The media landscape has been constantly evolving throughout time. Recently, those changes have come at the reader’s expense as consolidations and start-ups have choked out the traditional voices of independent journalism.
Independent journalism has the ability to hold local politicians and businesses accountable. They provide coverage and insights on things that influence our lives daily. Those reporters play a necessary, albeit overlooked, role in a well-functioning society. Unfortunately, we’re losing those voices as a whole.
Sports, while paling in importance, can bring local people together. They provide shared experiences that tighten community bonds in ways that aren’t quantifiable.
Anyone with Cleveland roots can remember exactly where they were when LeBron James scored 25 straight points at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Or when Donovan Mitchell tallied 71 on a cold January night. The lows of The Decision and the euphoria of the championship are burned into our memory in ways few other life events are. That is shared with a collective region that otherwise has little in common.
Sports are both meaningless and sometimes all that matters. As such, your favorite teams deserve the coverage, analysis, and scrutiny that can only be provided by those who love the community just as much as the reader.
Sports coverage has felt the same hit as local journalism. Media outlets keep shrinking even as the love for those teams grows. That is what change coming at the expense of the reader looks like.
At Right Down Euclid, we look to be the change we want to see in the world. I will strive to provide the best analysis and coverage on all things Cavaliers as possible from what is going on behind the scenes in the G League to what Mitchell and company need to do to get over the hump in the playoffs.
Because if I was a reader, that’s the kind of coverage I would want.
Covering sports has been a dream of Jackson’s ever since he became old enough to realize playing professionally wasn’t an option. He’s been writing about the Cavaliers for various sites, like King James Gospel and Fear the Sword, and has covered the Cleveland Charge since the 2021-22 season. Jackson also co-hosts The Junkyard Pod with Right Down Euclid’s Tony Pesta.
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A huge thank you to our community partners Engage! Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, Studio W 117, COSE and many others!
