Leaving an article out of the paper because it's received late

[Pete Incaviglia]

The stringer had at least a day or two to do the story.

A DAY OR TWO? To write a high school track story? Tebow, cut this clown loose unless there's literally no one in that town with enough working typing fingers to take his/her place.

Has anyone added Tebow to the SportsJournalists.com Dictionary, yet? I assume it means Jesus or God.

 

[Some Guy]

whom will?

Whome Wille

 

[jfs1000]

Should have gotten the stories in if possible, then either tell the dude hit the deadline or see you later.

I would not take copy, expect your readers to have it, and then not run it. That is passive aggressive and not good management.

You service the readers by running it, and cut the guy loose, that's how it should be done. IMO, the parents should be upset. What are you going to tell them? Go yell at the stringer? You are responsible.

Now, if you couldn't get it in because of deadline, that's a different story. But, you have to make the honest effort next time.

 

[Clerk Typist]

Can the slow stringer.
Then look in the mirror. You had time to put it in, even though deadline had passed? Then deadline really hadn't passed. Only the time to file the story, set by you (and undoubtedly reasonably), had. The first story should have been in the paper, and a new stringer (or you) should have been on the scene for the next meet.
Then it all happened again? Neither he nor you learned from your mistake, and the track parents aren't happy.
Still have the stories? Either e-mail 'em to the parents or run a track page with them and a couple of pictures and catch up. You fill a page quick and everybody's happy.
Again, can the slow poke.

 

[Stitch]

Should have gotten the stories in if possible, then either tell the dude hit the deadline or see you later.

I would not take copy, expect your readers to have it, and then not run it. That is passive aggressive and not good management.

You service the readers by running it, and cut the guy loose, that's how it should be done. IMO, the parents should be upset. What are you going to tell them? Go yell at the stringer? You are responsible.

Now, if you couldn't get it in because of deadline, that's a different story. But, you have to make the honest effort next time.

Tell the stringer to get lost, but don't tell parents to blame him. It's ultimately your fault for relying on the slacker.

 

[BigJim5190]

I'm sort of in the line of thinking as you're both at fault. Stringer had two chances to get track copy in (in TWO days), so he needs to go. Even if it means doing it yourself until you can find someone who can make it happen.

I also agree with Clerk in the REAL deadline hadn't passed, you needed to get that story in the paper. In the end, your paper looked bad because the results weren't in - even if it wasn't your fault.

My shop had a similar situation a year ago with deadlines for day-game call-ins. We had a 9 p.m. deadline to call in, but really the paper didn't leave the floor until 11:15. That was essentially an older deadline issue before we jumped to a new computer system for layout and composing.

However, we still had people clinging to that 9 p.m. deadline, which, since I was the prep guy at the time, would result in me getting calls the next day from coaches who tried to call in at 9:15 (after coaching the game, picking up the field, dropping kids off, getting dinner and other assorted junk) and just missed the deadline. Either that or they didn't care. Either way, our paper looked bad because we didn't have the result in the paper the next day. Normally, I wouldn't have had a problem with it if they were busy, but if it was taking time out of their checking of fantasy teams or playing games, then it became an issue.

So, tangent aside, you need to look at the bigger picture rather than sending the kid a message. Parents don't care why it wasn't in - just that it wasn't in.

 

[Mark2010]

Giventhe fact life rarely allows us to go back and undo our mistakes, I agree that some sort of featurized recap might be the best way to go.

And, yes, emphasize to the stringer the importance of meeting deadlines.

 

[shotglass]

smallpotatoes digests the guidance/suggestions/blame he has received.

 

[steveu]

Stringer needs to be told that if he can't get his **** done on time, you'll find someone that will.

What he said.

Second it. Late to the party here, but you don't punish the team because a writer couldn't get his **** together. After all, the track team was there on time for the meet. :)

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

Time to take the stringer behind the shed.

 

[PopeDirkBenedict]

Have the school fax track results to you the same day as the meet so that, at the very least, YOU can get the agate and a quotless roundup in the paper.