Paper writes story of star high school player's failure to graduate

That is sad that you look at it like this.

 

Include me in the group of people who would write such a story.

In fact, I did write such a story, though the details aren't an exact match for Mark's description.

It was a damn good story, not because of anything the writer did. It was all about the subject and the individuals involved.

Player returned to the sport after giving birth. Juggled school, athletics and motherhood and eventually graduated from high school. She wasn't about to let her situation keep her from graduating.

Wasn't written to shame anyone. Wasn't written to grab cash. Wasn't written to impress my colleagues in the news department. To all those charges I respond in this manner: :

Got a tip. Talked to the coach. Coach talked to girl. Girl agreed to sit down for an interview. We all got together and explored the issues.

Some of our less-enlightened readers thought we were trying to shame the girl. Others thought we were promoting premarital sex and glorifying the girl. I just shook my head in disbelief.

All I know is I got to meet a teenager who got pregnant while in HS, had to take time off to give birth, went back to school, played sports, worked her butt off to be a mom with the help of her family and graduated from her high school.

From one human to another, I was proud of her ability to handle all she did at that age.

 

Would you still have written the story if the girl or her parents said no? BTW, your story is an actual story instead of a shame brief.

 

That's a bit different than the story Mark was describing. It sounds excellent.

 

This is an example of what sports journalism can be and should be. Doesn't matter WHO the subject is. It can be turned into a very readable story.

 

"Because, with the player's cooperation, it can be turned into a top-notch feature highlighting perseverance through adversity" is a way, way better reason than "Because we wrote about them when they were good at sports, so it's only fair."

 

*****
Some of our less-enlightened readers thought we were trying to shame the girl. Others thought we were promoting premarital sex and glorifying the girl.
*****

As an aside, that tells me you did an excellent job!

 

But I likely would have written a short item on the football player, too.

I'm guessing here but...I can't believe the paper staffed the graduation ceremony so I figure someone called the reporter and noted the stud RB wasn't at the ceremony.

If I take that call/get that tip that night I either call the coach or the kid to verify. Why? Because we've reported he plans to go JUCO if his academics are in order. So it appears at this point he is still working on getting his academics in order. I just can't equate a short update with "shaming" the player.

I doubt the reporter chose where the story would be placed.

I assume the reporter will provide another update if the kid passes the test or if he fails to do so.

 

Using the term academics in referencing a juco is an oxymoron.

 

This took place a long time ago but I'm guessing I wouldn't have pursued it if the girl didn't feel comfortable talking about her life.

I don't like hard rules in these matters. Was she a prominent player whose return made her team significantly better? Absolutely, which makes it newsworthy to report her return.

But I also have a soul and knowing how some folks might view her I likely would have allowed her to choose whether to publicize her situation to the general public.

I must add that the coach from the start had no issues sharing the information.

 

But if you've already reported that the player lost his BCS school interest and has signed with a JuCo months ago, and his not graduating on time doesn't affect his plans, what's the news peg? Plenty of people don't graduate. You could fire back with "well, he's a public figure in this town and people are interested in what he's doing" and from a legal standpoint it's defensible. But they're interested in what he does on the field. If his not graduating on time changes what he does on the field (if the JuCo pulled his offer because they didn't think he would qualify or something), then there you go. Otherwise, it's irrelevant. Should they have been reporting when he ate fatty foods or spends too much time on the Internet?

 

I would argue you're doing your job, dispassionately, by updating readers regarding the young man's efforts to get into the JUCO. I would argue since you've reported he has to get his academics in order to get into school you owe it to people to provide updates, when necessary, about his progress.

So at the time of graduation he hadn't passed the necessary test. However, he says he will keep trying to pass the test.

If he passes and gets into school, update the readers then, too. If he fails and can't get into school, provide an update. If he wants to sit down for a feature about his struggles, his past, his future, etc., go for it.

I wouldn't report his penchant for fatty foods and spending hours on the web because I'm guilty on both counts.