How to “get away” with being completely wrong and still being adored

Welp, football season is back. As a big Steelers fan, I’m hip to Pittsburgh’s local sports media scene. Also, as a big fan of infotainment, I also watch a couple national media sports shows. 

And y’know what?

It’s embarrassing how wrong the national media folk are. It’s as if they don’t pay a single lick of attention to the local media folk, y’know, the ones actually in the room with the players and staff and have an actual beat on what’s happening with the teams. 

Take, for example, this year’s quarterback of the Steelers, Aaron Rodgers. 

The national media folk despise Aaron Rodgers because, well, mostly because he’s unvaccinated lol. As such, they let their bias completely taint their predictions. Many of the national media guys think that the Steelers will have a dreadful year. 

Compare that to what’s being reported locally:

Everyone, and I do mean everyone, including the folk who did not want Rodgers before he signed (because they believed the media blitz and hated him without knowing him) has been blown away by Rodger’s leadership, his arm, and his potential to lead the Steelers to a successful story. 

Meanwhile, almost no national media person carries the same tune. 

But here’s the kicker: 

Yes, the national folk are letting their bias taint their opinion (where have you heard that before?). But they are completely disengaged from the local media scene because if they weren’t they would realize that all the reports from Pittsburgh are extremely positive, especially about Rodgers. 

In other words, they’re completely wrong! 

And yet, still get hundreds upon thousands and mayhap even millions of daily views. 

Why?

Simple: 

There’s one big difference between the national sports media and local sports media scene (despite the latter being there and thus able to actually report news). 

Infotainment!

The national media shows are naturally more entertaining. There are more hot takes given. More terrible takes too (which are always entertaining). They usually have bigger production budgets, and thus, more eye-popping graphics, full-blown gimmicks, and natural charisma and charm that many of the local media guys lack because they’re too focused on being informative rather than entertaining. 

It’s best to mix the two. 

Especially when you’re a marketer and trying to stand out from the sea of non-stop, never-ending, 25/8 ads that are shoved down our gullets to the tune of 4,000 to 10,000 a day. 

Food for thought. 

If’n you need help writing more persuasive, engaging, and entertaining emails that sell your products and services like bees do honey, hit reply, and let’s chat. 

John

PS - He did not have as good of a game in week 2, unfortunately.