Fans at press conferences

Was curious how many out there have to deal with fans, influential alumni, etc., being in attendance and even asking questions at press conferences, postgame interviews, etc.?
i am finding this to becoming increasingly a trend in our area.

 

My university has finally shut it down in the past two games. Prior to that, it was a problem.

Alumni and donors not as much as fanboy freelance photographers, etc., that can get access to the media room, but shouldn't be in there during press conferences.

 

at an early season game i covered for our local university, we had more fans and alumni at the postgame gig than media. and being that their team had just won a game against a highly favored foe, they went giddy when they brought the coach and players in. it was extremely distracting and unprofessional. they kept cell phones on, jabbered amidst questions by the media, etc. i voiced a complaint/concern/whatever you wanna call it to local SID and he told me his "hands were tied" because of influential alumni, that they would get pissed off if told they couldn't be in there. ridiculous and hoakey if you ask me. extremely distracting.
it did get a little better after several games, but there's still that fan/school officials/alumni element that remains a part of what I believe should be MEDIA ONLY event.
i also covered a basketball game this past saturday afternoon where interviews with coaches/players were set up on the court after the game. of course, you know what happens in that case: fans walk up and become a part of the interviewing process, even when SID helpers are trying to discourage it.

 

Money talks, media walks.

 

LSU has been pretty bad about this at times. John Brady used to play to the boosters in the room. When Nick Saban said he was staying (in January 2004) rather than going to the Chicago Bears, boosters and staff in the conference room began cheering. Those who heard the audio or saw the clip on ESPN assumed the media was cheering for Saban. Ugh.

 

This is something that the football writer's should address with schools because it is ridiculous -- there is nothing more ridiculous when a coach who is being criticized in the media or being embattled and he walks into the room after a big win and gets a standing ovation.

That's bull shit.

 

I would be all for the FWAA, USBWA, etc. fighting for this cause. It drives me crazy. My beat does it from time to time, and others are worse. It's unprofessional and ridiculous.

 

Good luck getting anyone except us to give a shit.

 

Few things make me angrier than press conference clapping.

But you're right. I don't see it changing.

 

If you can get it done, there's a place for you in my administration.

 

Speaking of clapping at a press conference, what was the situation with Giambi's return to Oakland? Lot of clapping in that one, too...I assumed it all came from A's staffers and managment...but it was enough to be noticeable.

 

after that early football game that i had mentioned in my initial post, i was so upset i could hardly write my gamer. i was absolutely pissed because of the sheer unprofessionalism and, even moreso, the practically could-care-less attitude of the university officials. and there have been times at other places where, when the media has asked what is perceived to be a "negative" question, such individuals would all but hiss or groan.
the media isn't going to win in this matter, not when it has to go up against influential donors who want to be in on such events. can't you see a university president or chancellor laughing when told that these dudes can't be in there because the media doesn't think it is professional.