Good Idea? Or Bad Idea?

[Pete Incaviglia]

The sports editor at the college paper wants to interview me for a piece he's doing on the team(s) I cover.

Is it a good idea or bad idea to oblige?

I've quoted other out-of-town reporters for a feature piece I once wrote. I've also been quote in another out-of-town paper about a brawl I saw first-hand. That was AGES ago and I was much, much younger and greener.

Anyway, should I give this guy an interview? Or am I putting myself in a tough spot?

 

[CUinthenewsroom]

Re: Good Idead? Or Bad Idea?

I don't see a problem with it, unless you are in some way in competition with his paper. I guess it would depend on the story being written.

 

[Colton]

Re: Good Idead? Or Bad Idea?

What's an idead? J/K, Pete.

 

[micke77]

Re: Good Idead? Or Bad Idea?

i don't see any problem with it unless you're competing against someone. when i have done feature stories or, say, something on a team where a writer has been covering the person or team a good while and has a lot of knowledge, i will quote them. i think it gives another good insight into what i'm writing about.
i am interviewed every now and then by a local radio sports station, but i always make it a point to stay pretty general and not reveal any type of "scoop" or something that hadn't already appeared in our paper.
and your situation being a college paper, i see no problem at all.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

i don't see any problem with it unless you're competing against someone. when i have done feature stories or, say, something on a team where a writer has been covering the person or team a good while and has a lot of knowledge, i will quote them. i think it gives another good insight into what i'm writing about.
i am interviewed every now and then by a local radio sports station, but i always make it a point to stay pretty general and not reveal any type of "scoop" or something that hadn't already appeared in our paper.
and your situation being a college paper, i see no problem at all.

This sounds like what he was/is working on. He just wanted someone more familiar with the team and conference longterm.

 

[Stitch]

How long have you been covering the team? If it's not more than 10 years or so, I wouldn't do it.

I don't see your take or any writer's take being useful to a college newspaper piece.

 

[Some Guy]

I have never, evereverevereverever quoted another reporter in one my stories.

The only instance I could imagine doing so is if I were doing a history piece, on an event that happened yesteryear, and wanted as many first-hand voices as possible.

That said, if the kid wants to do the story, I see no harm in submitting to the interview.

 

[micke77]

i've covered this particular team i was mentioning for 20 years. guess they figure i'm the "expert historian" on the place. ha.
it's the same way with our local radio and tv types..they find out i've covered this team so long, they usually want to chat if there's some been change in coaches, historical moment, etc.
so be it.

 

[SixToe]

Either help the kid with some quotes, or talk with him about why you believe it's not a good thing to quote other reporters.

 

[Stitch]

Either help the kid with some quotes, or talk with him about why you believe it's not a good thing to quote other reporters.

Yes, it is a good teaching moment for the student journalist.

 

[nmmetsfan]

As long as they don't work the jewelry counter at the local Walmart, I don't see a problem.

 

[Fredrick]

I wouldn't do it if it's being printed. If it was for a class I would probably do it.

 

[Stitch]

Wasn't good idea/bad idea thing done in Animaniacs?

 

[Ace]

I wouldn't do it if it's being printed. If it was for a class I would probably do it.

I agree with Fred. If it's for a story for the paper, I would help the kid out. Give him some of your background and expertise but explain that he's better off quoting coaches or scouts or others who are appropriate for his story (and help him with that).

I'd tell him that writers shouldn't quote other writers except in rare cases (like your brawl or a story on what it's like to be a reporter).

TV announcers, pundits, experts are a different, though, as would be a national reporter.