Covering prep sports - with a child on the team

That's the mentality of about 95 percent of publishers these days.

Get the damn paper out on deadline, don't leave out any ads and don't get us stuck with a libel suit. The rest is just details.

 

I have a cousin that's a seventh grader and a well known field hockey star in the area that I cover. I have told my bosses that I will not cover her when she gets to high school. She's likely going to be a top goal scorer on a top team. Even though we don't have the same last name, some people will know that I'm her first cousin and it's not fair to the other players on the team.

So as a graduate of the Murray State University journalism program, no you should not cover your own child. It may hurt to hear those words, but you should step down for now. Perhaps you can cover other sports such as track and field during the spring. Then, when fall starts, you can cover the normal load that you'd do.

Murray is big enough to where you can grab a few extra stringers. Heck, the journalism program is a decent one, lots of talent that could pick up a few extra bucks and valuable experience. That's a far better way of mentoring the other two young writers.

 

I'm sure the editor at your rag thinks you're a real pro.

 

I don't think that attack was warranted, CO.

 

It's the weapon one uses when they have ran out of weapons. I know.

 

What would Larry Fitzgerald Sr. do?

 

I once had to type out the details of my own speeding ticket in blotter. Not really a conflict of interest, but it sucked.

 

Um.... work on spelling his son's name correctly?

 

Your mom?

 

Not from those in the industry, but not from the general readership.
Joe Schmoe at the corner grocery store in New York City is not going to care whose name does or does not get in the paper.

 

Classic.

Me thinks I would have found a way to omit that entry.