Filing from afar

[silvercharm]

As a freelancer, I decided a year ago, bite the bullet and buy a Verizon Air Card. It runs about $480 a year, which after the tax deduction is about $335. For all the live events I cover, it's about $7 a game. Cost of doing business, and far less stressful.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

So it's that time of year for us prep writers, playoffs.

That means heading to sectionals at schools we normally don't go to and most are more than a quick drive up the road (unless the local school is host). How many of you are running into trouble of getting a wireless connection or finding a place to file from after a game.

Yes, I know. "Back in the day," this was a problem also and "we" didn't have the 'net, but serious folks...it's 2009, shouldn't most schools have a plan for accommodating out-of-town media for this problem. I called the AD for a school today and he acted like I was asking for a chuck of rock from Mars.

My best bet will be going to a hotel parking lot or a McDonalds to find free Wi-Fi. (not like work would supply me with an option, gotta do it myself, of course)

Here's what I tell my bums (we have about a dozen freelancers sending stories in on playoff Fridays):
* Applebees always has open wireless networks.
* Too high-falutin? Try the Flying-J truck stop.
* Starbucks: Sometimes they shut off the network.
* McDonald's works in a pinch.

Here's the thing: Figure this out before the game. (underline and bold the word before). This isn't the kind of thing to be figuring out on deadline.

Denny's, too. Bonus: Grand Slam breakfast at 11 p.m.
Also, Barnes & Noble and Borders both have free WiFi now.

Chiquet, Kevin and others: if you're going to make a habit of this you might want to download and install NetStumbler or buy a digital WiFi detector like this or this or this (but note that only the first of those will tell you whether or not the WiFi network you've found has security encryption). Also, Wigle has a collective map made by wardrivers/warbikers/warchalkers: http://www.wigle.net/gps/gps/Map/onlinemap2/

Or you could get an air card.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

One thing I've noticed in the last few years is that school networks are notoriously hard to log onto, and a lot of them block e-mail sites, so kids can't cyber or whatever. Unless you know your situation is going to allow you to send from the school, don't count on it.

 

[SixToe]

This would be an issue for the state sportswriters association, coaches association and high school athletic association to discuss in summer where everyone could have their say.

Lay out the situation, needs, problems and hear the school's side of it. Try to come to some agreement so the coaches and HS associations know what is needed.

Writers should not be shoved out of their workplace, even at a high school game, just because the janitor or security guard is ready to go home 30 minutes after the game. It happens, though.

On the flip side, a newspaper should provide its employees with the appropriate equipment to get the job done even if the school isn't helpful. Buy an aircard. Write it off. Help your staff.

 

[flexmaster33]

Most schools will provide a spot you can send from.

But my preferred route is to look up a local restaurant (even a McDs if need be) and just add a quick bite to my travel expenses...it's quick and easy...just have to make sure the place is open late.

 

[Cosmo]

If there's a hotel in the area, stop by before the game and ask if they mind if you use their lobby/lounge area to file from. Most have free wi-fi for their guests and most won't mind helping out as long as you tell them you're a reporter who just needs to send a quick e-mail after the game.

 

[golfnut8924]

I remember walking around downtown Philadelphia once on a Saturday night carrying my laptop and just hitting the refresh button time and time again until I finally found a wireless network connection. What a forking adventure. I still can't believe I wasn't robbed of my computer at gun point.

 

[somewriter]

I would also tell your boss that if the paper does not think you need a laptop or any other equipment, then you will be in to write just as soon as you can drive back from the game, wherever it is. If that's too late for the paper then, well, something has to give.

 

[HanSenSE]

Out-of-town reporters have always been welcome at places I've worked, even in the days when the TRS-100 was as high-tech as it gets! Nowadays folks from far out of town are given air cards, and we even use one from our local stadium just in case we get jammed up on deadline.

Don't know what it's like at other championships, but there was free wifi for journalists at the CIF track finals last year.