It’s been a strange week or so when it comes to major football programs removing credentials from reporters. The Titans stripped the credential of Jared Stillman, an independent operator and a part-time presence on the beat who apparently irked the team by engaging in a blunt back-and-forth with quarterback Cam Ward.
At the college level, TCU removed the credentials of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. On Friday, TCU reversed its revocation decision.
The move happened in bush-league style, with TCU reacting negatively to the Star-Telegram reporting on the locker-room incident between former TCU safety Jacob Fields and receiver Dozie Ezukanma. The incident put Ezukanma in the hospital for three days, with a concussion and a brain bleed.
We made clear our position and resolved
“We made clear our position and resolved to move forward,” TCU said. “We respect their role as an independent newsn ahead.”
TCU took exception to the initial reporting from the Star-Telegram about the incident, because it suggested that the situation extended beyond Fields. The Star-Telegram later revised its reporting, explaining that the attack was not motivated by bullying. And, after the credentials were revoked, the Star-Telegram published an extensive report regarding the situation.
Regardless, the answer to a disagreement regarding a given report isn’t to yank the publication’s credentials. That comes off as heavy-handed and small. There are other avenues for reacting to a dispute, short of invoking the nuclear “you’re no longer welcome here” option.
The problem, especially at a time when teams
The problem, especially at a time when teams and leagues operate their own media outlets and/or own a piece of massive media outlets (e.g., the NFL’s 10-percent stake in ESPN), is that teams and leagues believe they can dictate the manner in which they are covered. It should never be that way; media outlets aren’t an extension of the P.R. operation.
All coverage of a team or a league amounts to free publicity. That alone should make teams and leagues far less willing to piss and moan and far more willing to embrace and show at least a shred of gratitude to anyone and everyone who is willing to help the effort to advertise their product at no charge.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
