Column published, then pulled... your reactions

[Rick Shanley]

I'm a freelance contributor with a steady Division I college hockey beat. My sports editor asked me to write a column about the school's decision to retain its hockey coach, so I did. I wrote what's been on everyone's mind for a long time. The column was published on the paper's web site around 3 a.m., but eventually spiked at 8 a.m. after a morning editor found it "too harsh." The editor also questioned my sources and process for writing the column (without consulting me).

Executives then informed our sports editor that they had been "discussing" a policy for the past couple of months whereby freelancers would be prohibited from writing columns, but failed to inform my editor of such discussions.

As you might imagine, the column was online long enough to be read by people and once it was removed became blog/forum/chat fodder that grew to hefty proportions. I was even asked to be on a local sports radio show to talk about it.

I am completely floored (and pissed) that the paper would do this. Anyone else have a similar experience? Thoughts?

 

[forever_town]

I've had my publisher come in and tell me I couldn't run the column I'd written. It's part of life.

Having said that, if I can't use a story, I'll tell the writer why I can't use it. And if there are problems, I'm explaining them to the writer.

I wrote another column about half an hour later and he walked in saying, "for a column you wrote quickly, this is pretty damn good." He then jokingly asked me if I kept that column in storage.

 

[Rick Shanley]

What gets me is that it was originally published, then pulled. The subjects of the column maintain they had nothing to do with it.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Post it here for all to see. [/Wallace Matthews]

 

[Lugnuts]

I'm really curious. I wouldn't want you to get in trouble, but can you post it?

 

[markvid]

I'm really curious. I wouldn't want you to get in trouble, but can you post it?

He's already used his name, can't out himself.
However, you do wonder about copyright issues if he puts it here.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I'm a freelance contributor with a steady Division I college hockey beat. My sports editor asked me to write a column about the school's decision to retain its hockey coach, so I did. I wrote what's been on everyone's mind for a long time. The column was published on the paper's web site around 3 a.m., but eventually spiked at 8 a.m. after a morning editor found it "too harsh." The editor also questioned my sources and process for writing the column (without consulting me).

Executives then informed our sports editor that they had been "discussing" a policy for the past couple of months whereby freelancers would be prohibited from writing columns, but failed to inform my editor of such discussions.

As you might imagine, the column was online long enough to be read by people and once it was removed became blog/forum/chat fodder that grew to hefty proportions. I was even asked to be on a local sports radio show to talk about it.

I am completely floored (and pissed) that the paper would do this. Anyone else have a similar experience? Thoughts?

Are you the only freelancer on staff? Are you the only freelancer who writes a column or is this your first try at an opinion piece?
Who is "everyone?" I know city councilman - and parents - who refer to "everyone" as the five people they have coffee with every Thursday at Hardees!

We had a kid (20 or so) who worked part-time with us briefly (a month, tops). Two weeks in -- on the SE and ASE's off days -- the paper publishes a column by the kid on the coaching situation at a local high school. Bad. Bad MOVE.
The column was poorly written, poorly researched and as one-sided as a duct tape. There was simply no way someone who worked for us - it was also his first job - for less than two weeks should be allowed to pen a column. We caught flak from a lot of people for his column.

You need to be a little more specific in your situation, unless you are simply looking for validation of your feelings and not honest opinion.

 

[21]

Does anyone else question the wisdom of starting a thread like this using a real name, particularly if the writer wants to keep his freelance gig? Seems like someone at the paper might not love this.

 

[Double Down]

The Bad Idea Bears say, "Post it! Post the column!"

 

[dooley_womack1]

The Bad Idea Bears discover that speed is a helluva drug.

 

[Tom Petty]

The Bad Idea Bears discover that speed is a helluva drug.

i'd love to see the column, but yeah, it's a bad idea to post it here.

 

[forever_town]

There's always PMs.

 

[slappy4428]

Somehow, I knew the school before I looked on Google

 

[212areacode]

If the column was good enough to be posted originally it shouldn't have been pulled by some morning editor.

That's amateur hour.

The reasons for pulling that column had better be that the newspaper was trying to avoid a LAWSUIT, not avoid criticism or discomfort because of your opinion.

 

[Notepad]

This should answer most questions:
http://westerncollegehockey.blogspot.com/2008/03/tough-times-at-zoo.html

Mr. Shanley, it looks to me as if your column has a lot of flaws. Just my opinion.

 

[forever_town]

If you don't mind my sounding like my publisher for a second, that column reads like you're giving vent to spleen. Have you done any reporting by asking the AD WHY she's retaining the coach? What about talking to players? What about talking to folks from other schools who can give informed opinions?

Column writing isn't just about expressing your opinion. You have to get facts to support your opinion, which you do by doing original reporting. And I'm not talking about saying the team hasn't won anything since Ronald Reagan was in office. What is it about training techniques, the system, etc. that causes this team to win nothing more than the odd game against ranked opponents?

Looks to me like you did none of that.

 

[slappy4428]

If you don't mind my sounding like my publisher for a second, that column reads like you're giving vent to spleen. Have you done any reporting by asking the AD WHY she's retaining the coach? What about talking to players? What about talking to folks from other schools who can give informed opinions?

Column writing isn't just about expressing your opinion. You have to get facts to support your opinion, which you do by doing original reporting. And I'm not talking about saying the team hasn't won anything since Ronald Reagan was in office. What is it about training techniques, the system, etc. that causes this team to win nothing more than the odd game against ranked opponents?

Looks to me like you did none of that.

Because she's a former gymnastics coach and she can keep the coach another year because he's a grad of the school... other than that and knowing the coach when he played defense for the school, I got nothin

 

[Notepad]

I agree with the above issues.

Solid columns are based in solid reporting.

Looks like there was zero reporting done here, but it reads like something that would come out of someone's mouth while he was at the bar with his friends.

The column should have been pulled. Not to hurt your feelings, but it was terrible.

 

[Some Guy]

Do any of us work at papers that allow freelancers to write opinion columns? Because I don't and never have.

 

[Lugnuts]

To this joe reader, the column is no different than any rant in any city, USA. Substitute Isiah Thomas for Culhane and Jimmy D for Beauregard, and you've got your average NY Post rant/column.

Sure I would've liked to have seen a quote or two from these allegedly peeved fans....

But it didn't seem any more spike-worthy than...

Oh I don't know, "They sat in the stands, in their M.S.U. clothing..."