Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 171

※ 171. Isn’t This Too Much?

[Kim Hyung-chul’s Straight Talk – A Reporter Has a Reporter’s Duty]

What does a reporter do?

They inform the public when an incident or accident occurs.

Then how do they make money?

They make money through the advertisements attached to their articles, based on readership.

I’ve skipped over a significant portion of the process, but the basic principle is this.

So, what do they have to do to make a lot of money?

Get many people to read their articles, and then show the advertising company the number of views to receive a larger advertising fee.

The important thing in this process is ‘having many people read the articles they write.’

Therefore, it’s a natural step to try and induce more people to read their articles.

I admit it. In the fierce competition for coverage, your article must be read before anyone else’s to become a hot topic, and if it becomes a hot topic, more people will see it.

But isn’t this too much?

‘Isn’t it true that hitting techniques have improved compared to the past? How does that talk disparage past seniors….’

‘The phrase ‘swung with eyes tightly closed’ has been twisted to mean that you can hit without looking, or something like that?’

‘I’ve been portrayed as a strange guy who’s getting married soon and looking for another woman.’

I can’t name any specific players, but these are stories from players who have actually been harmed.

A player who said he was doing his best as the hitting techniques of recent hitters have increased has suddenly become a rude person who disparages his seniors.

A player who became a hero by swinging with his eyes closed because he couldn’t see properly has suddenly become a cheater who ignores the opposing pitcher.

A player who resolved a situation after a front office employee got caught up in a difficult situation suddenly became a sleazeball who flirted with that employee.

As time passes, the people reading news articles have also become more discerning.

Clearly, people no longer accept the contents of news articles at face value. They try to distinguish between lies and truths within them.

That’s why I feel sorry that reporters try even harder to attract people’s attention with more sensational titles and content.

Their intentions may work for now. But in the future, when this happens repeatedly, will readers applaud and read their articles?

At least I don’t think I will. I’ll just look at the article title and skip it, thinking, ‘Oh, here we go again.’

Reporters, I’m speaking from the perspective of a past victim of such incidents. Please, I beg you. Stop it.

djg****

But the problem is more with the guys who say strange things than the reporters themselves, lol.

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hjl****

Kim Young-shik, this is about you, so don’t laugh.

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airq****

Kim Hyung-chul also suffered a lot from trash reporters during his active career…….

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* * *

In fact, nowadays, there are more direct channels for communicating with the world, such as the internet and social media.

But not so long ago, around the early 2000s or late 90s, the only way to communicate with the world was through news and newspapers.

There is someone who suffered more damage related to this than anyone else during that time.

Kim Hyung-chul, a senior commentator for MBS [Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, a major South Korean television and radio network] and a baseball columnist for six years.

Let’s summarize the articles about him around 1996, when he was active…….

Basically, if he was only an hour late, that meant he came early that day.

Speaking informally and swearing at seniors, juniors, and even the team’s manager at the time was the norm.

Verbal abuse and assault against fans were very natural behaviors…….

Based on the articles alone, he would have had his driver’s license revoked about five times for drunk driving, right?

Of course, there were also honest reporters, and he had some personal connections with them, so correction articles came out through them.

But?

It’s funny, isn’t it? Stories that are miles away from the truth spread so easily and dig so deeply, but the ‘real truth’ disappears quickly.

In fact, he had a very hard time getting married because of these rumors.

I’d rather have dirt in my eyes than let my daughter marry such trash!

He actually heard that to his face.

Fortunately, as time passed, the truths gradually surfaced, and the story of regaining his original reputation is a bitter one.

This also caused a bigger stir than expected because it was written by someone who had gone through such a direct experience, not someone else.

I thought the way reporters write these days was a bit much, but I didn’t know it was this bad.

They should know better than anyone that the same words can be different depending on how you say them, but this is really intentional.

If we don’t completely eradicate it from the root, they will probably continue to act like this.

Fans also admitted their past mistakes and showed reactions that they would only read what they need to read from now on and choose carefully.

Your love is a wildcard, Folding is the hard…….

“Hello? Ah, yes. It’s been a while, 형님 [hyung-nim, older brother or respected male figure]!”

But this is not enough.

– How’s Han-wool doing?

“I’m just doing what I always do. Aren’t you the same, 형님?”

– That’s right. Always looking at the ball, hitting the ball, catching the ball, and running. Aren’t you the same?

“Same here. Always running, throwing the ball, catching it, and throwing it again.”

– You can stop throwing it so much. You’re going to destroy me again when you see me, again.

“Hey, 형님. It’s how I make a living, what can I do?”

In the meantime, Kim Ki-yoon from KP Stars called, having seen Kim Hyung-chul’s column.

– Ah…it’s not that, but I saw the article by Kim Hyung-chul 슨배님 [sunbae-nim, senior/mentor].

“Ah, you saw it?”

– The third one there is you, right? The one about the woman, what was that about?

“Ah…yes. How did you know?”

– How else? You had something going on with the front office staff there before. With a fan. I saw that.

“Ah…that’s right. When I looked at it, there were articles about Sang-soo and about not wanting to get hurt this time, right?”

– Yeah.

“It turns out they were written by the same person, right?”

– Wow… 따마 [ttama, damn/wow].

Although they are on different teams, Ki-yoon 형님 sympathized with the anger as someone in the same position.

Furthermore,

– So. We’re going to put out an article from our side this time.

“What kind of article?”

– Something like we won’t let them into the stadium if they keep writing like this.

“Like a ban?”

– Yeah.

He even lent a helping hand that was needed.

“I’ve already talked to the Wonha front office to some extent.”

– About what? What I said?

“Yes, yes.”

– Ah, then is it settled?

“Well…it would be great if 형님 could join us, it would have more impact, right?”

– Is that so?

“Right?”

At first glance, it might seem meaningless for just one player to issue such an article,

– Look. Put the Players Association name 따악! [ttaak!, emphatic sound effect] on it! Huh? You guys are caught, 따악! Huh?

Wouldn’t the voice of someone who represents the position of all baseball players in Korea carry a different weight?

-Han-wool, don’t worry. Thanks for speaking up.-

“Oh, you’re welcome. Please let me know if you need anything.”

-으이 [eu-i, a grunt of acknowledgement].

Well, it seems like someone should be sweating bullets now…….

* * *

[Professional Baseball Players Association President Kim Ki-yoon of KP Stars, ‘I Will No Longer Be Played by Fabrications’]

On Monday, August 31st, Kim Ki-yoon stepped forward not as the captain of KP Stars, but as the president of the Professional Baseball Players Association.

As he had announced in advance, he strongly highlighted the misconduct of reporters from the start, revealing the current situation frankly.

[President Kim Ki-yoon of the Players Association raises his voice, showing fabricated newspaper articles]

He stated that he had requested cooperation from the front offices of each team regarding banning certain newspapers or certain reporters from entering the stadium in relation to a series of events.

In addition, he said that if this situation continues to occur, he would not hesitate to take even stronger measures, such as boycotting interviews requested by reporters.

* * *

In the midst of this, Ki-yoon 형님 unusually raised his voice very loudly, and the incident began to burn even more fiercely.

This naturally led to,

[Controversy over the qualifications of reporters, this is what the reporters created.]

[‘Behave yourself’ President Kim Ki-yoon of the Players Association, sends an ultimatum to reporters]

[Cause and effect, karma is the word to use in times like these]

It created a situation where reporters were denouncing reporters.

People who wouldn’t have even looked at it at other times, why are they attacking and siding with their own?

dhqp****

Behave yourself if you want to write an article, lol

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dkss****

Why are the other reporters silent?

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rlag****

I enjoyed reading the 4-paragraph apology

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Because that’s how public opinion was formed.

Of course, there were also reporters who opposed Ki-yoon 형님’s announcement.

[Abuse of power by players? What is the intention of boycotting interviews?]

[Boycott is not a word that can be taken out so easily.]

[Then are the players without fault?]

There were reporters who expressed their position without any tact,

dpfk****

Haven’t come to your senses?

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slal****

Then we just won’t watch!

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rlaw****

Missing conscience

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In their frequently used expression, their position was eventually met with public criticism and disappeared into the annals of history.

You should have done better.

In addition, the arrows of public opinion were directed at the media company that was the starting point of this incident, foreshadowing that it would not be easily resolved.

Hey, why are you guys staying still after making such a mess?

The rekindled public opinion naturally became,

[We apologize to the players who have suffered mental damage due to us.]

It became a procedure to capture the direct culprit of this incident.

To be honest, I want to permanently prevent these guys from entering the stadium…….

– But they have to make a living too.

At Ki-yoon 형님’s words, I decided to take a step back for now.

– If you do that again, I’m really going to have the kids boycott you.

It’s a bonus to have received a definite A/S [After Service] certificate for that.

“Oh, you’ve worked hard, 형님.”

– What’s so hard about it? I’m wearing a hat [taking responsibility], when else would I work if not at times like this?

“I’ll treat you to dinner next time I go down to Busan.”

– What, why would you treat me when you come down to Busan? I should be the one doing it.

“No, you helped me, so I should treat you.”

– I’m treating you so please throw it gently, throw it gently when we meet next time [go easy on me during the game].

“Ah, that’s a bit…”

Where do you think you’re going?

– Well…that’s a shame. How’s your wedding preparation going?

“Wedding preparation?”

– Isn’t it only three months away?

It feels like just yesterday that you were whining around the All-Star Game, asking when we’re getting married, saying you want to do it as soon as possible.

“I know…time has already passed like this.”

Almost two months have already passed since then.

– Have you found everyone?

“What do you call it? Suede-Meh?”

– What’s that?

“That’s…studio, dress, and makeup, I think?”

– Ah…

“That’s all done. I’m thinking of asking the friend who introduced me to my girlfriend to be the emcee.”

– Are the invitations and stuff all done?

“Yes, yes. And what else do I need…….”

– Officiant.

Ah.