High school grades

[Overrated]

So, a high school girl who hadn't played in a month because of grades pitched last night and earned the victory.

It's not my beat, so I asked why hadn't she pitched lately. She told me she failed a class. Is it kosher to write (or something similar):

"said So-and-So, who said she hasn't played lately because of low grades."

I don't see a problem, but I'm curious. Thanks for any help.

 

[Cadet]

It's kosher, since you got the information from the girl, but realize the parents, coaches and school administrators are going to cry foul. They're going to say you violated privacy laws by printing information about her status as a student. Thing is, you are not held to those privacy laws, the school is. If the school had told you that information, they would be in violation of the law, but you wouldn't be in violation for publishing the information. Go ahead with it, because it's an important factor to the story of the team's season, but be prepared for the phone call.

 

[Starman]

If the player herself tells you, you're home free.

Coaches and ADs usually aren't supposed to discuss students' grades (although of course that never stops them on the insipid "Betty Benchwarmer has a 3.98 GPA" stories).

 

[Overrated]

Thanks a lot, you two. Cadet, your post was exactly for what I'm readying myself. I can take the heat, I just wanted some confirmation from the board. (On this only, though. )

 

[SportsDude]

Wait until you end up with an all-conference third basemen sitting out due to pregnancy ...

 

[EStreetJoe]

Since you're saying in the story that the girl told you that and not any school official you should be fine.

 

[thegrifter]

I know I'm late on this one, but does mentioning her failed class do anything to enhance the story? Is this JUST a gamer?
If you're writing a feature about her, I can understand where this is relevant, but otherwise, it's just embarassing to the girl.

 

[forever_town]

If she's their top pitcher and she's unavailable because of grades, it absolutely is pertinent to the story.

I'd say run the story, including the fact that she volunteered the information.

 

[Tom Petty]

I know I'm late on this one, but does mentioning her failed class do anything to enhance the story? Is this JUST a gamer?
If you're writing a feature about her, I can understand where this is relevant, but otherwise, it's just embarassing to the girl.

i disagree. if you're going to take the time to cover preps, people will follow the stories. if one player just falls off the radar, the "fans" will want to know what in the hell happened to the player esp. if said player is a stud and has an impact on the team's wins and losses.

 

[thegrifter]

I think that's where the difference lies. If she's their top-pitcher, it's relevant. But if she's just another pitcher, I don't think it adds anything to the story.
But still, remember these are high school kids. She may have been cool with it now, but let's say you want to do a feature on her and this "comeback." She might not want to talk about it later because you mentioned her grades this time.
Just a thought. Not telling anyone something they don't know, but any source, regardless of age, needs to be handled with kid gloves.

 

[Tom Petty]

I think that's where the difference lies. If she's their top-pitcher, it's relevant. But if she's just another pitcher, I don't think it adds anything to the story.
But still, remember these are high school kids. She may have been cool with it now, but let's say you want to do a feature on her and this "comeback." She might not want to talk about it later because you mentioned her grades this time.
Just a thought. Not telling anyone something they don't know, but any source, regardless of age, needs to be handled with kid gloves.

grifter - i see where you're coming from and agree to an extent. but these people -- prep parents, coaches, fans, players -- are the ones who freak out if they aren't covered by some papers. if these people are going to cry because they received what they asked for, well, **** 'em.

if i ever receive a pissy call at work, i always ask the caller three questions: is what we wrote accurate? is it the truth? is it honest?

if the answer is yes, yes, yes, i then ask: then what else do you expect from a newspaper?

 

[Overrated]

If she's their top pitcher and she's unavailable because of grades, it absolutely is pertinent to the story.

I'd say run the story, including the fact that she volunteered the information.

She's 1B on a staff of two. She's a very good pitcher and pitched well last night. She hadn't pitched in a month, so that fact was included...therefore, I thought it was absolutely necessary to explain why she hadn't pitched.

I mean, she offered to tell me why.

And, Tom is absolutely correct. They gotta take the good with the bad. I don't care about the calls I'm going to receive. I just wanted to make sure what I'm doing isn't unethical.

 

[thegrifter]

screw the calls. I'm more concerned with the kid who's honesty could make her a terrific source (and possible story) down the line.

 

[BTExpress]

Here's what I see missing in this issue:

If this team had been covered somewhat regularly over the past month . . . the pitcher's academic status (or that she was temporarily off the team) should have been reported before.

If this team has maybe a couple of games a month covered . . . then there was no "radar" for the pitcher to fall off of. No regular stories for people to follow, thus no reason for them to wonder about the whereabouts of the pitcher. In any event, a simple "said xxxxxx, who had missed xx games for academic reasons" somewhere in the middle of the story should suffice. You do not need to state in the story that the information came from her. The fact that it DID come from her is enough . . . in the unlikely event anyone complains.

 

[thegrifter]

excellent point BTE

 

[Overrated]

Here's what I see missing in this issue:

If this team had been covered somewhat regularly over the past month . . . the pitcher's academic status (or that she was temporarily off the team) should have been reported before.

If this team has maybe a couple of games a month covered . . . then there was no "radar" for the pitcher to fall off of. No regular stories for people to follow, thus no reason for them to wonder about the whereabouts of the pitcher. In any event, a simple "said xxxxxx, who had missed xx games for academic reasons" somewhere in the middle of the story should suffice. You do not need to state in the story that the information came from her. The fact that it DID come from her is enough . . . in the unlikely event anyone complains.

It hadn't been reported before and it's one of the two main teams in our coverage area that gets every home game staffed. Like I said, I was filling in because my team had the night off. So, you're right, it should have been covered, but wasn't. I walked into that with no knowledge of the situation.

I didn't make a big deal of it...just said she was academically ineligible for the last month. I mean, I can't say it was her first game on the mound in a month and not explain why that's the case.

Also, the event someone calls is very likely. Parents here are worse than anywhere I've ever been.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

If you use it, use it only in the quote that she gave and then leave it at that.

 

[Some Guy]

If she told you that she was academically ineligible, I would write she was academically ineligible.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

If she told you that she was academically ineligible, I would write she was academically ineligible.

After the game, Player X explained why she had missed the last month.
"I failed a class." Player X said.
In the fourth inning ... On from there...

If the only reference of it comes from her quote, you should be good. If it comes from somewhere other than there, parents will come after you. I'm not saying they should, or that you would be doing anything wrong, but in a case like this, it's better to be too cautious.

 

[Tom Petty]

Here's what I see missing in this issue:

If this team had been covered somewhat regularly over the past month . . . the pitcher's academic status (or that she was temporarily off the team) should have been reported before.

If this team has maybe a couple of games a month covered . . . then there was no "radar" for the pitcher to fall off of. No regular stories for people to follow, thus no reason for them to wonder about the whereabouts of the pitcher. In any event, a simple "said xxxxxx, who had missed xx games for academic reasons" somewhere in the middle of the story should suffice. You do not need to state in the story that the information came from her. The fact that it DID come from her is enough . . . in the unlikely event anyone complains.

perennially overrated said he was filling in when the girl returned and then he asked a question of the board. you then followed with a bunch of no-**** statements.

but guess what? you should have read the original post a little better before preaching irrelevance.