With some subtle tweaking of their media management in recent weeks Celtic today opened the door to fan led media with impressive results.
Rather than include one token website in with the baying mob of media broadcasters the club took the overdue step of creating some time for around a dozen websites to speak with David Turnbull and John Kennedy.
The former Motherwell man was friendly and engaging but there are much deeper and more meaningful issues around the club than his preferred position, players he admired as he chased a professional career and his hopes for the Scottish Cup.
Kennedy provided the main course, spending 45 minutes with detailed answers on a variety of topics that he seemed refreshed to be discussing. In contrast his broadcast media conference lasted just 15 minutes.
With one question allowed per website there was no opportunity for a follow up but the answers were detailed enough that all aspects were covered.
There were news lines about Vasilis Barkas and James Forrest alongside deeper issues about his inspirations, influences and feelings on how a Celtic side should play. Seven months of being the dour faced guy alongside Neil Lennon were suddenly erased!
Kennedy ran through his coaching evolution from the day he was forced to retire, assessing opponents and youth team players all the way through to taking charge of the first team on an Interim basis. He shared his views of the three managers that he has worked under, revealing that he was still regularly speaking to Brendan Rodgers.
It seems that Celtic have discovered that there is life beyond the tired old publishers and broadcasters that they have been dealing exclusively with for years and years. Fan based websites actually reach out to Celtic supporters, many Celtic fans have found alternatives to the old media sources.
Incoming CEO Dom McKay seems to understand the dynamics of modern communications, it looks like Celtic fans will be better served going forward rather than trying to work out what is going on from the Old Firm centred helpings served up by old school media.
Celtic invited us to take part in a new ‘fan media press conference’ today via Zoom.
We got the opportunity to put our questions to John Kennedy the interim Manager and midfielder David Turnbull.
That audio is now available on our Patreon.
All Patronshttps://t.co/XCrizfm6Iy
— 20MT Celtic Podcast (@20MinuteTims) March 5, 2021
Was great to be part of Celtic Fan Media press conference today.
The guys in attendance asking questions the support would like to know.
Got much more detailed answers from John Kennedy and stuff we wouldn’t have got to know otherwise. ?
— CeltsAreHere (@HereCelts) March 5, 2021
Good to see fan podcasts being giving this opportunity.@90MinuteCynic and a couple of other podcasts seem to have been given this platform too ? https://t.co/aIgxGtxBm5
— The Pundit (@ThePundit_) March 5, 2021
Thank you to the media team at Celtic for giving ACSOM the opportunity to take part in a Q&A with John Kennedy and David Turnbull this afternoon.
We’ll include our content in this Sunday’s matchday Bulletin ?? pic.twitter.com/GN2xMIBH7j
— Paul John Dykes (@PaulJohnDykes) March 5, 2021
