Edict: pay your own way in to games

We have a winner.

 

I could understand if the bean counters sent a directive prohibiting reporters from eating the food in the press box. However, this is beyond the pale. Especially since there's no prohibition against eating the press box food.

I'm just glad it's not the SE's policy. It would show a shocking lack of understanding of the profession on the part of someone who should know it.

 

The key word is "critic." Getting the movie or music for free can influence an opinion. The same is true of premium seating. They are trying to "buy" a good review.

Sports writing is not a review. It's simply telling what happened. No bribery can influence the facts.

 

Exactly. Even if the local university lets you in for free, feeds you in the press box, and, hell, sends the head cheerleader in to give you handjobs at regular intervals, how biased could you possibly be in writing about the game that the school played? If they win 14-7, that's what you'd report. And if they lose 49-0, you're going to have to report that too. You could try to put a positive spin on it, I guess..."valiant effort", "tried to keep it close", all that "rally the local team" bullshit, but, ultimately, you're going to report what happened at the game.
News reporters, political writers, critics...I can understand the need to keep them subjective.
But to try to take extra steps to do such a thing for sports reporters seems misguided.

 

With this new info, my opinion of the sports editor has changed (but only slightly, simply because it doesn't sound like he put up much of a fight about it) ...

However, my original question still stands unanswered -- why just this college, and not the high school (or schools) you cover? Is there something more to this that is driving this asinine decision by your paper's higher-ups?

 

Yeah, I agree ... sounds like this SE is a bit timid and not willing to explain to the higher-ups how silly the edict is ... I feel for big green wahoo and I think he should keep that resume ready.

 

If the pope tells you to do something, I think you have to listen.

 

When the pope can kick out an 18-inch gamer in less than an hour, I'll listen ...

 

If editors insists on this, I say demand that he/company foots the bill and buys you a season ticket, IN ADVANCE so you don't have to. Regardless, your editor has questionable journalistic skill.

 

Awesome.

 

Yes, how do you interview players/coaches, access the press box, etc without a media pass. That's completely backwards...never heard anything like it.

 

So what is the verdict? Can you get a press pass and still buy a ticket to satisfy the higher up bean counters?