The last time I READ a great profile of an All Black was some time ago, but the last time I HEARD an All Black explain their thoughts and motivations was relatively recently, via James Marshalls What A Lad podcast. Highly recommend. Loved the Sam Cane episode.
Thanks Mark, I’ll give it a listen. I guess what separates (for me at least), a great profile from a long interview is the details and, when well written, the way you can weave the background in to add relevance or help explain the present. I guess good podcast interviewers can do this too, it’s probably just a personal preference for the written word!
We live in a click bait/sound bite era now with MSM being paid either by the government, or in the case of NZ sport's journalism, having to report via the TV rather than actually being at an event. Having said that, most NZ rugby players are 'manufactured' from an early age and have no back story — I realise there will be the odd exception to the rule — so there is nothing really to 'long form report'. No real characters anymore. Shame really.
The last time I READ a great profile of an All Black was some time ago, but the last time I HEARD an All Black explain their thoughts and motivations was relatively recently, via James Marshalls What A Lad podcast. Highly recommend. Loved the Sam Cane episode.
Thanks Mark, I’ll give it a listen. I guess what separates (for me at least), a great profile from a long interview is the details and, when well written, the way you can weave the background in to add relevance or help explain the present. I guess good podcast interviewers can do this too, it’s probably just a personal preference for the written word!
I've been enjoying the Athletic's content on the World Cup, definitely worth a look if you've been struggling elsewhere
We live in a click bait/sound bite era now with MSM being paid either by the government, or in the case of NZ sport's journalism, having to report via the TV rather than actually being at an event. Having said that, most NZ rugby players are 'manufactured' from an early age and have no back story — I realise there will be the odd exception to the rule — so there is nothing really to 'long form report'. No real characters anymore. Shame really.