How to establish credibility as a writer: Do good work

Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Erik Frenz asked a good question in the comments of the recent B/R Blog post about credibility.

I’d written, echoing an NPR piece on the subject, that credibility is the one finite resource you have as a writer, and you shouldn’t squander it. Here’s Frenz’s question:

These are some great tips on keeping your credibility once you have it, but how do you get it to begin with? I don’t mean to be confrontational in saying this, so don’t misconstrue me here, but it seems like to many, the mere association with Bleacher Report sometimes is enough for people to dismiss you before they even read you. You’ve really lost before you’ve even been given a chance, and as unfair as that may be, it’s a reality a lot of writers here face.

I understand that this is a changing media world we live in, and that one day, these people might look back and wish they hadn’t underestimated us. In the here and now, though, what can we do to build credibility among not just our current readers, but among those necessary to build relationships in order to build a career?

What we can do is try to be great journalists. That’s how we get to that future where people look back and wish they hadn’t underestimated us.

The way to combat haters is to respect the basics of sportswriting. Fight the good fight by doing good work.

Here are some specific things that every Bleacher Report writer should be doing to bolster their own reputation and that of the site:

• Thinking critically about sources
• Not wasting readers’ time
• Delivering on promises
• Publishing clean, coherent copy
• Working effectively with editors
• Utilizing available resources
• Writing for their audience
• Steering clear of plagiarism
• Understanding proper attribution rules
• Using social media effectively
• Networking
• Knowing the rules, and asking questions when they don’t

Perception lags behind reality, but perception does change. We’ve seen that over the last year or so as we’ve worked hard to raise the quality of the work on Bleacher Report. That process was already underway when I came on board in January, but just in the nine months I’ve been here, I’ve seen opinions about B/R change dramatically for the better.

There are still going to be plenty who hate on us for what they perceive us to be, or for what we used to be, or for how much we’ve grown, or who knows why. There’s nothing we can do about that. And there will always be legitimate reasons to criticize Bleacher Report, just as there are legitimate reasons to criticize anyone who publishes anything.

But we’re seeing writers not just surviving “the mere association with Bleacher Report” but thriving because of that association. Just a few examples: Moke Hamilton and Roy Burton have built enough of a reputation to become go-to guys for cable outlets. Matt Miller built a reputation and a following at Bleacher Report and is now our widely respected lead NFL writer.

Read the story of two B/R writers who used the site to land dream jobs in sports journalism.

Every B/R writer is accountable for our collective reputation. It’s incumbent upon all Bleacher Report writers to be mindful of this responsibility with every contribution they make.

What we can do is try to make sure that anyone who actually dives into the site, subscribes to B/R newsletters or downloads the Team Stream app will come away with a quality reader experience produced by passionate people.