Cutting Through The Clutter

Every good journalist tries to ask the hard-hitting questions, to get the quotes that would sell newspapers. But trying to get an interesting soundbite from a football player is like extracting water from a stone.

The clubs prevent their players from saying anything that could affect the image of the player or the club. Add this to the fact that most players aren't very interesting to start with.

But new media cuts through all the PR haze and taps straight into the footballer's brain. With Twitter, players can broadcast exactly what they're doing or thinking, without any filter, warts and all.

Take Sunderland striker Darren Bent's Twitter as an example. He posts regular updates, and in July, when a move to Sunderland was delayed due to the chairman of his former club, Daniel Levy, considering more offers, his frustration showed.

Seriously getting p***** off now
Why can’t anything be simple. It’s so frustrating hanging round doing jack s***.
Do I wanna go Hull City NO. Do I wanna go stoke NO do I wanna go sunderland YES so stop f****** around, Levy.

These were the updates he posted on his Twitter account. I think while this may not be the best example, new media is an avenue for these previously bland footballers to show their personality without any obfuscation by PR people in the club.

New media once again showcases its potential for giving anyone their own loud voice.