USC Football Suspends OC-Register Writer for "Rules Violation"

ChrisLong · Sep 20, 2023

Big Circus said: ↑

USC fans are claiming Evans was following players to class. I have no idea if that's true, but if it is, that does seem like crossing a line to me. The other stuff is bullshit.
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But it's so easy. I went to that school and covered that team (yes, it was a long time ago). There are places the players congregate -- in front of Tommy Trojan, the Student Union grill, the athletic department at Heritage Hall.
Now, the new-ish McKay Center has a coded entry system. You can't get in unless you have the code. The players do, the media doesn't. That is an off-limits building. I wonder if the chemistry lab has an off-limits area, or the music department.

wicked · Sep 20, 2023

ChrisLong said: ↑

But it's so easy. I went to that school and covered that team (yes, it was a long time ago). There are places the players congregate -- in front of Tommy Trojan, the Student Union grill, the athletic department at Heritage Hall.
Now, the new-ish McKay Center has a coded entry system. You can't get in unless you have the code. The players do, the media doesn't. That is an off-limits building. I wonder if the chemistry lab has an off-limits area, or the music department.
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I’d imagine they all have storage areas that, if not coded, require a key.

Is it a not-media-friendly move? Yes. But it’s their property and they can do as they please.

Alma · Sep 20, 2023

2muchcoffeeman said: ↑

Jim Alexander of SCNG member Press Enterprise:

When Riley “suspended” beat writer Luca Evans for two weeks, ostensibly because of a laundry list of infractions against the program’s media policies, he forgot one thing. Two, actually.

First: You are not entitled to “suspend” someone who does not in fact work for you. Evans is paid by the Southern California News Group, and his job is to report on USC athletics without fear or favor.

Second: It is the news organization that decides who covers the beat, not the news source. That’s sort of inherent in journalism, and while not explicitly stated in the First Amendment it’s something of a deal-breaker. The reporter’s job is to be an independent source of information for those who care, be it USC football, the White House or the Temecula school board. Good news or bad, it’s the reporter’s job to inform the public and enable them to make up their own minds – especially since so much of what we do involves finding and reporting information that those in charge would rather hide from the public. …

But the suspicion here is that Riley’s ire isn’t so much that Evans used what he heard, but that it included the question from one player to the other before that press conference: “Did they tell you what to say?” Knowing what we know about the way college football coaches operate, with thumb squarely planted on the scale as often as possible, seeing that in print might have been what enraged Riley.

And by the way, if Riley thinks I deserve a “suspension” after this, he shouldn’t waste his breath. I’m “suspending” USC football from this column for a while.

Other missteps cited by USC director of football communications Katie Ryan constitute penny-ante stuff, things like asking a question after the “last question” notification. Or using USC president Carol Folt’s first name during a press conference. (What’s the preference, Madame President?) Or greeting players away from the program-approved scrums following practice. Or sending emails to members of the athletic department for the purpose of introducing himself.

Those aren’t things from which players, or coaches, or administrators, need to be protected. It’s simply diligence and enthusiasm from a young man about to tackle a major beat for the first time and wanting to do it well. Evidently, these media policies constitute the “Don’t You Dare Be An Effective Beat Writer” code, in which you go with the pack and regurgitate the same stuff everybody else gets. ...

Attempting to dictate coverage in such a ham-handed manner rarely happens in this diverse market. The last example I can recall involved – who else? – the Raiders in 1993, toward the end of their stay in Los Angeles, when Al Davis tried to have Daily News writer Eric Noland removed from the beat during training camp because of negative coverage. Among the highlights: Davis sycophant Steve Ortmayer telling Rick Vacek, then the Daily News sports editor: “I’m not telling you who can cover the team. I’m telling you who can’t.”

No, he couldn’t. The NFL stepped in and threatened a huge fine, and other newspapers and broadcast organizations threatened a boycott of Raiders coverage. To be fair, 30 years ago there were far more beat writers then (from 10 individual papers) covering the Raiders regularly than cover USC now. And forget any thoughts of the NCAA or the Pac-12 intervening in this situation. You’d have better luck with Fox or ESPN, so rudderless is college football.

But consider this: Not only does Luca Evans have the unconditional support of SCNG and the 11 newspapers in this group, but he also has the support of his previous professional stop: The Los Angeles Times.

Think hard, Trojans.

If you’re reading this publication, you are benefitting from independent reporting, again without fear or favor. And so we go back to the very beginning: The news source does not have the right to dictate who does – or doesn’t – cover the beat.

https://www.ocregister.com/2023/09/...riley-or-any-news-source-to-dictate-coverage/
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Would love to see a media boycott. Go for it.

wicked · Sep 20, 2023

If the players want to talk to this guy while not following USC protocols, they are at fault. They know the rules.

MileHigh · Sep 20, 2023

Plaschke: Plaschke: Shame on USC for banning a reporter in a futile attempt to control media

Comes out firing.

There is apparently a new class being offered at USC’s esteemed Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

It is being taught by football coach Lincoln Riley and new athletic director Jennifer Cohen.

It is a case study of how to stifle free speech by controlling the media with the sort of reckless vindictiveness regularly practiced in such enlightened enclaves as Moscow and Beijing.

Bullying 101.

<snip>

For years, led by legendary sports publicist Tim Tessalone, USC was the model of using the media as part of a student-athlete’s education. Interviews were encouraged, public speaking was inherently taught, and countless successful business careers were born.

There were questionable stories and controversial angles, sure, but any differences between the athletic department and the media were resolved in private conversations that ultimately made everybody smarter. The Trojans boasted arguably the most effective and mutually beneficial media environment in the country.

wicked · Sep 20, 2023

Also there wasn’t an NFL team around for 20 years. USC was covered like an NFL team. And it wasn’t the end of the world.

Pilot · Sep 20, 2023

The elephant in the thread here is that the papers and their diminished circulation don’t have the gravity for any kind of boycott or media saber rattling to singe USC.

NNDman · Sep 20, 2023

Some of these posts remind me of a HS volleyball match I covered a few weeks ago. The teams had met the previous four seasons for the regional championship. The home team isn't quite as good as last season, but the visiting team is no where close to being as good as it has been. So, the home teams sweeps in 3 sets and the visiting coach is complaining throughout about the officiating. The home team leads the third set 24-9 when the visitors run off 6 straight points but are cited for a carry to end the match. The visiting coach power walks towards the up top ref and yells something at him. He then goes through the handshake line, talks to his team, gathers his belongings. As I approach him with my voice recorder, he storms past me saying "Now's not a good time!" So, I was like I guess it will never be a good time then!

MileHigh · Sep 20, 2023

Pilot said: ↑

The elephant in the thread here is that the papers and their diminished circulation don’t have the gravity for any kind of boycott or media saber rattling to singe USC.
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I mean, yeah. USC would most likely be fine without the LAT and SCNG covering them. As noted, the LAT exposed a major recruiting scandal and got Mike Bohn bone-sawed. If Lincoln Riley and other coaches/admin didn't have to deal with the media, they would be fine with that.

A boycott does nothing. The LAT sports section has been neutered and in two days, this will pass, Luca will be credentialed by CU for next week's game and we'll move on to the next "scandal."

SportsGuyBCK · Sep 20, 2023

Della9250 said: ↑

Or using USC president Carol Folt’s first name during a press conference.

If that's one of your worst offenses, you aren't the problem
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Unless there's a prescription pad that goes along with that "Dr.," then she (or anyone) can forget me using it in a story ...

Alma · Sep 20, 2023

MileHigh said: ↑

I mean, yeah. USC would most likely be fine without the LAT and SCNG covering them. As noted, the LAT exposed a major recruiting scandal and got Mike Bohn bone-sawed. If Lincoln Riley and other coaches/admin didn't have to deal with the media, they would be fine with that.

A boycott does nothing. The LAT sports section has been neutered and in two days, this will pass, Luca will be credentialed by CU for next week's game and we'll move on to the next "scandal."
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Unforced error by Riley tho. Needless energy spent on a beef

Della9250 · Sep 20, 2023

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USC Football Suspends OC-Register Writer for "Rules Violation"

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USC Football Suspends OC-Register Writer for "Rules Violation"

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