ondeadline
Well-Known Member
I've been out of the business for a few years and have noticed a trend, and I'm wondering how common it is/acceptable around the country: Bylines on gamers by writers who didn't attend the game.
Some newspapers are, for example, running stories on road games written by the beat writer who didn't make the trip. The main tipoff to readers that he/she wasn't at the game is the lack of a dateline and quotes. At least in this case, the writer can provide his/her insights on a team he/she regularly covers.
I've also seen this for some college games played locally but not staffed covered in stories that appear to be written off of information provided by sports information. Again, a byline but no dateline or quotes. This seems to be more questionable.
Anybody who has worked on a sports desk has written game stories numerous times on games they didn't attend, and based on information called in by coaches. But we never considered putting our byline on top of that story.
Has this really become acceptable now?
Some newspapers are, for example, running stories on road games written by the beat writer who didn't make the trip. The main tipoff to readers that he/she wasn't at the game is the lack of a dateline and quotes. At least in this case, the writer can provide his/her insights on a team he/she regularly covers.
I've also seen this for some college games played locally but not staffed covered in stories that appear to be written off of information provided by sports information. Again, a byline but no dateline or quotes. This seems to be more questionable.
Anybody who has worked on a sports desk has written game stories numerous times on games they didn't attend, and based on information called in by coaches. But we never considered putting our byline on top of that story.
Has this really become acceptable now?