What would you do in this situation...

[PalmettoStatesport]

This past weekend was media day for a college that I have covered for the two-and-a-half years I have been the sports editor. The paper is a tri-weekly small publication (neither here nor there). At the media day, the head coach states that he wants to meet with me in his office and states that he has been directed by his bosses not to talk to me on the record this football season due to several columns I wrote questioning some of the decision making going on in terms of facility upgrades, fundraising, etc. The coach said it would be in my best interest to meet with the athletic director to see if things can be worked out. Now, my big thing is I can still show up and cover games without quotes from the coach.
What would you guys do in this situation?

 

[SF_Express]

This past weekend was media day for a college that I have covered for the two-and-a-half years I have been the sports editor. The paper is a tri-weekly small publication (neither here nor there). At the media day, the head coach states that he wants to meet with me in his office and states that he has been directed by his bosses not to talk to me on the record this football season due to several columns I wrote questioning some of the decision making going on in terms of facility upgrades, fundraising, etc. The coach said it would be in my best interest to meet with the athletic director to see if things can be worked out. Now, my big thing is I can still show up and cover games without quotes from the coach.
What would you guys do in this situation?

Well, it's a problem, but don't understand the part about game coverage. He's not going to talk to the media en masse like most coaches do after games? And if he does, are you saying they're going to exclude you from those press conferences? Some real issues there, especially if it's a state school.

 

[Double Down]

How often does the coach really give one-on-ones anyway? How many other reporters cover the team? I don't think they can very well keep you from going to press conferences, or from hanging around to hear what the coach has to say after practice. You can ask to sit down with the athletic director and discuss what they didn't like about your coverage, but be sure to point out that, unless you were writing something that was obviously false, you're not going to change the way you cover the team.

If nothing else works, ask one of the other writers to simply give you quotes from the coach, or ask your questions for you. Frankly, they ought to be sympathetic, since it could be them who is getting shut out next time. Scoops are one thing, like getting the coach on his cell phone, away from campus, ect. But I would think other guys on your beat would have no problem giving you stuff from the daily gaggle if they won't let you attend. Especially if you're not a daily.

Lastly, make sure you point out to the SID how extremely unprofessional it is to shut out a reporter for critical coverage of the team, and that part of his job is to make his bosses understand that you're a news organization, not a PR firm working for free on behalf of State U's athletic program.

And as SF_Express pointed out, they can't very well bar you from the press conferences. It's a public access issue. Just go, and refuse to leave. They're trying to bully you, and you don't have to back down, even if you're a smaller paper.

 

[PalmettoStatesport]

After games in the past, he would go do his postgame radio show, and then if there were any other reporters there (only one game out of the year that drew a crowd of media...99.9 percent of the time it's just me) he would meet with us as a group.
Now with these recent circumstances, I am not sure what will happen in terms of post game or any interviews other than the fact that he has been instructed not to talk to me. I didn't know they were above being criticized from time to time.

 

[Ace]

Palmetto,

As other guys have pointed out, I don't think this will hurt you much.

I would go to the SID, though, and let him know you aren't cowed. Might threaten to write a column about the situation, even.

You also should tell your editor/publisher.

 

[SEWnSO]

Palmetto,

As other guys have pointed out, I don't think this will hurt you much.

I would go to the SID, though, and let him know you aren't cowed. Might threaten to write a column about the situation, even.

You also should tell your editor/publisher.

Agree with Orangey bout telling editor/publisher. And you could have quite a fine time with the column...

 

[Terd Ferguson]

Total **** move on the part of the university and you need to meet with the coach, SID and administration to get things straightented out. I don't think they will be able to keep you out, especially, as somebody pointed out earlier, if this is a state school.

That said, I would question the decision of having the same person write both columns and news on the same program. I understand it's a small shop, but I think you're asking for trouble if you're making yourself the voice of fact and opinion for the newspaper. You need to pick one or the other. Either you are the beat guy or you are the columnist. That's the best way to avoid these type issues. That, of course, might not be an option, but if it is you should separate the two jobs whenever possible.

 

[expendable]

Total **** move on the part of the university and you need to meet with the coach, SID and administration to get things straightented out. I don't think they will be able to keep you out, especially, as somebody pointed out earlier, if this is a state school.

That said,  I would question the decision of having the same person write both columns and news on the same program. I understand it's a small shop, but I think you're asking for trouble if you're making yourself the voice of fact and opinion for the newspaper. You need to pick one or the other. Either you are the beat guy or you are the columnist. That's the best way to avoid these type issues. That, of course, might not be an option, but if it is you should separate the two jobs whenever possible.

As you stated, it's not always possible. The college needs to just grow up. This can be framed as a town/gown issue where the college almost always loses in small towns. It's not like he's taking on Big State U.

 

[Gold]

It's obvious the coach doesn't want this policy.

You need to find out some things.

1. What is the structure of the athletic department? Is the PE department separate from the Athletic Department? You need to know that because you need to figure out the coach's situation. Is he tenured, in which case he should be more resistant to pressure from the athletic director.

2. The athletic director is an idiot. I'm sure that isn't news to you. What you need to find out is the athletic director's relationship with his boss? Does the AD report directly to the president, or is there somebody in between.

3. Who is the head of the alumni association?

I would make your publisher or boss aware of the situation. A lot of publishers are pretty lame, but I would think some would not be happy and would apply some pressure of their own.

Speak to the AD on the record. The AD has a boss. Don't back off - they don't hold the strong hand in this case. You hold all the cards. Being on the radio station doesn't mean squat - their athletic department isn't going to be taken seriously if their games aren't covered.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

You need to apprise the administration -- even the school's provost or chancellor if need be -- of sunshine/equal access laws in your state where applicable. The size of your paper is immaterial.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

Your newspaper likely has a lawyer on retainer. At your publisher's discretion, your paper could go this route to get equal access, especially if it's state school or one that takes public money (most).

 

[leo1]

i'm about to start my third year of law school and i can't quite understand why people are suggesting that lawyers would be involved here. sunshine laws apply to government institutions. are you guys just assuming it's a state school? if so, maybe it's a legal issue but i don't think so. legally he probably can't be barred from campus but no government official is compelled to talk to a reporter especially if palmetto is the only reporter who covers the team.

anyway, palmetto, definitely meet with the AD, president and whomever else. get your publisher and everyone else involved.

i would advise against a column because readers don't usually give two ****s about our internal struggles. but if you start writing gamers and the head coach isn't quoted and you get complaints, explain to everyone who calls or e-mails why he's not talking and politely suggest to the complaining readers that they contact the school because there's nothing you can do.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

i'm about to start my third year of law school and i can't quite understand why people are suggesting that lawyers would be involved here. sunshine laws apply to government institutions. are you guys just assuming it's a state school? if so, maybe it's a legal issue but i don't think so. legally he probably can't be barred from campus but no government official is compelled to talk to a reporter especially if palmetto is the only reporter who covers the team.

anyway, palmetto, definitely meet with the AD, president and whomever else. get your publisher and everyone else involved.

i would advise against a column because readers don't usually give two ****s about our internal struggles. but if you start writing gamers and the head coach isn't quoted and you get complaints, explain to everyone who calls or e-mails why he's not talking and politely suggest to the complaining readers that they contact the school because there's nothing you can do.

Leo, assuming more than one paper covers the team, would consistently shutting out one newspaper be intentional tort?

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Lawyers need to be involved when you are being prohibited from performing functions of your job as a duly accredited member of the news media. I would be on the horn with the honchos first, and I would not be cool about it.

 

[HeinekenMan]

Just cover the team and continually put that the coach refused to respond to the paper's requests for information. It won't take long before they open up. They don't want to look like dicks.

It reminds me of a city council story I wrote as an intern. They met in closed session for 90-plus minutes. Then they didn't take any action at all and dismissed. I reported the facts with a tinge of sarcasm, and the public got the message. People wanted to know what was taking place behind closed doors, and that was the end of backroom politics.

Don't put it in a column. Nobody likes a whiner. Just put it in a story. Hell, you might even write a story about the paper being shut out.

Also, let other people in the organization know the details.

 

[area313code]

Show them that their tactics do not affect your coverage one iota.

Don't even blink.

 

[PopeDirkBenedict]

i'm about to start my third year of law school and i can't quite understand why people are suggesting that lawyers would be involved here. sunshine laws apply to government institutions. are you guys just assuming it's a state school? if so, maybe it's a legal issue but i don't think so. legally he probably can't be barred from campus but no government official is compelled to talk to a reporter especially if palmetto is the only reporter who covers the team.

anyway, palmetto, definitely meet with the AD, president and whomever else. get your publisher and everyone else involved.

i would advise against a column because readers don't usually give two ****s about our internal struggles. but if you start writing gamers and the head coach isn't quoted and you get complaints, explain to everyone who calls or e-mails why he's not talking and politely suggest to the complaining readers that they contact the school because there's nothing you can do.

Leo, assuming more than one paper covers the team, would consistently shutting out one newspaper be intentional tort?

There is no intentional tort (assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of mental/emotional distress, trespass of land, interference with personal property and conversion/theft) that applies in this situation. I'm sure an enterprising lawyer could try to force it as interference with personal property or emotional distress, but a judge will chuckle and throw it out of court. I agree with Leo, I don't think involving the lawyers is going to do anything: I'm sure the university has plenty of good lawyers on retainer as well and they will call your bluff. As a "duly accredited member of the news media" you cannot legally force government officials to consent to an interview. Period. End of story.

The best way to handle this is for you and your paper's editor to sit down with the AD and have a good talk. Let the AD ***** -- more than anything, the AD is probably like a lot of irate readers: first and foremost, he wants you to listen to his rant. After he (or she) has gotten their litany of complaints off their chest and feels like you have listened to them, you can probably work it out. Don't forget this as well: you are going to be working with that AD because I'm guessing football isn't the only sport you cover. If you go over his head, he is going to resent it and he won't forget about it. Unless you want him to send down an edict to his coaches that they are to give you the minimal cooperation necessary, respect him enough not to go over his head. Start with him and try to hash it out. Then work your way up the food chain.

 

[leo1]

i'm about to start my third year of law school and i can't quite understand why people are suggesting that lawyers would be involved here. sunshine laws apply to government institutions. are you guys just assuming it's a state school? if so, maybe it's a legal issue but i don't think so. legally he probably can't be barred from campus but no government official is compelled to talk to a reporter especially if palmetto is the only reporter who covers the team.

anyway, palmetto, definitely meet with the AD, president and whomever else. get your publisher and everyone else involved.

i would advise against a column because readers don't usually give two ****s about our internal struggles. but if you start writing gamers and the head coach isn't quoted and you get complaints, explain to everyone who calls or e-mails why he's not talking and politely suggest to the complaining readers that they contact the school because there's nothing you can do.

Leo, assuming more than one paper covers the team, would consistently shutting out one newspaper be intentional tort?

frank, as dirk suggests in his post, there is no tort covering this. to oversimplify a bit, torts are either the civil version of criminal acts (ie. suing for assault or theft (the tort of conversion) or things that don't have a criminal equivalent such as intentional infliction of emotional distress.

the only possible legal angle would be a sunshine law violation or equal protection issue (if his paper is being singled out) if we're talking about a state school. i think both would be a huge stretch. no one has a constitutional right to interview the coach. as long as he's being allowed on campus it's not a first amendment issue either.

actually as i think about this a little more, if the paper suffered financial losses because the coach refused to talk and as a result people stopped buying the paper, an enterprising attorney could try a tortious interference with a business relationship claim. but that doesn't seem to be happening here and like the potential equal protection claim, is more than a stretch. in fact, there has to be an existing business relationship, so that makes this claim even more unlikely. it's conceivable that a good lawyer could prove that there's a business relationship between the paper and the coach - and that the school president and AD interfered with it - but i doubt anyone would call the relationship between reporter and source a 'business relationship.' but dumber lawsuits have been filed... (damn lawyers ;D)