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How would you handle this in the newspaper and on message boards?

Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by #52 Psycho T, Jan 30, 2009.

  1. sportschick

    sportschick Active Member

    People have been known to miss meth and other things in with their pot. It's possible that that's what happened to the girl in the hospital (if she is in fact in the hospital, etc., etc.)
     
  2. Barsuk

    Barsuk Active Member

    You should definitely report that players A and B did not play, along with the reason the coach gave you. You also should continue to dig and try to get more on the record from good sources (not a friend of a friend's sister who saw Ferris last night at 31 flavors). You absolutely should not publish, in print or online, anything regarding the smoking of weed unless you get it on the record from an aforementioned good source.
     
  3. 2muchcoffeeman

    2muchcoffeeman Well-Known Member

    Another thing: Go to the ICU waiting room during visiting hours and see if any of the girl's relatives are sitting in there. Play dumb; ask why they're there.
     
  4. PeteyPirate

    PeteyPirate Guest

    How is Player A a recent graduate of the school and still playing on the team?
     
  5. imjustagirl

    imjustagirl Active Member

    I tripped over that too. Add a comma:

    I know for sure Player A is 18 years old, and a recent graduate of that school said Player B is 18 years old.
     
  6. StormSurge

    StormSurge Active Member

    Sheesh. I learn more about you & our high school years every day. Good lord I was oblivious.
     
  7. Sam Mills 51

    Sam Mills 51 Well-Known Member

    Continue to investigate. Cultivate sources. And print nothing until you are absolutely CERTAIN you have the facts.

    Message boards? They're fun for discussion, jokes or catching up. Not for news.
     
  8. tapintoamerica

    tapintoamerica Well-Known Member

    If the police are involved and the players are 18, there will be a paper trail of some sort: incident report, arrest report, etc. If 911 was called, you may also be able to obtain a recording of the phone call or other documentation that authorities were summoned to a particular address.

    If your own paper offers comments, use that vehicle for one purpose: To discourage readers from posting their favorite rumors. Post your own msg to this effect: "Our interest is to cover a story -- if there is, in fact, a story -- in a responsible manner. Please don't muddy the waters with speculation."
     
  9. spnited

    spnited Active Member

    What is the "official" reason for the suspensions? What do you have in concrete facts, on the record, to elaborate on the "real" reason?
     
  10. John

    John Well-Known Member

    And find out if they are suspended from school, as well. That would demonstrate a far more serious offense than just missing four games, which could fall under the "violation of team rules" umbrella.
     
  11. HandsomeHarley

    HandsomeHarley Well-Known Member

    Wouldn't hurt to try the hospital, but it's a longshot. It's routine for auto accident victims, so why not?

    That said, I thought that headline rocked.
     
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