Principal bans reporter from press box, apologizes

[sportpro]

Here's link to story on our Web site:

http://www.winchestersun.com/public_html/?module=displaystory&story_id=8282&format=html

 

[Breakyoself]

i was at a game a few years ago and this asshole cleaning person shut off the lights on me while i was working on my story 50 miles oaway in another city that teams from our area played many times. he did so after arguing with me for five minutes - the same time it would have taken me to finish if he just shut up.

Needless to say, being young as I was, I was quite angry and wrote a column about it. I thought it was a good column, and the coaches thought it was hilarious.

anyway, two weeks later I got a phoen call from the mayor of the town, apologizing for the inconvience and asking if I knew who it was so they could be reprimanded. I told him that was not necessary, and that it was probably one guy having a bad night and taking it out on me. he said sorry again and that was the end of it.

also made for another column.

 

[The Last Boy Scout]

When more than half of the schools in the circ area are 2A or below, there are NO pressboxes. Not really a choice of how I cover a game.

As far as access goes, while the principal or AD or whatever can try to "ban" you from a box, etc., if it's a public school, they can't deny you entry. They may make you pay, but they can't turn you away. You can still do your job, even if it's not by your preferred method.

If someone is hindering you from doing your job, the biggest "fork you" is to do it regardless of the situation. Don't give in and get all pissy.

Just do the job, it's all that matters.

(If it's a private school and they throw you out, you're forked.)

They can ban you from the box.

They ban most of the rest of the public from the box.

They could ban you from the sideline, too.

They could make you pay and sit in the stands.

And, really, since it's a school event (even though it's a public place), they can toss your butt if they want.

True. At that point, it's time to get the paper's legal involved. That's a precedent that the school shouldn't be allowed to set.

 

[BillyT]

When more than half of the schools in the circ area are 2A or below, there are NO pressboxes. Not really a choice of how I cover a game.

As far as access goes, while the principal or AD or whatever can try to "ban" you from a box, etc., if it's a public school, they can't deny you entry. They may make you pay, but they can't turn you away. You can still do your job, even if it's not by your preferred method.

If someone is hindering you from doing your job, the biggest "fork you" is to do it regardless of the situation. Don't give in and get all pissy.

Just do the job, it's all that matters.

(If it's a private school and they throw you out, you're forked.)

They can ban you from the box.

They ban most of the rest of the public from the box.

They could ban you from the sideline, too.

They could make you pay and sit in the stands.

And, really, since it's a school event (even though it's a public place), they can toss your butt if they want.

True. At that point, it's time to get the paper's legal involved. That's a precedent that the school shouldn't be allowed to set.

I don't think it's even worth that.

You're probably gonna lose anyway.

And you can still cover the game.

 

[farmerjerome]

Personally, prep writers who sit in the press box during games are lazy.

Yeah, I'll be sure to balance my computer in my right arm, and my notebook, statsheets, pens, highlighters, taperecorder, water, etc. in my left. Oh wait, I need a hand to write with?

I write from the pressbox so I can get a better field angle. Not because I like to sit on my ass and twirl my hair.

If I get kicked out of a press box for something like that, I don't cover the game. Period. I call the AD and the Superintendent on Monday.

Especially if you've had advanced notice. Find something else on the sked and cover that.

So you would punish the fans and players because of the principal? That's what you'd be doing, giving up the quality of your product to win a pissing match. The product comes first, no matter what. We have to be like the mailman - neither ran nor sleet nor snow, etc., etc., etc.

I would walk. It's only one team and one game during the season.

A lot of the parents around here know who I am. If they see me leaving early they're going to wonder why. And when they call and find out, I'd bet that one or two angry phone calls to the principal will take care of that problem.

It usually only takes incident like this to get the principal to back off.

 

[Ace]

Actually, it's two teams, not one, farmerj.

 

[Tom Petty]

I would have loved to cover games from the sideline, but at 5-0, I can't see over any group, let alone a group of football players.

Or maybe I'm just lazy and I should have gotten some stilts or something.

What, you can't afford a Segway?

yeah, you really "seem" like a deck, that's for sure.

 

[Dr. J]

Actually, it's two teams, not one, farmerj.

Even better. Knocks out two birds with one stone.

 

[sportschick]

I would have loved to cover games from the sideline, but at 5-0, I can't see over any group, let alone a group of football players.

Or maybe I'm just lazy and I should have gotten some stilts or something.

What, you can't afford a Segway?

yeah, you really "seem" like a deck, that's for sure.

You're so sweet, Tomas!

And he's still a deck.

 

[Bubbler]

Personally, prep writers who sit in the press box during games are lazy.

I'm not even going to read on past this. You're a moron.

Some of us, you know, have to file immediately after games, which means writing during the game. And with score updates and blogs becoming the norm, many writers write more during the game than they ever have.

But we're all forking lazy up there in the press box.

And I've done plenty of games from that vaulted spot on the field too. There are very few things in our business that are more overrated, in my opinion, than doing a game from the field.

Oh, but there's so much insight to be gleaned down there! Nineteen times of out of 19, you're not gleaning insight, you're running your ass down the sideline to make sure you get the ball spot right in your stats.

To each their own and all, but to call someone lazy for doing their job is moronic.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

Before I started working at my current place of employment, there was a guy who wrote a column ripping a coach's play-calling.
The school's AD took offense to the column and banned everyone from out company from the school. A month or two later, we had a photographer who was asked to leave a basketball game at the school.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

Hey man, to each their own. I spent many a Friday night on the sideline _ even with ridiculous deadlines _ and survived.

You should clarify what you think are ridiculous deadlines, because the "covering from the press box is lazy" assertion is pure poppycock. This is a time management issue and has nothing to do with laziness. If you have to file 30 minutes or less after the game is over, you'd better have your ass in the press box during the game and get some of your story written while the game is going on. If you can't get a handle on what's going on from up there, then you'd better find another line of work.