When is it old news?

[Pete Incaviglia]

So, I'm googling names of local players and I come across a brief story reported in two papers and on a radio website all from a two about two hours from here.

Anyway, two players on the local university team I cover were charged with causing a wildfire back in May, after school was done for the year and they were obviously and home and camping near their hometown.

The fires caused a million bucks in damage, but they were NOT set intentionally. Kids were fined, some probation, some community service.

It's now November and the season is under way.

Is this is still news? Is it worth persuing, or do I just look like a **** looking for trouble and controversy?

They're good kids, good players, good students, so I can't even do the "see, another example of how bad these kids are" 'cause that's not true.

 

[User 1019]

I don't see it as news.

 

[Ace]

If they are football players it may seem like piling on.

If they are basketball players and the season is just starting, might be worth seeing if they will talk about it, how it happened, how chagrined/embarrassed, etc. they are.

 

[forever_town]

It's not news.

It might be an element of a story if they decide to do some kind of penance related to the fires. However, there's no point in rehashing the subject unless they do something else unsavory.

 

[BillyT]

If it has not appeared in your paper, it's news.

Whether you decide to use it is up to you.

 

[Tom Petty]

i think you'd come off as being a ****, pete. if it was unintentional, i don't think i'd run it that far down the road.

 

[Barsuk]

If it's not affecting their eligibility (i.e. suspensions, etc.) I don't think you need to report it.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Yeah, I agree with mostly everyone here. I don't see it as news.

My co-worker and ME do see it as news.

The ME used the "everyone needs to be aware of what they do in the internet age and this is an example" angle. And that's a good point.

The ME wants me to persue it, but then again, he doesn't have to deal with the coach and players the rest of the season. I do.

 

[Barsuk]

Here's my question for you co-worker and ME: What's the news peg?

<i>Two Podunk U. football players were arrested six months ago in connection with a wildfire outside the Daily ****rag's coverage area. The fire was deemed an accident, and the players do not face any disciplinary action from the school.</i>

I don't see a news peg.

 

[Write-brained]

Yeah, I agree with mostly everyone here. I don't see it as news.

My co-worker and ME do see it as news.

The ME used the "everyone needs to be aware of what they do in the internet age and this is an example" angle. And that's a good point.

The ME wants me to persue it, but then again, he doesn't have to deal with the coach and players the rest of the season. I do.

Reason No. 463,734 why you should only tell your boss about story ideas you want to do.

My suggestion is to tell your boss you'll be sure to ask the players about it if and when you get around to a feature on them. It never hurts to ask and could help make a good story.

 

[EE94]

two players on your team started a fire, whether intentional or not, that caused a million bucks damage and none of you think its worth mentioning?
You're afraid of how the coach and players might react?
It's public record (they were arrested, convicted and fined) and considering the **** that went on in California, perhaps there's a lesson to be learned.
Your ME is right.

 

[EE94]

Reason No. 463,734 why you should only tell your boss about story ideas you want to do.

sound journalistic advice. god forbid you consult with a senior editor for advice and news judgment.

the only reason its suggested Pete not pursue the story is because Pete didn't discover that two players on the team he covers caused some major **** until two months into the season and now he's afraid to write about it because he might "look like a ****"
here's a tip - its INTERESTING
more interesting, I bet, than the coach's press conference leading up to "the big game"

 

[Tom Petty]

Reason No. 463,734 why you should only tell your boss about story ideas you want to do.

sound journalistic advice. god forbid you consult with a senior editor for advice and news judgment.

the only reason its suggested Pete not pursue the story is because Pete didn't discover that two players on the team he covers caused some major **** until two months into the season and now he's afraid to write about it because he might "look like a ****"
here's a tip - its INTERESTING
more interesting, I bet, than the coach's press conference leading up to "the big game"

a six-month-old story about an unintentional fire at a location no where near the readership.

yeah, that's INTERESTING as hell.

 

[Write-brained]

Reason No. 463,734 why you should only tell your boss about story ideas you want to do.

sound journalistic advice. god forbid you consult with a senior editor for advice and news judgment.

the only reason its suggested Pete not pursue the story is because Pete didn't discover that two players on the team he covers caused some major **** until two months into the season and now he's afraid to write about it because he might "look like a ****"
here's a tip - its INTERESTING
more interesting, I bet, than the coach's press conference leading up to "the big game"

I was being a bit of a wise-ass. Can't tell you how many times I checked with an editor about a possible story, only to realize I completely disagreed with them. Yes, you ask. It just feels like I regret it more times than not.

And I never said not to talk to the guys about it. It could be interesting, but I don't know that it's INTERESTING. You don't know unless you ask.

But thanks for the attitude.

 

[EStreetJoe]

Time for me to do something uncharacteristic and come off like a ****. Maybe its because I live and work in a small state, but I have to ask the following two questions:

- Was a wildfire that caused a million bucks worth of damage big statewide news or was it just a local story for the area it happened in?

- If it was a statewide story, or a big enough fire where your paper ran stories about it back in May, how come you didn't recognize the names of the players as those being charged back then?

 

[Write-brained]

Time for me to do something uncharacteristic and come off like a ****. Maybe its because I live and work in a small state, but I have to ask the following two questions:

- Was a wildfire that caused a million bucks worth of damage big statewide news or was it just a local story for the area it happened in?

- If it was a statewide story, or a big enough fire where your paper ran stories about it back in May, how come you didn't recognize the names of the players as those being charged back then?

I'm still waiting for you to come off like a **** ... seem like reasonable questions to me.

 

[write then drink]

seems to me if they're good kids who just messed up, this would make a great story -- talk to them about it, they must have felt like **** ... what did they learn ... find people in the area of the fire and learn about the damage ...

i would write it but have some compassion, don't write it obviously as a hard news story, but tell the kids' story

i'll bet it's a good one

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Time for me to do something uncharacteristic and come off like a ****. Maybe its because I live and work in a small state, but I have to ask the following two questions:

- Was a wildfire that caused a million bucks worth of damage big statewide news or was it just a local story for the area it happened in?

- If it was a statewide story, or a big enough fire where your paper ran stories about it back in May, how come you didn't recognize the names of the players as those being charged back then?

Didn't go statewide. I never saw it on the wire. And I never saw when I searched it in our archives this week.

I can see arguments for both sides. I'm still trying to decide what to do with it.

 

[Tom Petty]

Time for me to do something uncharacteristic and come off like a ****. Maybe its because I live and work in a small state, but I have to ask the following two questions:

- Was a wildfire that caused a million bucks worth of damage big statewide news or was it just a local story for the area it happened in?

- If it was a statewide story, or a big enough fire where your paper ran stories about it back in May, how come you didn't recognize the names of the players as those being charged back then?

I'm still waiting for you to come off like a **** ... seem like reasonable questions to me.

naw, i think he's a ****.



just kidding EStreet.

 

[amraeder]

seems to me if they're good kids who just messed up, this would make a great story -- talk to them about it, they must have felt like **** ... what did they learn ... find people in the area of the fire and learn about the damage ...

i would write it but have some compassion, don't write it obviously as a hard news story, but tell the kids' story

i'll bet it's a good one

My thoughts exactly.