A Sheffield Wednesday journalist has launched his own platform dedicated to covering all things Wednesday, offering supporters a “one-stop shop” for news, features and exclusive content.
Joe Crann, a regular source for Wednesday news on platforms such as the BBC and The Sheffield Star, has recently introduced ‘The Wednesday Word’, a digital platform designed to bring all types of content into one centralised hub for Sheffield Wednesday supporters.
Mr Crann told ShefNews: “The Wednesday Word is effectively a little corner of the internet that I’ve created. I wanted a space where Sheffield Wednesday fans could come and get everything in one place.”
Unlike traditional football media outlets, the new platform allows Mr Crann and other creators to produce content entirely independently, giving expert insight alongside the fan voice.
“It’s basically a one-stop shop for Wednesday fans who want something a bit deeper,” he said. “Because it’s my platform, I can pick and choose what goes on it… I want people to come to me with ideas.”
Still in its infancy, the launch has been a huge success, attracting over 2,500 subscribers, 450 of which are paid. It has hit No.1 on Substack’s new bestsellers list and is top of the rising sports list.
Mr Crann added: “I’m already at a stage where I’m not far off what I was earning in a salaried job, which is pretty incredible… Now the responsibility is on me to keep producing something worth paying for.”
Similar platforms such as ‘The United Stand’ have seen comparable success, with the Manchester United-focused platform recently being acquired by footballer Gary Neville’s platform ‘The Overlap’ in a £1 million-plus deal.
This highlights a wider shift in the world of sports journalism, moving away from traditional media outlets and towards independently run platforms. For a small fee you can get access to an entire years worth of high quality content, a deal that could undermine traditional outlets.
Mr Crann explained: “I think nowadays it’s more about people following people,” Mr Crann said. “People want news from someone they trust.”
You can find ‘The Wednesday Word’ at thewednesdayword.com, as well as on Instagram (@thewednesdayword) and X (@TheWordSWFC).
Images curtesy of Joe Crann.