The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Cathal Kelly

**Posted by Stefanie** January 10, 2025 11:42 am

I'm relatively new to this forum so I hope I'm not breaking any rules as this doesn't have to do specifically with radio and TV but focusses on commentary/opinion which, as we all know, happens also in the broadcast environment. I read an article by Cathal Kelly about the new TGL golf league in the Globe and Mail recently.

I'll be up front to say that I have never been a fan of his writing as most of his articles are critical and negative in nature, regardless of the topic.

While everyone is entitled to their opinion, writing critically about a topic, (sport in this case) without a solid understanding of its nuances, risks alienating readers who are passionate about it. It's quite evident that he knows nothing about the mindset of golfers. Constructive criticism is valuable, but it resonates more when it comes from a place of knowledge.

Former great Globe writers like Stephen Brunt and David Shoalts always wrote knowledgeably about topics they were familiar with and understand. I’d offer some advice for written or broadcast commentators to ‘stay in their lanes’.

Last edited by Stefanie (January 10, 2025 11:44 am)

**Posted by RadioActive** January 10, 2025 11:50 am

No worries Stefanie. Newspapers are part of the media and that's what we cover here.

**Posted by Stefanie** January 10, 2025 2:53 pm

Thank you, Mr. Moderator👍

I guess it wasn't a topic of general interest since no one has commented on it.😔

Last edited by Stefanie (January 10, 2025 2:54 pm)

**Posted by BowmanvilleBob** January 10, 2025 5:28 pm

FWIW, I put columnists like Cathal Kelly of the Globe and Robyn Urback of the Star in the category of "professional contrarians". Their writing is not designed to inform or enlighten, but simply to push readers' anger buttons and thereby generate online clicks. While both of them occasionally score some accurate points when they address some of the hypocrisy of modern sports and life in general, their key role is to stoke outrage and on that score, they generally do a good job.

Last edited by BowmanvilleBob (January 10, 2025 5:31 pm)

**Posted by newsguy1** January 10, 2025 6:26 pm

Alas phony button pushing is becoming the predominant aim of opinion makers nowadays as people increasingly make money off of Internet clicks and views.
It used to be that people expressed their genuine opinions instead of taking on Internet "influencer" personas.

**Posted by Stefanie** January 10, 2025 7:21 pm

BowmanvilleBob/ newsguy1..... Totally agree with your comments. I sent Kelly a nice email outlining my thoughts, but he's probably too busy checking his clicks to respond. The good ones always respond!! The not so good hide.

Last edited by Stefanie (January 10, 2025 7:23 pm)

**Posted by Rune** January 11, 2025 12:51 pm

I don't think either Cathal Kelly or Robin Urback are being deliberately negative just to get clicks. That's just how they see things. You may disagree, and that's perfectly fine, but to think that they are writing anything simply for clicks is naive.