Louisville Courier-Journal v. NCAA

A rookie poster here, but this topic hit too close at home to stay on the sidelines.

This is a very important issue for newspapers, especially those that have embraced the so-called new media. I feel for Brian. Tough situation for him to be in. I hope that the C-J fights this NCAA on this matter. I would also hope that any major organizations, including the APSE, would join the fight.

I have provided in-game blogs at Syracuse University basketball games for the past two years.

If the C-J's blogs are anything like our blogs at the Post-Standard, what the NCAA doesn't seem to understand (what The Sports Predictor and many others also don't seem to understand) is that the in-game blog is much more than a play-by-play account of a game. This is especially true in the case of a newspaper blog where the paper intensely covers the team in question.

My in-game blogs consist of observations, injury updates, the band's choice of music, the presence of a former, something funny that happened during a timeout and a host of other things in addition to the obligatory score update during a media timeout. In no way does that kind of blog threaten a network's broadcast rights.

If the NCAA threatens to revoke my credential should I blog, I can't merely blog from the stands or a bar across the street. First, I have enough technical nightmares on press row, I don't want to try blogging from the Carrier Dome's 300 level or Faegan's Pub.

But more importantly, I need my credential to gain access to post-game interviews. I need that access to write a game story AND I need that access to gain knowledge of the team, which eventually lends credence to my blog.

I'm hoping that this is a new issue that the NCAA just hasn't had the time to wrap its arms around. I hope the NCAA comes to understand that in-game blogs are no threat to it or its contract-holding networks. No one's turning off ESPN to read my in-game blog.

If the NCAA decides to make an issue of this, I hope it's ready for a fight. I hope our industry is ready to fight.

 

I understand perfectly well what could go into a blog. And you are correct -- the C-J blog of Saturday's game was nothing at all like your blogs, if that's what you put into yours. Saturday's blog was nothing but play-by-play, with three entries about what was seen on the ESPN telecast. That type of blog can be done by watching the broadcast on TV anywhere.

My point is use your access to provide what people watching on TV can't see. In this case, that wasn't done.

 

It is interesting to note (and I'm not sure if it's been done on this thread yet) that the Gene McArtor who ejected the C-J reporter is also a former University of Missouri baseball coach turned associate athletic director.
And guess which regional Louisville won to reach the Super Regional? The Columbia, Mo., regional, home of the University of Missouri.
Wonder if Bennett did something to piss off someone at Missouri and this is McArtor's revenge?
Just asking.

 

This man knows how to handle the C-J. Perhaps the NCAA should seek his advice.

 

great post mike, and your blog is one of my favorites. keep up the great work. you understand the way to do it

 

Ooo, Bill.. good point. But you'd hate to see a war against one person by someone else turn into Armageddon, except I think it'd be the NCAA getting nuked by the courts in this case.

Hmm... this might be good.

 

Perhaps not relevant, but I offer anyway. These were the C-J live game blogs from the Lexington Regional in the NCAA Tournament, which the NCAA had no problem with . . .

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/crawford/labels/Live%20game%20blogs.html

Beyond this, I think the discussion of what makes a good live game blog is instructive.

 

I haven't waded through all seven pages yet, but I'll post this idle thought:

So according to the memos, etc. that I've read, news organizations are in jeopardy if they discuss game action before the game is over.

So what happens to those poor scribes who wrote for Sunday papers about the North Carolina-South Carolina game that was suspended because of lightning and rain Saturday night? The N&O, The State, Durham Herald-Sun, Winston-Salem Journal, Charleston Post and Courier, the AP -- all of them wrote stories about a game that at the time was not yet complete.

This, too: ESPN's Mark Schlabach was in attendance this weekend in Chapel Hill -- his story on UNC is on ESPNU's front page -- which begs the question: Since ESPN is the rights-holder, had Schlabach chosen to, would he have been allowed to blog?

 

But the NCAA said no live blogging, whether you update the score or not. So if you just gave observations about the press room food, the NCAA says no.

And I agree with some others, that a blog will not take the place of a live televised or radio broadcast event. Just posting a score with a little detail after every inning is not a detailed replay.

Anyway, I hope the CJ takes this as far as it can. Whehter people like it or not, a blog is part of the future of this business. The short-sightedness of some people on here not to realize what is at stake is head-shaking.

I don't think the NCAA can get away with selective enforcement if someone wants to push the issue.

 

Agreed. It's amazing that anyone on this board could try to spin this in favor of the NCAA/Worldwide Follower's viewpoint. Mind-boggling.

I just don't know if Gannett will be the organization to do that, especially if they smell a lot of upcoming legal fees.

 

And that is what is truly sad. I doubt the Bingham's would let this one slide.

 

You don't have to worry about Gannett's tenacity in fighting this one. They've been big on pushing FOI and other perceived First Amendment issues at several shops across the chain lately. They'll spend on this.

It doesn't hurt that The Indy Star is a Gannett paper either. They'll get the residual benefit of selling more papers in two markets by reporting on their ongoing battle with the NCAA. (grin).