Newspaper Stands Up For Its Right To Report Sporting Events Without Restrictions

from the good-going dept

Wed, Apr 22nd 2009 8:33pm — Mike Masnick

Last year, we were dismayed that newspapers seemed to be willing to agree to certain rules placed on how they could report on sporting events, as per the National Football League and Major League Baseball. In both cases, these involved significant restrictions on what and how they could report. At the time, we suggested that newspapers stop accepting the restrictions, even if it meant they were no longer granted a press pass -- but every newspaper we know of gave in. Covering baseball and football was just too important -- even though these newspapers could easily still report on games without the benefit of a press pass. You don't need a press pass to report on an event.

That said, while it's on a much smaller scale, it's nice to see the Redding Record Searchlight stop covering the local rodeo over this same issue (found via Romenesko). The rodeo decided that it would only give press passes to those who were "willing to work with us," which meant covering things in a way that was favorable to the rodeo. Good for the Redding Record Searchlight. Hopefully some other newspapers will get up enough courage to tell other (bigger) sports what they can do with their restrictions as well.

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Filed Under: journalism, redding, reporting, restrictions, rodeo, sports

11 Comments

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Azrael, 22 Apr 2009 @ 11:50pm

Sorry to tell you but it will never happen. Why? Simply because without the direct to mouth "info" delivery the reporters will gonna have to do an actual investigation and reporting.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2009 @ 5:15am

Re:
I'm sorry, but your comment does not parse. Please reread what you posted, and try again?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2009 @ 5:43am

Is rodeo a real sport?
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Um..., 23 Apr 2009 @ 5:47am

Re: Re:
I second that motion.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2009 @ 7:41am

Going without a press pass is probably the "honorable and just" thing to do but how well are the readers served if there is no field and locker room access?

The reporters have to walk a line between reporting what they want to report and having to cover things in a way that doesn't burn bridges with their primary source. It isn't just sports, its all areas like govt. and business also.

Its also understandable. Only a few members of the media have access to Tiger Woods (outside of the media tent at tournaments. I can guarantee if you a reporter writes something that Tiger doesn't like, it might be the last time a reporter has Tiger answer questions. That is only normal. I would rather talk to reporters that I am comfortable with rather than those that write bad things about me. Wouldn't you? A bunch of "no comments" doesn't make for a good story.
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The infamous Joe, 23 Apr 2009 @ 9:54am

Re:
That is only normal. I would rather talk to reporters that I am comfortable with rather than those that write bad things about me. Wouldn't you?

I would rather just talk to a reporter who reports the truth. If that happens to be negative for you, then maybe you deserve it, yes?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2009 @ 10:10am

I agree, but if you have a choice to talk with a reporter that will portray you in a better light, wouldn't you choose that reporter?

Besides, reporting the truth? What does that have to do with media today? Isn't it all about spin and headlines today?
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The infamous Joe, 23 Apr 2009 @ 11:51am

Re:
Usually, except when one medium refuses to play that game. The one we're talking about now. :)
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Apr 2009 @ 1:46pm

True, but I am guessing that covering a rodeo is a bit different than covering the Yankees.
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Trollifius, 23 Apr 2009 @ 10:12pm

Wait, wait...
...is all this hubbub about the value of hearing the cliches and platitudes mouthed by the dim bulb participants in American team sports???

Rly?

What is of interest in sports is the games, the competition, and the results thereof. What these under-educated, steroid-bloated endomorphs have to SAY about the games matters almost not at all.

If you need a good "story" to appreciate sporting events, you're probably also the kind of person who contributes to the perpetuation of the vile "celebrity culture" that exists in some alternative media universe to the one that contains talent, art and creativity.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Apr 2009 @ 6:39am

Just looking at Einstein's equations would be good enough to define his work, but he still had other interesting things to say.

I don't want to know how God created the universe, I want to know what he was thinking.
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