Washington Redskins Trying To Silence Beat Reporters On Social Media
from the that's-no-how-this-works dept
We've talked a few times about issues with various sports leagues and teams trying to control what beat reporters can report about, including some pretty serious limitations on basic reporting. The rise of things like Twitter has only made this a bigger issue, with some media entities and sports leagues trying to limit the ability of reporters to make use of Twitter to actually connect with their readership and community.The latest appears to be the Washington Redskins -- a team that has quite a history of controlling behavior when it comes to fans and reporters. This is the team that sued over 100 fans who couldn't afford to pay for their season tickets when the economy went south (most other teams worked out deals or just took the tickets back -- the Redskins took their fans to court). The team also threatened to revoke the press credentials of a Washington Post reporter who took photos of disgruntled fans protesting team actions.
So, really, I guess it shouldn't come as any surprise that the team is now trying to massively restrict how reporters make use of Twitter and blogs, as the team is trying to ban them from saying anything about practice sessions. The team is so controlling that part of the "media guidelines" it gave reporters includes an attempt to tell them what they can do:
"Media does have the right to report what they are told by coaches or players." (emphasis in the original)It's as if they feel like they're giving reporters permission to... um... do their jobs. Apparently, the team also met with reporters where it was suggested that the media wouldn't even be allowed to ask players about what happened at practice.
Now, of course, there's no legal issue here. The team controls access and can deny or revoke a press pass to whomever they want, but it seems like a really short-sighted move. In an attempt to overly control the press, they end up making it that much more difficult for fans to really connect. For many fans, the press is their main connection to a sports team, so the team should be encouraging greater communities built up around those beat reporters. It makes fans more loyal and more interested in the team. At some point, teams are going to need to realize that reporters are effectively giving them free advertising, and they should stop trying to control every bit of it, or some publications might decide to back off on covering the team at all...
Below is an image of the first page of the new media "rules" care of TBD.com:
![redskins-media-policy](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5023856364_4275d2052e_z.jpg)
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Filed Under: journalism, social media, washington redskins
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Limiting opponent knowledge
Sure, the Redskins have been absolute dicks many times in the past regarding fans, but this seems innocuous to me.
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It All Depends On Whether They Are Sold Out
On the other hand, if their games are not a sellout, then they need to do a better job of connecting with their fans and giving them a reason to buy. That would include being nicer to the media and trying to get more buzz about their games.
Does anybody have any information on whether Redskins games sell out or not?
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did they do that to an actor (he had a premier or something and no one was there to cover it) a few years ago cause he was always complaining that they were too intrusive?
unfortunately i cant remember who it was, so no link
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I think this could be a law
hmmm needs work.
What I mean is, because so much money goes into sports nowadays, that it ruins the whole idea of sports. Same happens in the entertainment branche, and the publishing branche.
People feel entitled to something that they aren't necessarily entitled to.
"Yesterday, this made me millions, why doesn't it work today? You, there, you downloading thief, give me money!" or "You there, you reporter, you are using our facts, give me money!" etc.
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Re: It All Depends On Whether They Are Sold Out
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Re: It All Depends On Whether They Are Sold Out
According to Forbes Magazine, the Redskins are the second most valuable franchise in the NFL, behind the Dallas Cowboys, and were valued at approximately $1.55 billion as of 2009. Being the second most valuable franchise, the Redskins remain the highest grossing team in the NFL with $345 million in revenue during the 2009 season. They have also broken the NFL's mark for single-season attendance eight years in a row.
And also in the records section of the same page:
The redskins have sold out every home game since 1958
These statistics might show you why the Redskins don't care about the media. The sports writers in DC need the Redskins more than the Skins need them.
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And to be honest, if the headline didn't mention what NFL team it was, I'd have guessed the Redskins first. Their owner, Dan Snyder, is a real jerk.
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Re: Re: It All Depends On Whether They Are Sold Out
It was stunning I came from Philadelphia where the Eagles would get maybe 5 to 10 minutes attention.
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Not all is unreasonable...
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NFL teams (and now baseball teams) charge you for the right to buy season tickets. They charge you for the right to actually get the tickets. In terms of the Redskins, it is a sellers market. Tampa Bay Rays are not in quite the same boat, as they gave away 40K tickets to fill the stands when they clenched a spot in the playoffs.
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Actually, it takes winning to make fans more loyal and interested. The Media is WAY to high on itself to think that they have more pull then they actually do.
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