Would You Have Written This Story?

[Boom_70]

Newspaper took link down so I Will have to summarise:

Last week story hit our local weekly that was supposed o be preview of upcoming football season for local HS. Instead story tuned out to be one that raised an alcohol issue with last years state champion team. Story obviously caused a huge **** storm in the town since few were aware of the incident from last year.

Writer got the story from this year's Captains
who told him that they wanted to avoid some of problems from last year. Obviously being a journalist his interest was peaked and captains went on to tell him of a pre season drinking incident that almost tore apart team. Coach handled whatever happened internally and few were aware until article hit.

Paper was hit was a rash of complaints from the town folk who felt that story should not have been written since it did not provide proper context and that it took away from the accomplishments of last year's team - a year later.

Cut to this week's column - a lengthy apology from writer that leaves more questions.

My opinion - I don't think it should have been written. There were just not enough documented facts to support the story.

 

[HackyMcHack]

Unless there is a police report, you have to tread VERY carefully, especially with high school kids. If there was no police report, then you generalize with "off-the-field issues" if you do the story at all. Goes back to the old saying, "If you say your mama loves you, then prove it."

If, however, there was a police report, then it's fair game. Bottom line is, you better have more than a couple of kids' words to go on before writing the story.

 

[Boom_70]

Unless there is a police report, you have to tread VERY carefully, especially with high school kids. If there was no police report, then you generalize with "off-the-field issues" if you do the story at all. Goes back to the old saying, "If you say your mama loves you, then prove it."

If, however, there was a police report, then it's fair game. Bottom line is, you better have more than a couple of kids' words to go on before writing the story.

No pokice report.


I do know that the story has caused a lot of grief for the Head Coach and also last years players who have parents demanding to know the story

 

[Ace]

I can't imagine writing it. Since they won a state title, I can't imagine the team chemistry breakdown was all that great.

Now, if the coaches covered it up or something, that's different.

But is sounds more like someone going off half cocked.

 

[WriteThinking]

Well, looks back on the previous year often are part of season previews, and can provide background and perspective on the current team and year, so it shouldn't necessarily not be written about.

But, why wasn't context provided?

Are you saying this incident was just mentioned, generally, or only in passing, and that's it? If so, then that's not good, especially if it was something previously unreported and/or unknown.

Did the reporter check things with the coach, and talk to him about it?

If not, then, no, you can't/shouldn't write about it. If so, then I'd say it would depend on what the coach says and contributes as far as facts, confirmations, disciplinary actions and thoughts on the matter and its impact, whether on certain kids (particularly if those players are key people this year), or on the team as a whole.

Regardless, though, you would have to be careful and sensitive about it, and probably shouldn't use names unless you speak directly to one of the kids involved/affected by any disciplinary actions or problems.

 

[Boom_70]

Well, looks back on the previous year often are part of season previews, and can provide background and perspective on the current team and year, so it shouldn't necessarily not be written about.

But, why wasn't context provided?

Are you saying this incident was just mentioned, generally, or only in passing, and that's it? If so, then that's not good, especially if it was something previously unreported and/or unknown.

Did the reporter check things with the coach, and talk to him about it?

If not, then, no, you can't/shouldn't write about it. If so, then I'd say it would depend on what the coach says and contributes as far as facts, confirmations, disciplinary actions and thoughts on the matter and its impact, whether on certain kids (particularly if those players are key people this year), or on the team as a whole.

Regardless, though, you would have to be careful and sensitive about it, and probably shouldn't use names unless you speak directly to one of the kids involved/affected by any disciplinary actions or problems.

Reporter did not talk to the coach.

As far as context, story made it look like whole team was out of control when in reality it was a one time event with a few players.

 

[spnited]

Didn't talk to the coach? Unbelievable.

There is no way this story should have been written. To do so with no confirmation other than what a few players said is totally ridiculous, incompetent and unprofessional...at the least

 

[Mizzougrad96]

If there was a police report, I would have handed it over to the cops reporters.

This isn't an issue of whether it's true, even if it is and you have everyone from the coach to the players to the parents and the school's administration, it's not worth it to write this story.

If minors are involved, stay as far away from it as possible.

 

[Ace]

If there was a police report, I would have handed it over to the cops reporters.

This isn't an issue of whether it's true, even if it is and you have everyone from the coach to the players to the parents and the school's administration, it's not worth it to write this story.

If minors are involved, stay as far away from it as possible.

I disagree with that blanket statement, Mizz.

If it's an issue that drove a wedge between the players and several are willing to talk about it, it's worth at least REPORTING it further.

Whether you write it or not is a long way down the road. I hate handing stuff off the news. I hate sports writers being content with the same old, safe stories.

The issue isn't teens drinking. The issue is it being a divisive force on a football team.

Still, the chances it would appear in the paper would be very small. But you got to at least pull some threads now and then to see what unravels.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

If there was a police report, I would have handed it over to the cops reporters.

This isn't an issue of whether it's true, even if it is and you have everyone from the coach to the players to the parents and the school's administration, it's not worth it to write this story.

If minors are involved, stay as far away from it as possible.

I disagree with that blanket statement, Mizz.

If it's an issue that drove a wedge between the players and several are willing to talk about it, it's worth at least REPORTING it further.

Whether you write it or not is a long way down the road. I hate handing stuff off the news. I hate sports writers being content with the same old, safe stories.

The issue isn't teens drinking. The issue is it being a divisive force on a football team.

Still, the chances it would appear in the paper would be very small. But you got to at least pull some threads now and then to see what unravels.

Not when kids are involved. I have no problem with the story being written. I just think that given the headache that would come with writing it, it wouldn't be by me unless I had the sports editor, the managing editor, the executive editor and the publisher in my corner.

Stories like this, even if they are perfectly reported, are ones that get people fired, or at the very least in the ****house.

 

[Ace]

If there was a police report, I would have handed it over to the cops reporters.

This isn't an issue of whether it's true, even if it is and you have everyone from the coach to the players to the parents and the school's administration, it's not worth it to write this story.

If minors are involved, stay as far away from it as possible.

I disagree with that blanket statement, Mizz.

If it's an issue that drove a wedge between the players and several are willing to talk about it, it's worth at least REPORTING it further.

Whether you write it or not is a long way down the road. I hate handing stuff off the news. I hate sports writers being content with the same old, safe stories.

The issue isn't teens drinking. The issue is it being a divisive force on a football team.

Still, the chances it would appear in the paper would be very small. But you got to at least pull some threads now and then to see what unravels.

Not when kids are involved. I have no problem with the story being written. I just think that given the headache that would come with writing it, it wouldn't be by me unless I had the sports editor, the managing editor, the executive editor and the publisher in my corner.

Stories like this, even if they are perfectly reported, are ones that get people fired, or at the very least in the ****house.

OK, so why would you hand it off to the cops reporters?

My issue isn't with this story, it's with a tendency of some writers to run from controversial stories as fast as they can.

 

[Boom_70]

It's a year later and it could not have been that divisive since team went undefeated and won the states.
Many of players are now off at top notch academic schools.

Just seems like a cheap shot against a great coach who runs a very clean successful program.

Seems to me like reporter took advantage of some nave kids excited to go into their senior year. It's not the NFL .

 

[Ace]

It's a year later and it could not have been that divisive since team went undefeated and won the states.
Many of players are now off at top notch academic schools.

Just seems like a cheap shot against a great coach who runs a very clean successful program.

Seems to me like reporter took advantage of some nave kids excited to go into their senior year. It's not the NFL .

What did the reporter apologize for?

 

[Boom_70]

It's a year later and it could not have been that divisive since team went undefeated and won the states.
Many of players are now off at top notch academic schools.

Just seems like a cheap shot against a great coach who runs a very clean successful program.

Seems to me like reporter took advantage of some nave kids excited to go into their senior year. It's not the NFL .

What did the reporter apologize for?

Basically he apologized to coach and team for not giving proper context to what really was a minor incident. He was very vague in initial story which made it look like last's year team was out of control.

Really you could probably write same story about any HS team in the country.

 

[Ace]

It's a year later and it could not have been that divisive since team went undefeated and won the states.
Many of players are now off at top notch academic schools.

Just seems like a cheap shot against a great coach who runs a very clean successful program.

Seems to me like reporter took advantage of some nave kids excited to go into their senior year. It's not the NFL .

What did the reporter apologize for?

Basically he apologized to coach and team for not giving proper context to what really was a minor incident. He was very vague in initial story which made it look like last's year team was out of control.

Really you could probably write same story about any HS team in the country.

Something to be said for finding an angle and running with it, though.

 

[Boom_70]

It's a year later and it could not have been that divisive since team went undefeated and won the states.
Many of players are now off at top notch academic schools.

Just seems like a cheap shot against a great coach who runs a very clean successful program.

Seems to me like reporter took advantage of some nave kids excited to go into their senior year. It's not the NFL .

What did the reporter apologize for?

Basically he apologized to coach and team for not giving proper context to what really was a minor incident. He was very vague in initial story which made it look like last's year team was out of control.

Really you could probably write same story about any HS team in the country.

Something to be said for finding an angle and running with it, though.

Well it does give a good young columnist a nice clip for his portfolio. I will give the guy credit in that his work is not typical of what you see in a local weekly. His work is very readable from the usual drivel you get from sports section of a hometown paper.

He is making the most of his opportunity and no doubt will be moving to bigger places.

 

[Ace]

It's a year later and it could not have been that divisive since team went undefeated and won the states.
Many of players are now off at top notch academic schools.

Just seems like a cheap shot against a great coach who runs a very clean successful program.

Seems to me like reporter took advantage of some nave kids excited to go into their senior year. It's not the NFL .

What did the reporter apologize for?

Basically he apologized to coach and team for not giving proper context to what really was a minor incident. He was very vague in initial story which made it look like last's year team was out of control.

Really you could probably write same story about any HS team in the country.

Something to be said for finding an angle and running with it, though.

Well it does give a good young columnist a nice clip for his portfolio. I will give the guy credit in that his work is not typical of what you see in a local weekly. His work is very readable from the usual drivel you get from sports section of a hometown paper.

He is making the most of his opportunity and no doubt will be moving to bigger places.

TMZ or Perez Hilton most likely.

 

[Boom_70]

It's a year later and it could not have been that divisive since team went undefeated and won the states.
Many of players are now off at top notch academic schools.

Just seems like a cheap shot against a great coach who runs a very clean successful program.

Seems to me like reporter took advantage of some nave kids excited to go into their senior year. It's not the NFL .

What did the reporter apologize for?

Basically he apologized to coach and team for not giving proper context to what really was a minor incident. He was very vague in initial story which made it look like last's year team was out of control.

Really you could probably write same story about any HS team in the country.

Something to be said for finding an angle and running with it, though.

Well it does give a good young columnist a nice clip for his portfolio. I will give the guy credit in that his work is not typical of what you see in a local weekly. His work is very readable from the usual drivel you get from sports section of a hometown paper.

He is making the most of his opportunity and no doubt will be moving to bigger places.

TMZ or Perez Hilton most likely.

Seems more like Bill Simmons in training.

 

[txsportsscribe]

umm, where was an editor in all this?

no documented facts and reporter didn't even talk to the coach? editor should have given the story back to the reporter with directions to do his job COMPLETELY.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

If there was a police report, I would have handed it over to the cops reporters.

This isn't an issue of whether it's true, even if it is and you have everyone from the coach to the players to the parents and the school's administration, it's not worth it to write this story.

If minors are involved, stay as far away from it as possible.

I disagree with that blanket statement, Mizz.

If it's an issue that drove a wedge between the players and several are willing to talk about it, it's worth at least REPORTING it further.

Whether you write it or not is a long way down the road. I hate handing stuff off the news. I hate sports writers being content with the same old, safe stories.

The issue isn't teens drinking. The issue is it being a divisive force on a football team.

Still, the chances it would appear in the paper would be very small. But you got to at least pull some threads now and then to see what unravels.

Not when kids are involved. I have no problem with the story being written. I just think that given the headache that would come with writing it, it wouldn't be by me unless I had the sports editor, the managing editor, the executive editor and the publisher in my corner.

Stories like this, even if they are perfectly reported, are ones that get people fired, or at the very least in the ****house.

OK, so why would you hand it off to the cops reporters?

My issue isn't with this story, it's with a tendency of some writers to run from controversial stories as fast as they can.

I wouldn't run from controversy, but if it involves kids, it's a much bigger bag of worms that usually isn't worth the trouble.

I wrote a story about a kid who was suspended for a key basketball game (state playoffs). The coach had told us on the record that the kid had been busted for using alcohol, but there was no police report. I had the coach on tape and I played it for my editor. We ended up writing that the kid had been suspended for the game, but never said why.

The following day I was in the publisher's office getting my ass chewed (only time in five years I met the publisher) because saying he had been suspended was too vague and implied the kid could have done something worse than what he actually did. It could have been cutting class, it could have been violating curfew, it could have been for selling heroin. A parent on the team had an in with the publisher and made my life hell for a month.

It's just not worth it. I learned of similar incidents while covering preps and I ignored every single one of them. By doing that, I was on a pro beat within six months.