Covering the SEC meeting in Destin?

Obviously, if David Climer of Nashville is the only one there, he's not going to out himself.

But I was curious how media-friendly that event was, if it's worth covering in person.

One of my guys says he's heard it's tough to cover. Too much sitting around outside of closed doors.

I've never gotten the sense that AP really did that great a job on it, and there's so much going on there.

 

While you're waiting for those closed doors to open, go grab a beer at McGuire's Irish pub.... best place in town

 

I think the beat writers from the bigger papers are there. I know at least two Georgia writers are there, though not Athens, and I'm sure there are three or four Bama writers on hand.

 

I have gone in recent years past for my paper, and we have one of our writers down there this weekend -- working on both any breaking news items, as well as projects for near- and long-term. It is a gold mine of sourcing, but like any mining process, requires more sitting in front of closed doors than lounging poolside waiting for the news to come to you.

I am just happy that my paper continues to ante up the $$$ for us to do it. We know our competition is there, too ...

rb

 

With all the dollar bills in the ceiling. Nice place.

 

I've covered meetings for several different conferences. Typically, there's a group of 10 or more reporters around from the bigger papers that cover a conference. There's a few more than that at the SEC. Usually, the conference will set up group interview opportunities for some folks. Other than that, it's definitely a mad-dash to grab somebody coming out of a meeting.

If your paper is serious about covering a college beat, it's worth going -- if for no other reason than making contacts.

 

Second the thought on McGuire's. If he's still working there, ask the bartender Ted to make you an Irish Wake.

 

Uhh, downtown Pensacola is a good lil' drive from Destin (probably 20-30 minutes), but other than that, it's a great place. Excellent, excellent steaks.
Also, Flounder's on Pensacola Beach has great seafood - owned by the same people.

 

Pensacola is an hour from Destin, or much more depending on time of day.

 

There is a McGuire's in Destin, but it's about 20-30 minutes away from the Hilton Sandestin. Traffic is a beast-only one main east-west route through the area. Pensacola? Try 90 minutes to 2 hours from Sandestin.

They've also moved the Panhandle's Champions Tour event, the former Mike Price Invitational ;D, now known as the Boeing Championship, to one of the courses on the Sandestin property, and it's being held this weekend.

 

Doubt you'll see the competition with his collar loosened in McGuire's working on his second beer, tho.