Borrowing story ideas

I hear tell there's a college with a top-25 football program and its own sports web site and its own writers. I also hear tell that when beat writers request a player/coach/administrator for a feature or take-out, they're asked the nature of the story. If a reason isn't given, it's harder to get the access, leaving the writer two choices: 1. try to get the stuff within the window of normal media availability (a window the size of a keyhole at this school), or 2. Tell them the subject of the story.
If it's No. 2, and the story isn't judged to be negative, a funny thing seems to happen: a story on the same subject appears on the school's sports web site within days, written by one in the in-house guys -- who obviously have more access.

Thoughts?

 

Sounds a lot like the stories that I heard tell about when Urban Meyer was in Florida.

 

In the cases I've seen a local story and written something national, I always do two things:

1. Build upon or expand the story so that I'm not just recycling - and I mean REALLY build and expand;

2. Acknowledge the work done by the writer of the idea source material, either via link, mention or both. I often try to let the writer personally know what I'm doing, too.

To me, No. 2 is a straight-up professional courtesy. Just good manners. As a bonus, people often help you out.

As for No. 1 - well, if you don't have that, why bother writing anything in the first place?

 

I'm a freelancer, and there have been times over the years where I have discussed ideas with prospective clients, only to see those ideas passed along to full-timers. I'm more upset with myself when it happens, but on the other hand, what are you supposed to do? You've got to make a pitch, no?

 

At first I thought I knew what school was being talked about. Then I thought how many schools could that describe? Trying to snuff out any negative stories, then stealing positive stories/features and promoting them as a great story for media to pick up on. Wouldn't a number of athletic departments do that?

 

Not really surprised. Not really fair, but, again, you can't copyright ideas. All you can do is attempt to write the better story.

 

I don't know who taught you English, but there's no such thing as "borrowing" an idea.

 

Good writers borrow. Great writers steal.