Is it unethical to....

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johnnychoice

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Jul 13, 2006
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Is it unethical to date someone on a team you are covering?

I don't cover too much softball, volleyball or for that matter any womens sports anymore but, I oftened wondered this when I was.
 
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sportschick said:
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.

I heard SC saying that last night. 8)

Seriously, though, I agree with the above that covering someone you date is a big no-no.

Let me play Devil's advocate here, though. What if you were breaking big stories (we're talking big scoops, lots of good info, whatever) because of that connection? The main reason it would seem to be unethical is that it could (and probably would) cloud your judgment of the team you're covering. But what if dating someone on that team actually made you a better reporter?

Also, hypothetically, what if you were dating someone you didn't cover, and later were assigned to that beat?

I would think if you told your editor you were dating Sally McSpikermeier of the volleyball team that he/she wouldn't assign you to that beat or move you off it.

How dating about someone you used to cover?

Someone you used to cover doesn't seem to be a problem (in fact, one of the AD's who used to work in my area was a former journo and wound up marrying a girl he used to cover when she was in HS after she moved back to town when she graduated college. They've been together something like 45 years). It seems a little weird, but I don't think there's anything unethical about it.
 
You should probably wait until she finishes middle school, depending on the laws in the state where she lives.
 
Stop lying, Pern! You know you made me quote all of Leia's lines last night :D

Dating somebody you used to cover isn't unethical. It might raise eyebrows in some circles, but I don't see anything wrong with it.
 
sportschick said:
Stop lying, Pern! You know you made me quote all of Leia's lines last night :D

Dating somebody you used to cover isn't unethical. It might raise eyebrows in some circles, but I don't see anything wrong with it.

"Help me Big Pern. You're my only hope for an orgasm."

It was pretty hot when you said, "I don't know who you are or where you've come from, but from now on you'll do as I say, okay?" I like a strong woman.

It hurt, though, when I took my shirt off and you said, "Would someone get this walking carpet out of my way."

TMI?

:D
 
johnnychoice said:
Is it unethical to date someone on a team you are covering?

I don't cover too much softball, volleyball or for that matter any womens sports anymore but, I oftened wondered this when I was.

Well, since nobody actually reads stories on women's sports, will anybody ever really notice? Seems to me the only real danger is if your wife finds out.
 
sportschick said:
Pern's a Wookie? Who knew :D

I'm just waiting someone else to chime in: "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought."

:P

And, yes, I'm a nerd.
 
Since the vast majority of the female athletes I write about are young enough to be my daughter, this is not a problem for me. I'm even getting too old for most of the female coaches.
 
i wonder if christian laettner ever dated any of the duke, hawks or twolves beat writers?
 

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