I’ve been building this site the last month, and I put off writing this post until the end. I’m not sure why. I think it’s a combination of excitement and nervousness. It’s also a post I’ve been thinking about for three years, so I’ve been avoiding having to somehow organize all those thoughts as clearly as possible. I don’t want to hit “post” and then kick myself for either not saying something the way I intended or leaving something out I meant to include. So here it goes.

CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE

Before the recent construction at Bank of America Stadium, when you walked into the media workroom, there were 12-15 rectangular placards posted on the walls. Black with white writing, they each represented a local media outlet that covered the Panthers. But the majority of the placards were for outlets that used to cover the team.

We all know about the unfortunate plight of newspapers, and local television stations are facing similar futures with an archaic model. The media as we’ve known it started changing long ago, and in regards to the Panthers, it’s affected the way they’re covered.

Not only are the Panthers easily the most popular team in the region, they’re one of the most important businesses, as well. The coverage that surrounds them doesn’t equal their importance, but that’s not necessarily the fault of those who provide the actual coverage.

A handful of writers and reporters at the city’s paper and local television stations do a great job. Unfortunately, many of the people who make decisions on what to cover in the area are still using old media models while treating the Panthers as a minor story.

GROWING INTEREST, FADING COVERAGE

When I moved to Charlotte in 2005, it was to be a sports reporter at the only television station that traveled to road games. That dedication ended in 2008, and in ensuing seasons, the Panthers became less of a priority despite ratings that showed major local interest in the team.

This past season, the Panthers averaged a 26.3 rating in the Charlotte market. Their 20 preseason and regular season games were the highest-rated programs of any kind during those 20 weeks, attracting an audience from 400,000 to 500,000 viewers.

To be fair, as big as the team is locally, they still don’t pull the same kind of numbers teams like the Saints (52.0), Steelers (38.2) and Patriots (34.1). But Carolina’s games outpace markets like Miami (17.1), Tampa Bay (19.0) and Atlanta (19.5).

So on one hand, you have an emerging fan base with a growing, unquenchable thirst for coverage about their team. And on the other hand, you have fading coverage from traditional media outlets. There’s a huge hole to fill and that’s why I’m starting Black and Blue Review.

A BRIEF BIO

A few years ago, as my frustrations toward my station’s dwindling commitment to Panthers coverage grew, I started thinking about building an outlet to cover the Panthers. With the emergence of digital and social media, I believed it could and should be done, but the challenge of making an online outlet a sustainable full-time job scared me away. I ultimately started Spiracle Media with two other former Charlotte sports reporters, and we’ve fortunately grown it into a successful business.

But every fall since 2011, I was drawn back to the Panthers. The last two seasons, I wrote for The SportsXchange, but I largely stayed in the background. It was a side job that allowed me to stay involved, and I felt a bit out of place around full-time reporters.

Then, toward the end of this past season, I decided it was time. I had to try.

I’ve learned over the last few years that I have two passions: 1) figuring out how to be a better reporter in the rapidly-changing media landscape, 2) covering the Panthers. So why not combine the two and give it a go?

WHAT IS BLACK AND BLUE REVIEW (OR WHAT WILL IT BE)?

Black and Blue Review will be Panthers coverage for the digital age. In an on-demand world, fans want information when they want it, where they want it, and that’s what BBR will deliver.

Context is also key. With the decaying of legacy media and the emergence of HOT TAKES!!!!, we’re spiraling toward a lowest common denominator sports world.

For example: When the Panthers lost to the 49ers in the playoffs, much of the blame was placed on offensive coordinator Mike Shula. And maybe he was partially to blame. Or perhaps, there were a few other things that happened in the course of the game that could better explain why the Panthers lost. A closer look at the game tape reveals a number of mistakes made by the offensive line, errors that thwarted big moments not just inside the red zone.

It’s easy to yell about Mike Shula, and while some fans don’t care about going deeper, many do. BBR will attempt to peel back layers to explain not just WHAT happened, but WHY things happened, as well. Telling fans the facts isn’t enough anymore. We have to tell fans what those facts mean.

And yes, we’ll try to break news, but that won’t be the focus. These days, once news gets out there, how many times do you need to see and/or hear it? Breaking the news isn’t as important as explaining the whys around it.

Many were complimentary of my reporting during the Steve Smith/Jordan Gross/Greg Hardy part of this offseason, and while it was nice to get ahead of some things, my main goal was to break down why the decisions were being made. A sports reporter’s job is to be the conduit between the team and its fans. Fans may not always like what their team does, but both are better off if things are explained as clearly and fairly as possible.

THANK YOU

When I was in seventh grade, I decided I wanted to be Bob Costas. That didn’t really work out, huh?

While the traditional ladders that used to include local television have largely disappeared, it’s incredible how many ladders have replaced them. Many think media is dying, that sports reporting is dead, but I see the opposite. No longer do fans need to depend on legacy outlets for information delivered in stale packaging.

Turning BBR into a proper outlet is a daunting challenge, and there’s no way I would try it without the support I’ve gotten. Even though I’m just getting started, I owe many a thank you.

Thank you to Jarod Latch and Tim Baier, the other co-founders of Spiracle Media. Going forward, I will continue to work with select clients, but Jarod and Tim’s understanding of my pull toward my passions has meant a great deal.

Thank you to my parents for helping me achieve my dream, being ok with me walking away, and being ok with me starting another path.

Thank you to my wife for all of the above and more.

Thank you to Darin Gantt, Jim Camut, Mac Lackey, Trent Hawthorne, Nick Maglosky, Pete Thamel, Andrew Catalon, Clint Irwin and others I’m sure I’m forgetting and some I can’t publicly name.

Now I feel like I need to get a baggie, snag a goldfish and ask “who’s coming with me?!”

But let’s go see what we can build now, shall we?

–BV