poker media pro

This week it was announced that PokerListings would be the official live reporting partner of the WSOP APAC next month. For those of you interested in the poker media, I think this is massive news.

In the early days of modern poker everybody sent live reporters to poker events. There was just a lot more money around to justify it. But, probably around UIGEA time, those numbers started to diminish, and PokerNews emerged as the dominant force in live poker updates.

And rightly too. PokerNews have provided amazing coverage over the last few years – their chip count interface is great, they website looks good and is easy to navigate, their videos are really good.

I firmly believe PokerNews are still the best, but it is nice to see it has gotten competitive again, as they did have a stranglehold on the niche. I predict good things for PokerListings in this regard, I mentioned earlier this year I thought they were the most improved poker media site right now and their non-advertising content is getting better and more frequent all the time.

Last week my two blogs about Live Poker Updates caused some fantastic debate from the people that do them. So much so my good friend Matthew Pitt, editor of UK PokerNews and active live tournament reporter, kindly agreed to come along and give some more insight from live on the tour.

You can learn more about Matt at www.matthewpitt.co.uk.

When Barry published his much-debated article “Advice for Poker Live Updates Bloggers” I really wanted to chime in and put my $0.02 across but, ironically, I was providing live updates from EPT Deauville for PokerNews so I just did not have time.

When I finally returned home, I brought flu-like symptoms with me and by the time I started to feel human again the likes of Jess Welman, Brad “Otis” Willis and Matthew Parvis – all vastly more experienced than I — had said all that was needed to say on the subject  of live updates’ writing style. With that in mind, I thought I would fire off a few of my own little tips that I have picked up during my time on the circuit.

Go to the Welcome Party

Most major poker tours throw some sort of welcome party for the players and the media are also welcome to join in. These parties usually have free food and booze at them, which is a good enough excuse to go to one, but they are also full of the players you will be writing about for the next week.

Greek philosopher Plato once said, “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation,” and he was correct. The players at the party are letting their hair down, chilling out and usually talking about poker. While the players are relaxed – and while you do not have a notepad in your hand – they will tell you about anything and everything. You will be able to find out how they have been playing online, if they had any nightmare travel stories, how they’re feeling about playing all things that can help inject some colour to your posts during the tournament.

In addition to the information, by stepping into their backyard you become more like one of them and you will find some players warm to you more. This means they are more likely to divulge information to you if they see you on the tournament floor. This is especially useful if you miss certain elements of a hand.

However, if you do go to the party NEVER get blind drunk. Not only will you make an ass of yourself (I’ve done that) but you will also be faced with the daunting prospect of a 12-15 hour shift spent nursing the hangover from hell (I’ve done that too.) Have you ever tried to count chips when you feel like someone has hit your head with an axe?

Befriend the Locals

Barry touched on this subject under the heading “Don’t steal, cooperate,” but I thought I would expand it further. You would not believe the positive impact sharing a hand with the local press has. If you’re covering a French tournament and watch an interesting hand with a popular French player then let the French media know and you will have a friend for life – plus they are likely to return the favour at some point.

Not only does sharing information help to create a better blog for everyone, you also gain some allies with local knowledge. Now that you have some new friends for the week, you can asked them for dining tips, where the supermarkets are, if there is a pharmacy etc. Remember that these guys know the locality and having their knowledge on tap can save you a bucket load of money and make your stay in a foreign country much more pleasant.

Become Known to Those who are in the Know

Do you remember being told that there is always someone out there who is bigger and stronger than you are. It is something my parents told me after yet another fight with my younger sister! Well in poker tournament terms there is always someone more knowledgeable than you and knowledge is power in this game.

On the EPT circuit you could do much worse than introducing yourself to Mad Harper, the Media Coordinator. Mad knows everyone and if she doesn’t know the answer to your question she knows someone who does. Sticking with EPTs, the PokerStars Blog writers are vastly experienced as is Marc “The Conv” Convey who is a permanent fixture on the EPTs. These guys, and gal, know the players, tournament staff and are always willing to help you out.

On European-based World Poker Tours you need to show your face to Angela Nyman, Hermance Blum and Warren Lush. Knowing those three fine people will stand you in good stead for any queries you could possibly have about where you are staying, expected attendance and that sort of thing.

Come Prepared for Everything

Some tournament venues really look after the media and others not so much. For example, when I reported on EPT Snowfest the media were treated to freshly prepared sandwiches, chilled soft drinks and free coffee for the duration of the tournament. At WPT Cyprus you could even have alcoholic drinks and cigarettes if you were so inclined. Other places I have been to give you nothing and even try to charge you to enter the building – think Aviation Club de France!

If you go into a tournament expecting to be fed and watered and that does not happen, then you are going to be disappointed. However, if you go into a tournament armed with a bottle of water, some fruit and a sandwich (God bless those local press members you spoke to and the supermarket they pointed you towards) then who cares if there is or isn’t free grub on offer.

Oh, bring lots of pens, writing pads and travel adapters because they are not only difficult to find on the road but they become great bartering tools towards the end of the week!

Never Look at Hole Cards

While it is sometimes unavoidable, I believe you should never look at hole cards. Should you accidentally catch view of a player’s cards you should see yourself as part of the hand. What I mean by that is how you react can have an effect on how the hand plays out. If an observant player has seen that you quite obviously saw another players cards and you then just walk off, that player knows the hand you saw must be weak and uninteresting. Likewise, if you start jotting away instantly and start scanning the table like a hawk looking for prey then everyone knows they have a strong hand.

Use Your Common Sense and Have Some Respect for Players

Although players are usually more than happy to recall details of hands for you, use some common sense for who and when you ask players for information. The guy who is raking in a massive pot after showing a bluff is going to be delighted if you ask him about the hand, not so much the guy who folded to him.

Again, if a big hand just took place you do not have to jump straight in and get all the gory details. Yes the winner of the hand will be happy to give you the ins and outs of the hand, but remember the loser is sat a couple of feet away. Sometimes it is best to jot down the information you have and then return to the scene of the crime a short time later when the adrenaline levels of the players are back to somewhat normal!

There are probably dozens of more tips that I have missed out but this article has run on for far too long now – make sure you don’t do that in your live updates!