Atlanta Falcons: Media Bias Against the Dirty Birds? Not So Much

I'm taking the following quote from an Atlanta Falcons MB user.  Like many local Falcons fans, he seems to have adopted the attitude seen from a lot of the Falcons fan base about the media coverage in Atlanta. 

"I'm wondering now does Arthur not contribute to the AJC. I mean all the articles I read from them are either negative laden or just flat out negative toward a franchise that produces much income for them."

Uncle Arty need not contribute anything. The AJC is, IMO, more on the spot than any other source on the 'net. People rag on it because it's the only major local/national outlet, and because their opinions and news are much more on track than most fans'/MB members' are.

It should be. This is their job. They make money doing this. They have sources most of us don't. When shit sucks, it sucks.

I have not seen much negative reporting. I have, however, seen reporting on negative incidents. Granted, some of the opinions that came up during the whole "He Who Shall Not Be Named" thing did get a bit on the lynch mob mentality. But it's now done, so that's that. That's not controlled by the media—it's controlled by the team and it's players and what they choose to do.

Do I always agree with them? No. But then I don't normally agree with many people. I'm a 36-year-old curmudgeon (If we are even allowed to be one in this modern day). I'm not supposed to. But many days I have to.

And just perhaps those journalists are also fans and just as fed up as we are. Why not call a spade a spade? I do. You do. They do. We all do.

They also happen to be just as word-smithy when the Falcons are winning—but no one bitches about what they say then. I think this is why the pen (mayhaps keyboard now) can be always compared to the double-edged sword. Either one can cut both ways, what your ideals decide, depends on which way the blades cut the most, and in whose favor you are in tune with at that time.

It can be a harsh thing for many fans to learn than any given media, just like dames Fortune and Fate, can be a fickle mistress, and sway with the tides. Always right?

Of course not.

No one is.

But they are on track a heck of lot more than most fans give them for. I'm also willing to bet this applies to most all beat writers and papers that employ them in cities deeply integrated with an NFL team. (The mark of the Beast, metaphorically speaking, I suppose.)

With the open writing of opinions and articles, especially on the internet these days, come back opinions and criticism, and often virulent and usually minor if not inaccurate rumors should be expected. Although, as fans, we deserve less credit than we think due us as armchair coaches and keyboard critics

I need to remember that a lot more myself, in fact.