NBA writer caught double-dipping

[Inky_Wretch]

(Did I miss a thread about this?)

Cleveland PD's lead NBA writer demoted for double-dipping on company time ...

http://www.clevescene.com/2008-07-16/news/why-branson-wright-got-demoted-and-more/2

 

[Mizzougrad96]

This was mentioned on another thread, and I think a couple people, myself included, attacked the poster since I think it was his first post that said the Cavs guy was canned for stringing for another paper.

I've now seen this in multiple places. So there must be something to it.

 

[Editude]

The beat writer stringing without checking with his editor? And it's not like the P-D doesn't pay well: Relative to its cost of living, Cleveland's writers and editors do OK. He's lucky he wasn't fired.

 

[thegrifter]

In today's job climate, he's damn lucky he wasn't fired.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

All he had to do was ask. I've strung for the out-of-town paper before, but there were rules:
1) I ask if I can.
2) I write the story for our paper first, the write the other.
3) I write the story for the other paper from the road team's perspective.
4) I try and use different quotes in both.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I don't like No. 4 on that list, Pete. If it's the best quote, it's the best quote.

 

[Joe Williams]

No, asking would have been wrong, too. They had his backup there to cover the game for the Plain Dealer so this guy could work on something else -- for the Plain Dealer. If he was going to handle game coverage, he should have been handling it for his paper.

No self-respecting NBA/NHL primary beat person would stringer for an out-of-town paper while letting his own paper go with a backup. It should be the other way around -- or better yet, to a preps writer at the P-D getting thrown a little bone.

Guy should have been whacked rather than given even easier duty (general sports blogger).

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

No, asking would have been wrong, too. They had his backup there to cover the game for the Plain Dealer so this guy could work on something else -- for the Plain Dealer. If he was going to handle game coverage, he should have been handling it for his paper.

No self-respecting NBA/NHL primary beat person would stringer for an out-of-town paper while letting his own paper go with a backup. It should be the other way around -- or better yet, to a preps writer at the P-D getting thrown a little bone.

Guy should have been whacked rather than given even easier duty (general sports blogger).

Good point Joe. I forgot about the "PD supplied a person to write gamer" aspect.

 

[Stone Cane]

Is this guy as bad as the clevescene.com piece thinks?

And what does covering the "fresh faces" mean?

 

[da man]

Is this guy as bad as the clevescene.com piece thinks?

And what does covering the "fresh faces" mean?

I'm thinking it means he was supposed to write a story on the new guys acquired in the trade.

 

[Colton]

Stone: Yes, he is.

 

[clever_username]

Man, there's going to be no lack of conversation starters for a college class about sports journalism ethics, is there?

 

[BrianGriffin]

Ace would have done better.

That's all I have.

 

[Riddick]

how the hell did this guy not lose his job?

 

[welcometotherock]

And he went through all that just to string a gamer for the Washington Times??? What did that gig get him, $20?

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

He wanted to get in good with the Moonies.

I'm guessing, just guessing, his thought process was, "I'll get my stuff on the new players before the game, file that first and do a quick gamer and no one's the wiser." Smart move.

I've double dipped (though i wasn't full-time for either so there was no conflict, i didn't get a byline for one, and i told both employers i was doing so) and it's not easy.

 

[armageddon]

No, asking would have been wrong, too. They had his backup there to cover the game for the Plain Dealer so this guy could work on something else -- for the Plain Dealer. If he was going to handle game coverage, he should have been handling it for his paper.

No self-respecting NBA/NHL primary beat person would stringer for an out-of-town paper while letting his own paper go with a backup. It should be the other way around -- or better yet, to a preps writer at the P-D getting thrown a little bone.

Guy should have been whacked rather than given even easier duty (general sports blogger).

Good point Joe. I forgot about the "PD supplied a person to write gamer" aspect.

These are the types of stunts pulled by people who have no fear of being fired.

 

[jambalaya]

I'm guessing many in our profession disagree on the rules here. Last season I did some stringing on my beat and when I told the out of town paper's editor I'd need to get permission first, he replied, "Oh really?" You'd think it's at least common courtesy to ask first, and at worst a violation of company policy if you don't.

 

[nmmetsfan]

Gotta get permission first. Your first loyalty is to who is signing your paycheck (even if they aren't necessarily loyal to you). As for the out of town editor replying "oh really," that says all you need to know about their ethics.

 

[onebigfella]

Much worse than stringing for Washington Times was on Feb. 21 - the day of the 11-person trade - he was off and let Mary Schmitt Boyer do all the trade stories. Wouldn't the beat guy want to do that story? Branson was taken off the beat a few days after the season ended. His byline has yet to surface.