ringers to bail you out? Do you measure your dreams by the experience of your staff or the size of your budget? Brett Favre in Green Bay proves that masthead is not destiny, and you don’t buy a Pulitzer. You earn excellence with faith in your team, commitment to your community and a lot of hard work.
Hmm. Actually, Favre was famous for pestering the management of the Packers to hire extra free agents in the off-season. It’s been reported that he very disappointed last year when the Packers didn’t honor his request to sign receiver Randy Moss, who went to the Patriots instead. If it weren’t for Favre, the Packers would probably never have brought in Reggie White in 1993.
That’s only a minor quibble, though. It’s still a fun read for a Friday. Check it out at Poynter.
A piece of Milwaukee’s
tribute for this coming
Sunday.
—
While you’re in a Favre frame of mind, why not amble over to the SportsDesigner and check out their collection of Brett Favre tribune pages? There’s a couple here and several more here.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I love Brett Favre, and I think some of Banaszynski’s comparisons have a bit of merit, but it’s silly trying to draw a parallel between Favre and newspaper editors. Your typical editor is more like a rookie third-round pick than a hall of famer — looking over his shoulder after every mistake b/c the coach might pull him. Favre’s status gave him the luxury to take those daring chances; that’s not the case at your typical newspaper. Oh, and how would Favre react if the Packers told him, “Hey Brett, we had to cut half of your offensive line and we aren’t replacing them, so from now on you’ll only be lining up behind a center and two tackles.” And hey, let’s not forget the fact that Favre, and his teammates, are well compensated for their work, which you can’t say about journalists. Fat contracts and performance bonuses would heal newsroom morale in a hurry.