Questions at press conferences

I cover a big college beat in a fairly big city. At most press conferences, the vast majority of the questions are asked by me and one or two other people. Meanwhile, all four TV stations in town are filming, and various fan Web sites and publications are running stories off of these quotes while doing nothing but turning on a tape recorder. The press conferences are even carried live over the school's Web site while the people in charge never ask a question.

On national football signing day this coming Wednesday, the school is planning to carry the coach's presser live over the Internet...and the whole thing is basically going to be driven by my questions and those of one other writer. Meanwhile, the school promotes its Web site as the official and best source of sports information. :

This is starting to annoy me. The way I see it, why should people be able to log on to the school Web site and watch a press conference driven mostly by my questions? Isn't that sort of an injustice to my newspaper? If no one else in the room has an insightful question to ask, am I justified in being a bit pissed about carrying their water? Am I overreacting?

Thoughts?

 

Don't ask questions.

 

This happens more and more. You're right to be annoyed. On Wednesday, see how long you can wait before asking a question in the formal part of the news conference. Or do your thing one-on-one once it breaks up.

 

I've considered that, but I do still have a story to write and bills to pay.

 

It's part of the game. You'll get used it it or at least over it. If not, you should.

 

So you feel the school shouldn't broadcast the presser? Because it infringes on your paper's rights??

 

Exactly. The idea being, media representatives know the subject at hand and ask intelligent questions.

 

Not at all. I'm saying it renders my story a little stale if the answers to my questions have already been broadcast on the Internet. That's a frustrating experience when no one else in the room seems to have anything insightful to ask.

And yes, I've been at this a long time and know how it works. It's just starting to get under my skin more than ever. Not sure why.

 

You've missed the point entirely, but thanks for playing.