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Asking fellow reporters for their thoughts about a team

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by hockeybeat, May 20, 2008.

  1. hockeybeat

    hockeybeat Guest

    I am working on a story about a team that I have not seen much of this season. As such, I'm thinking about talking to fellow reporters about said team. Is it kosher if I write, "Team X observers say..."?
     
  2. mike311gd

    mike311gd Active Member

    I wouldn't.
     
  3. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    Who are the observers? Fans? Team workers? Must identify. Not a bad idea to get 1-2 who have some credibility. Not a tool you want to use often but I did it a time or two and it worked out OK. Mostly for "scouting report" type stories when area teams played in postseason.
     
  4. hockeybeat

    hockeybeat Guest

    I guess I'd use observers to refer to veteran reporters that have covered Team X.
     
  5. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    Don't do it.

    I would talk to someone who covers the team and then use stats to make the points rather than their observations.
     
  6. spnited

    spnited Active Member

    Do not quote other writers.
     
  7. beardpuller

    beardpuller Active Member

    I'd ask, to inform my own perspective, but I wouldn't quote a writer. Unless I was detailing some sort of controversy -- "Mudville fans and media have been sharply critical of Joe Blow's 12-game playoff scoreless streak. In the Mudville Press, so and so wrote ..."

    If we're talking about hockey here, isn't there a Pierre McGuire or a Bill Clement you can check in with? In other sports, I'm sure there are those types of guys, as well, media with playing or coaching cred. I've always preferred that to quoting other writers.
     
  8. hockeybeat

    hockeybeat Guest

    Thanks, all, for your thoughts.
     
  9. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    Ask Norm Maclean.
     
  10. hockeybeat

    hockeybeat Guest

    Saw him during the NHL playoffs. He looks like death barely warmed over.
     
  11. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    So he's looking better, then...
     
  12. fremont

    fremont Member

    That's me too. Especially since I'm strictly freelance now I might be given a team that's in the playoffs having never seen them before. I might try to get an idea of what they're like, who to watch. But what goes in print is based on what I see and/or the observations of people who are involved in the story.
     
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