Fans mocked media’s obsession with Jarryd Hayne, but they couldn’t get enough
Aussie sports sites have been pilloried by fans for giving too much coverage to Jarryd Hayne’s abortive NFL career, but the stats prove the fans couldn’t get enough of him, argues The Roar’s Patrick Effeney.
When Jarryd Hayne announced he was abandoning a lucrative contract and superstardom in a small pond at home to play in the vast ocean of the NFL, no one knew he was turning himself into unstoppable viral gold in the process.
A simple job shift for most of us means a new office, new co-workers and a different figure at the end of the month.
For Jarryd Hayne it meant endorsements, documentary opportunities and unprecedented interest from journalists and readers alike about every little thing he was doing, from fumbling footballs right down to how his Tinder match-ups were going.
For publishers it meant a weekly opportunity.
Good article. I loved all the articles even though i wasn’t a Hayne fan prior to his NFL attempt. I have to say though that i have zero interest in following him to Rugby 7’s. I have stopped following Niners Nation, Cam Inman, 49niners twitter feeds etc. I really just wanted to see him do well in the NFL.
You seem to justify the decline of journalism into click bait that so antagonises people they feel they have to comment
People will learn in time and stop responding to this lowest common denominator writing and switch off completely
Craig,
I disagree. An individual may “learn in time and stop responding” to this sort of journalism, but “people” most certainly will not. There’s a reason that organisations like Murdochs have the reach and power that they do, and it’s because “lowest common denominator” journalism has proved to be the most lucrative and sustainable form of the trade over the past hundred years.
unfortunately Dan, i think its worse that it ever was. Have a look at old edition of the SMH compared to now.
Hi Craig, thanks for reading.
I do see your point – but the bait will only be taken if there are fish. That’s really what I’m trying to say, that even when we deliberately were anti-clickbait and anti-sensationalist, or reported on connected issues, people still clicked such was the power of the story. Still accused of clickbait, but the audience demand was something we’d never experienced before.
true Pat, by the way i have been addicted to the roar for over 7 years now.