Cardplayer: Psuedo-Journalism?

[ElDuque]

While I concede that the magazine has much value to avid poker fans, the answer is still a resounding yes.

Last issue's cover article was about Cardplayers' very own "The Circuit." This was a glowing article devoid of an ounce of criticism.

The most recent issues cover article focuses on Full-Tilt's so-called dynasty. Even though I haven't read the accompanying article, I'm 95% certain it is tantamount to a multi-page FTP advertisement.

What do y'all think??

--Ok. Just read the article and am now 100% convinced that it is nothing more than an ad. Nauseating.

[Willy]

I, also thought it strange that a magazine would have a cover article about itself.

[KKsuited]

any mag that takes ad money for someone to be on the cover (which CP did), then writes a article like the one you read about fulltilt can't possibly be trusted.

Cardplayer has never had legit competition, so they've been able to due irresponsible things. Now they have legit competition. Companies like Bluff Magazine are buying the rights to the radio coverage at the WSOP, for example. Other mags are "reporting", not just letting sites pay for a cover shot and a brag article.

The competition will only be good for poker and poker players.

[TNAchicago]

[ QUOTE ]
While I concede that the magazine has much value to avid poker fans, the answer is still a resounding yes.

Last issue's cover article was about Cardplayers' very own "The Circuit." This was a glowing article devoid of an ounce of criticism.

The most recent issues cover article focuses on Full-Tilt's so-called dynasty. Even though I haven't read the accompanying article, I'm 95% certain it is tantamount to a multi-page FTP advertisement.

What do y'all think??

--Ok. Just read the article and am now 100% convinced that it is nothing more than an ad. Nauseating.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's been a lot of discussion about CardPlayer's bias - especially related to FullTilt & the WSOP updates. I think it's wasted argument. I don't think they ever aspire to be real "journalism", it's not the New York Times. It's Maxim - for poker. And they can do anything they want to sell issues.

A lot of the strategy and stories are just noise, but the interviews are worth a read sometimes.

[KKsuited]

I wouldn't call CP, Maxim- for poker. They have a lot of hardcare poker articles. There are other mags that are more about the "lifestyle" and less about "getting the right pot odds."

CP has some good strategy articles and tons of ads for FT. That's about all you get.

[AJackson]

There are few people that can get riled up as much as I can when it comes to journalistic integrity.

However, I don't see Cardplayer as a journalistic enterprise. Like most nitch magazines, it's survival requires it to be in bed with those it covers.

[Texter]

Blasphemer...how can you say Pseudo, between Roy West's sit right down and have a bowl of stew articles and that guy in the goofy hat with a fake aunt who always shreds the stupid tourists...that's top notch investigative journalism.

[growlers]

I was just thinking the same thing about Card Player - alot of the "articles" are just ads or FT, articles by Hellmuth pimping his latest money making scheme or hanging out with Eva Longoria, Keller pimping his website, etc...
It really seems that hard core poker strategy articles or hand analysis is maybe 5% of the content. Note that I understand it is free in the casino, and that I still will flip though it, but it really is mostly fluff.

[MicroBob]

CardPlayer recently had an online-survey (not sure if it was in print-magazine also or not) to pick the best poker book ever written.

They listed 5 or 6 books including Barry Shulman's 52-tips book (and perhaps Hellmuth's Bad Beats, Lucky Draws book??)
Not a single 2+2 book was even mentioned for their poll.
It's one thing if they don't want to pimp 2+2's products.
It's another thing to have such a poll and just pretend like 2+2 doesn't exist.


However, I do actually think the magazine has gotten a bit better lately. Even with all the FT shilling I think there's a bit more meat to some of the articles than I've seen before.

[shamus]

"In the end, it’s difficult to tell which is more impressive, the machine that is behind the site or the organization’s group of players who have come to dominate the poker community. By working together, the two groups have set an industry standard that has more than its share of imitators, and unless the universe implodes, FullTilt will continue its trailblazing growth."
-- concluding paragraph of "Team FullTilt: The World's First Poker Dynasty" by Michael Friedman, CardPlayer, Vol. 19, No. 15

In the end, it's difficult to tell which is less impressive, the magazine's decision to print this puff piece or the organization that has come to dominate that magazine's coverage. By working together, the two groups have set an industry standard for corporatization that has already had more than its share of imitators, and unless money stops mattering, will continue its soul-crushing growth.