Site Stuff: It's fun to cover winning, but there's more to it
Covering a winner's both a blast and a breeze.
Every move matters. Every play matters. Every day on the beat matters. It gets all the journalistic juices going. And beyond that, it's easier. The executives, coaches and athletes are all more agreeable. And the content's such that readers, viewers and listeners respond to it like it's gold ... even if it's no different than what'd been put out when the same team stunk.
Also and relevant: No stupid special reports on anyone's freaking finances.
Covering a loser ... it's funny in that it's far less fun, but it can be just as rewarding.
For one, as the past week's shown, that special report's drawn a lot of attention for the company far and wide. It's hard to quantify that, obviously, but it's not zero. Credibility in any industry takes time to build, and an event like that can push the pedal to the floor. And if the Pirates weren't the Pirates, there'd be no need for work like that.
For another, hard as this might be to believe, our figures don't fluctuate much as a business based on how any of our three teams fare.
Why?
Well, I can only put forth a theory here, but I do have one: We're independent. We're not beholden to any outside entity, least of all the teams themselves. So we can call it like it is. We can report. We can offer opinion. And we answer to absolutely no one who isn't within our own structure.
I feel like that's appreciated now more than it's ever been.
On the Penguins' road trip I just covered here in Florida, for example, there was no Pittsburgh newspaper. I don't know why. I don't care why. Not my problem. But I do know that readers have a choice now of far fewer outlets/reporters and, in some cases, they'll just rely on the team's own reporting. Which isn't independent at all. Which doesn't tell a fraction of the real story in most cases. Which can't ever, ever, ever criticize.
So what we do becomes more vital than it's ever been.
Don't get me wrong, please: I'd love to cover another winner someday ... some year ... some century. It's energizing in ways that this ongoing malaise can't ever be. But I also don't want anyone thinking we're affected by it much. We really aren't.
RESTARTING THAT DRIVE
I let a lot of stuff slip on this trip, from the Double Shot videos to the Subscriber Snaps to our ongoing special-worker drive, but all that's about to resume: On the drive, we're at 419, this after receiving 15 more contributions.
Thank you so much.
If you missed that Site Stuff, we're seeking reader help toward building a fund from which we can offer 3,000 massively discounted subscriptions for teachers, police, fire, nurses, other emergency workers and volunteers. They're $20 per contribution. We'll then sell these at two-thirds off the full annual price ... and that'll remain their price forever.
• Remember I mentioned looking into that feature that'd read our articles out loud to anyone who pressed a play button at the top? Yeah, we're not as wild about it, now that we've seen it. It includes a small ad, which I don't think anyone would've minded, but it comes with kind of a clunky appearance that really doesn't work with our look. Would've been a distraction.
• Be sure to check out our new Images feed, where we try to take you along with us to the cool places we go, and where our subscribers send their own Snaps from all over the world. It's got a box on the home page now under Coverage That Connects.
• On the travel front, Chris Halicke's flying here to Florida today to cover the NFL owners' meetings in West Palm Beach. Greg Macafee's stuck here a few more days himself, as the Pirates will go from here to Tampa. Taylor Haase will fly to cover the Penguins' three-game trip April 3-6 through St. Louis, Dallas and Chicago.
• Everyone loving being ad-free? If you're not there yet, it's only for paying subscribers. If you aren't subscribed yet or if your subscription's expired: This is our subscribe page. From there, make sure you're logged in, tap on the link, and thumb down to the bottom for the SUBSCRIBE button to buy/renew at the monthly or annual level. We also offer mega-discounts, as ever, for student subscriptions and senior subscriptions.
• Grateful that so many are leaving us good reviews on other platforms. Feel free to add your own on our Google business listing, our Appleand Spotify podcast channels and, arguably most important, our own app, whether it's the Apple or Android version.
BACK TO BUSINESS
• Our page-view numbers were 1,023,052, with 37,366 unique users over the most recent full seven-day span, March 21-27. Our most-read original piece was, for a second straight week, the special report on the Pirates' finances at 26,519, followed closely by my follow-up to that same report at 25,406. Not sure we've ever had the same file lead in consecutive weeks.
• On the multimedia front, our video views for the past week were 166,042, and our podcast downloads were 86,113.
• Thanks for reading and, as ever, for your support of this proud independent venture.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
THE ASYLUM
Dejan Kovacevic
6:52 am - 03.29.2025MiamiSite Stuff: It's fun to cover winning, but there's more to it
Covering a winner's both a blast and a breeze.
Every move matters. Every play matters. Every day on the beat matters. It gets all the journalistic juices going. And beyond that, it's easier. The executives, coaches and athletes are all more agreeable. And the content's such that readers, viewers and listeners respond to it like it's gold ... even if it's no different than what'd been put out when the same team stunk.
Also and relevant: No stupid special reports on anyone's freaking finances.
Covering a loser ... it's funny in that it's far less fun, but it can be just as rewarding.
For one, as the past week's shown, that special report's drawn a lot of attention for the company far and wide. It's hard to quantify that, obviously, but it's not zero. Credibility in any industry takes time to build, and an event like that can push the pedal to the floor. And if the Pirates weren't the Pirates, there'd be no need for work like that.
For another, hard as this might be to believe, our figures don't fluctuate much as a business based on how any of our three teams fare.
Why?
Well, I can only put forth a theory here, but I do have one: We're independent. We're not beholden to any outside entity, least of all the teams themselves. So we can call it like it is. We can report. We can offer opinion. And we answer to absolutely no one who isn't within our own structure.
I feel like that's appreciated now more than it's ever been.
On the Penguins' road trip I just covered here in Florida, for example, there was no Pittsburgh newspaper. I don't know why. I don't care why. Not my problem. But I do know that readers have a choice now of far fewer outlets/reporters and, in some cases, they'll just rely on the team's own reporting. Which isn't independent at all. Which doesn't tell a fraction of the real story in most cases. Which can't ever, ever, ever criticize.
So what we do becomes more vital than it's ever been.
Don't get me wrong, please: I'd love to cover another winner someday ... some year ... some century. It's energizing in ways that this ongoing malaise can't ever be. But I also don't want anyone thinking we're affected by it much. We really aren't.
RESTARTING THAT DRIVE
I let a lot of stuff slip on this trip, from the Double Shot videos to the Subscriber Snaps to our ongoing special-worker drive, but all that's about to resume: On the drive, we're at 419, this after receiving 15 more contributions.
Thank you so much.
If you missed that Site Stuff, we're seeking reader help toward building a fund from which we can offer 3,000 massively discounted subscriptions for teachers, police, fire, nurses, other emergency workers and volunteers. They're $20 per contribution. We'll then sell these at two-thirds off the full annual price ... and that'll remain their price forever.
If interested: DK@DKPittsburghSports.com
INSIDE THE WORKS
• Remember I mentioned looking into that feature that'd read our articles out loud to anyone who pressed a play button at the top? Yeah, we're not as wild about it, now that we've seen it. It includes a small ad, which I don't think anyone would've minded, but it comes with kind of a clunky appearance that really doesn't work with our look. Would've been a distraction.
• Be sure to check out our new Images feed, where we try to take you along with us to the cool places we go, and where our subscribers send their own Snaps from all over the world. It's got a box on the home page now under Coverage That Connects.
• On the travel front, Chris Halicke's flying here to Florida today to cover the NFL owners' meetings in West Palm Beach. Greg Macafee's stuck here a few more days himself, as the Pirates will go from here to Tampa. Taylor Haase will fly to cover the Penguins' three-game trip April 3-6 through St. Louis, Dallas and Chicago.
• Everyone loving being ad-free? If you're not there yet, it's only for paying subscribers. If you aren't subscribed yet or if your subscription's expired: This is our subscribe page. From there, make sure you're logged in, tap on the link, and thumb down to the bottom for the SUBSCRIBE button to buy/renew at the monthly or annual level. We also offer mega-discounts, as ever, for student subscriptions and senior subscriptions.
• Grateful that so many are leaving us good reviews on other platforms. Feel free to add your own on our Google business listing, our Apple and Spotify podcast channels and, arguably most important, our own app, whether it's the Apple or Android version.
BACK TO BUSINESS
• Our page-view numbers were 1,023,052, with 37,366 unique users over the most recent full seven-day span, March 21-27. Our most-read original piece was, for a second straight week, the special report on the Pirates' finances at 26,519, followed closely by my follow-up to that same report at 25,406. Not sure we've ever had the same file lead in consecutive weeks.
• On the multimedia front, our video views for the past week were 166,042, and our podcast downloads were 86,113.
• Our company social media: 59,483 followers on Facebook, 57,777 on X, 47,478 on YouTube, 16,635 on Instagram, 5,920 on Threads, 4,809 on TikTok, 2,600 on Bluesky
• We make mistakes. If you see one, email: Typos@DKPittsburghSports.com
• The Downtown HQ/shop's open Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6 p.m., and our company merch can all be had in our online store.
• Anything you need, email: Help@DKPittsburghSports.com
• Thanks for reading and, as ever, for your support of this proud independent venture.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
We’d love to have you!