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The Times Is Way Wrong About Deadspin
By Jamie Mottram | February 21, 2008
I love Deadspin as much the next guy. I’ve read it nearly every day for over two years. And I’m not alone. According to The Washington Times’ profile on Will Leitch, I’m really not alone:
With more than 120 million unique visitors and the backing of Gawker Media, the site is the most popular blog on the Web.
Now, Deadspin is very popular and the most well-known of all sports blogs, but let’s take another, closer look at those two claims:
- “120 million unique visitors” — Uniques are generally measured monthly, and this would be more than Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports, NFL, AOL Sports, CBS Sports, SI and so on combined. It’s an absurd number, and, according to Deadspin’s sitemeter, one that’s off by at least 115 million (and probably more like 119 million).
- “The most popular blog on the web” — An argument can be made that Deadspin is the most popular sports blog, but most popular blog period? Technorati has it at No. 61 in their top 100.
Anyway, I don’t bring this up to diminish Deadspin and what Leitch has done. I’m a big fan and supporter of both. I just bring it up to highlight one of the more egregious errors seen in print since ‘89 Fleer Billy Ripken.
Update: Times sports business reporter Tim Lemke says the story is being fixed. Our email exchange is posted with permission after the jump …
Lemke: “Thanks for pointing out our error….certainly meant to write most popular “sports” blog. And the “more than 120 million” figure refers to all visitors since its inception, which I realize now is a stupid way of reporting it. Monthly visitors are between 6 and 8 million, which makes a lot more sense.”
Mr. Irrelevant: “Deadspin, according to sitemeter, gets 6-8 million visits per month, which I believe is a different metric than visitors.”
Lemke: You’re right about the visits/visitors thing. I have no idea what their unique visitors are, but we know the figure for visits. There’s visits, visitors, page views…I think they all mean something different.”
Topics: Media Bird Doggin', Blog Stuffs |
16 Responses to “The Times Is Way Wrong About Deadspin”
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February 21st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Gizmodo might be a TAD bigger.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Washington Times gets a story wrong. See also “Dog bites man” and “Sky is blue”.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Kim Jong Il disputes this story, citing state statistics that claim that his blog garnered nearly 400 billion unique visitors last week alone. Our Dear Leader could not be reached for further comment.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
This is because he didn’t mention Mr. I in his Washington Post chat today isn’t it?
“Columbia Heights, Md.: Impress us with your knowledge of the locals. What are your favorite DC area blogs? Who does the best job of covering our teams?
Will Leitch: Not to kiss up around here, but honestly: You guys are blessed to have Dan Steinberg. Every major newspaper should have a full time guy like him.
As for the “independents,” the Washington area really does have an absurd amount of sports blogs. I like Capital Punishment for the Nats, KSK for Redskins stuff, and Wizznutzz for the Wiz. But there are so many, and I apologize if I missed yours.”
February 21st, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I do not accept Leitch’s apology, and I will never recover from this.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Way to jump up top on the Moonie Death List, Jamie.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:12 pm
If this doesn’t get settled in a stone circle deathmatch outside Old Glory tonight, I will be very disappointed.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Perhaps Jamie and I no longer count as “independent” because we’re employed by Yahoo and SN. Sorry, I meant Yahoo!
February 21st, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I heard Will Leitch had an affair with a lobbyist - at least, that’s what my anonymous sources hinted at without really saying anything founded or of substance.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
In all seriousness though, isn’t Mr. I better at covering the Redskins specifically than KSK (KSK is funnier, but that’s not the issue at hand).
February 21st, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Will was obviously flustered by the rush that accompanies ones first live chat. We all know that Hogs Haven is the real deal.
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:02 am
“There’s visits, visitors, page views…I think they all mean something different.”
Perhaps figuring out the difference is something you’d wanna do before writing a story. But what do I know about real journalism?
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
So who’s got pictures and stories from last night?
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
From your nephew’s birthday bash?
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I was looking to meeting you Mr.I so I could name drop you around town and personally lobby to get on your show. Oh well. At least I hope the cake was tasty.
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:26 am
For the record, Tim Lemke is very good people and a very, very good reporter. Plus a mean Roller Derby player.
Also for the record, the Washingtonpost.com people threatened Our Leader with hot curling irons if he didn’t mention my name during his chat.