Former TDN editor launches online newsletter for local prep sports coverage

Jordan Nailon, freelancers to offer stories, interviews, game video through Blast Zone MediA

A new era of prep sports coverage is opening in the Lower Columbia Region, and its pioneers are familiar faces.

Jordan Nailon, former sports editor of The Daily News, has launched an online newsletter that aims to cover high school sports on a scale formerly reported by TDN.

As Nailon put it: “from Woodland to Toutle and Toledo and Winlock to Ilwaco.”

Nailon, 39, will be joined by a team of award-winning freelancers. Two are familiar to TDN readers: Ben Zimmerman, who also is a former TDN sports writer and editor, and Sam Barbee, another former TDN sports staffer.

These three Longview natives are joined by Matt Baibe, former sports editor of The Chronicle; Drew Lawson, a sportswriter from Clark County; and Don Schaplow, current track and field coach at Toledo High School, who will focus on cross country.

Nailon said BZM will post fresh content daily and several stories and roundups around busy sports schedules. In addition to basic game coverage, the site will post game video, longer feature stories, snd interviews with players and coaches.

Coverage of Friday’s 33-point R. A. Long football victory over Hokinson showcased those elements.

“We’re in a new era,” Nailon said of his dive into digital journalism. But he pledges “a level of sports coverage that people have come to expect.”

BZM already has about 250 subscribers. Subscriptions cost $8 a month, though a small amount of content will be free.

Like Lower Columbia Currents, BMZ is based on substack.com.

“Response has been great across the board”of the local sports community, Nailon said.

Internet-based publications like BMZ and my venture are going to have to step in as many small and midsized newspapers close or retract. Last week, for example, both the century- old Clatskanie Chief and St. Helens Chronicle published for the last time.

So I hope my readers join me in rooting for Jordan snd BMZ to succeed. Toward that end, I will promote BMZ content in Lower Columbia Currents and Jordan will return the favor and promote my stories as well.

Good local news coverage has always been key to creating a sense of community, serving as a watchdog over public officials and mirroring our world’s successes and failures. Those goals remain the same no matter how news is delivered. This is an exciting and challenging time to be in the news business.

Good luck, Jordan and BMZ.