Category Archives: Newspapers
On Press Row- NCAA Women’s Division I Basketball Tournament, Kingston, RI
KINGSTON, RI- When a big event such as the NCAA Basketball Tounemanet comes to town, conventional thinking is that the NCAA has total control over all parts of the operation. But when it comes to managing the local, regional, and national media contingent covering the event, the NCAA is relatively hands off. That responsibility falls upon the educational institution hosting the tournament.
The University of Rhode Island (URI) and its sports information department were given the task to organize the media needs of those attending the NCAA Women’s Division I Basketball Regional in Kingston, RI. In only his third month on the job, URI Coordinator of Sports Communications Shane Donaldson was tapped to be the point man for all media needs.
“This event was so big…so keeping it organized was a challenge for me.” said Donaldson.
Even though requests for media credentials for the women’s tournament do not normally rival those of the men’s championship, a regional featuring four teams attracts more media attention than a typical URI men’s or women’s game. Donaldson said more than 160 credentials were issued for the two-day tournament, 96 of which were to reporters and photographers.
“For a typical men’s game total media is around 30-40 on a given night, so you’re talking more than double than what we typically have.” said Donaldson.
Special attention is given to ESPN, which has exculsive television rights to telecast the women’s tournament. Donaldson said the NCAA sets the number of credentials issued for the television production team, while other ESPN personnel, like those writing for ESPN.com or espnW.com, are credentialed along with other journalists. A total of 75 passes were issued to ESPN personnel.
URI’s Ryan Center, which hosted the tournament, was shut down a full two weeks leading up to the opening tip-off. The specially constructed floor needed to be installed and the customized backboard assemblies did not arrive on site until late last week.
Even though URI had control over most media needs, the NCAA required special accomodations for tournament services and staff. Parts of the lower level of the Ryan Center were transformed to handle operations not typically required during the URI basketball season.
A section under the north stands of the Ryan Center, which is typically used as a storage garage, was converted as the media work room. That room had approximately 75 seats for journalists and photographers. The normal media work room was taken over by ESPN for its interview needs, while the regular season URI interview area served staff coordinating NCAA’s statistics and media relations . The URI football locker room, which is also located in the Ryan Center, was transformed as the general interview room.
On the court URI had a total of three media locations totaling 105 seats. Most of the seats were dedicated to media, with just over 20 set aside for representatives of the schools and the leagues they represent. ESPN occupied a total of 10 seats on press row. Photographers were issued spots under the two baskets.
Meeting the technology needs of the press was another challenge for Donaldson and URI. The school installed an extra 60 wireless internet modems just for the tournament. Each reporter was given a spefic username and password to ensure that no more that two or three users would be occupying each modem. Internet speed for me anywhere in the Ryan Center was never a problem. Ample electrical outlets were also made available for all media members.
NCAA Tournament rules played a role on how local and national radio broadcasts were handled. During the regular season, radio outlets covering URI games are located on same side of the arena as the team benches. NCAA regulations stipulate all radio broadcasts must be stationed on the side of the court opposite the benches. URI was required to install or move ISDN lines to accomodate all local and national radio broadcasts. Donaldson said those moves appeared to go off without a hitch.
The interview room was set up in a manner typical of large sporting events. The NCAA controls all aspects to how the interview room is organized and managed. No local video cameras are allowed to record press conferences. Instead video and audio feeds (both analog and HD) are made available to the electronic media wishing to record any press conference. Along with video restrictions there was also a ban on flash photography in the interview room.
As is typical for most NCAA competitions the size of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, there is never a lack of information on the teams participating or the leagues they represent. Printed statistics are made available during each television timeout and all media members have access to a dedicated NCAA statistics website.
The presence of ESPN at this event was undeniable. As is the case when any network comes to town, there appeared to be more than 75 people donning ESPN press credentials. The network implemented at least two cameras high above mid court, three on the floor, and one high near the main Ryan Center scoreboard in the southwest corner of the arena.
The announcing team of Dave O’Brien and Doris Burke were located, as usual, on the floor at mid-court across from the scorer’s table. Dial Global Radio with Dave Ryan and Ann Shatz were along side ESPN while local radio stations were set-up a row behind the national television and radio teams.
ESPN reporter Holly Rowe could be seen roaming the sidelines during the game but had an assigned seat, with a producer, at the very end of the press row behind the team benches.
My expereince at the Regional Tournament was a positive one. I was not issued a seat courtside for the Regional Semifinals but was issued a spot for Tuesday’s Regional Final. I was at the Ryan Center early enough to secure work space in the first-come, first-served media room.
Just by observing the media at the event I did hear a few complaints. Since the UConn campus is a mere 1.5 hour drive to URI the media contingent was domintated by those covering the Lady Huskies. That made the media room cramped at times and some media members did voice concern over the lack of space. Photographers, who routinely are given separate media quarters during an event as big as the NCAA Tournament, were more vocal than others about the working conditions. Photographers were also concerned about the dim lighting conditions at the Ryan Center.
Food for the media was not available at the lower level but in the arena’s Alumni Club located on the main concourse. Restroom accomodations were also restricted in the lower level so many media members were forced to navigate to restrooms located along the main concourse. To me this was not a big deal. It gave me the opportunity to explore the Ryan Center.
Donaldson said the concerns expressed to him from media members were no different than any regular season game. A large majority of the media at the tournament appeared satisfied with the accomodations at the Ryan Center. Myself included.
NSSA Announces Sportscasters and Sportswriters of the Year
The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) has unveiled its list of national and state award winners for 2011.
NBC and MLB Network’s Bob Costas and Washington Post national sportswriter and author John Feinstein have been selected to enter the NSSA Hall of Fame. ESPN’s Dan Shulman has been named National Sportscaster of the Year while Sports Illustrated’s Joe Posnanski has been selected as the National Sportswriter of the year.
The national winners, along with the state winners, will be recognized at the NSSA’s Awards Banquet June 11th in Salisbury, NC.
Here is the list of the state sportscaster and sportswriter winners:
ALABAMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Jim Dunaway, CBS 42/WJOX Radio, Birmingham
ALABAMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Doug Segrest, Birmingham News, Birmingham
ARKANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Steve Sullivan, KATV, Little Rock
ARKANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bob Wisener, The Sentinel Record, Hot Springs
ARIZONA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Tim Ring, KTVK-TV, Phoenix
ARIZONA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Paola Boivin, Arizona Republic, Phoenix
CALIFORNIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Vin Scully, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles
CALIFORNIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles
COLORADO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Drew Goodman, ROOT Sports, Denver
COLORADO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dave Krieger, Denver Post, Denver
CONNECTICUT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Joe D’Ambrosio, UConn Huskies/IMG Sports Network, Farmington
Kevin Nathan, WVIT-TV & UConn Huskies/IMG Sports Network, West Hartford
CONNECTICUT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, Hartford
DC SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Czarniak, WRC-TV (now with ESPN), Washington
DC SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
John Keim, DC Examiner, Washington
DELAWARE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
John Sadak, 1290 the Ticket, Wilmington
DELAWARE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jon Buzby, Newark Post, Newark
FLORIDA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Gene Deckerhoff, Florida State/IMG Sports Network, Tallahassee &
Tampa Bay Bucs Radio Network, Tampa
FLORIDA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Gary Shelton, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg
GEORGIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Rathbun, Fox Sports South, Atlanta
GEORGIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta
HAWAII SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dave Vinton, OC16 (Time Warner Cable), Honolulu
HAWAII SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star Advertiser, Honolulu
IOWA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
John Walters, WOI-TV, Des Moines
IOWA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rick Brown, Des Moines Register, Des Moines
IDAHO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Behler, Boise State Broncos/Learfield Radio Network, Boise
IDAHO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman, Boise
ILLINOIS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dave Eanet, Northwestern Wildcats/Learfield Radio Network, Chicago
ILLINOIS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Paul Klee, Champaign News Gazette, Champaign
INDIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Don Fischer, Indiana Hoosiers/Learfield Radio Network, Bloomington
INDIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Terry Hutchens, Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis
KANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Wyatt Thompson, K-State/Learfield Radio Network, Manhattan
KANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Haskin, Topeka Capital Journal, Topeka
KENTUCKY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Drew Deener, WKRD Radio, Louisville
KENTUCKY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Larry Vaught, Danville Advocate Messenger, Danville
LOUISIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Lynn Rollins, Cox Sports, Baton Rouge
LOUISIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Perryn Keys, Baton Rouge Advocate, Baton Rouge
MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mike Lynch, WCVB-TV, Boston
MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe, Boston
MARYLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Pete Gilbert, WBAL-TV, Baltimore
MARYLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, Baltimore
MAINE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Rich Kimball, Maine Black Bear/Learfield Sports Network, Orono
MAINE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Pete Warner, Bangor Daily News, Bangor
MICHIGAN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mario Impemba, Detroit Tigers/Oakland Univ., Detroit
MICHIGAN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mark Snyder, Detroit Free Press, Detroit
MINNESOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Kurtz, Minnesota Wild Radio Network, St. Paul
MINNESOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mike Russo. Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minneapolis
MISSOURI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
John Covington, KLPW, Washington
MISSOURI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bill Battle, Washington Missourian, Washington
MISSISSIPPI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
David Kellum, Ole Miss Radio Network, Oxford
John Cox, Southern Mississippi/IMG Sports Network, Hattiesburg
MISSISSIPPI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rick Cleveland, Clarion Ledger, Jackson
MONTANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mick Holien, Montana Grizzlies/Learfield Radio Network, Missoula
MONTANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Greg Rachac, Billings Gazette, Billings
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Harris, Duke/IMG Sports Network, Durham
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Tom Sorensen, Charlotte Observer, Charlotte
NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dan Keating, KMAV/KMSR, Mayville
NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Lou Babiarz, Bismarck Tribune, Bismarck
NEBRASKA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Kugler, KOZN Radio, Omaha
NEBRASKA SPORTSWRITER
Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald, Omaha
NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Jim Jeannotte, UNH Wildcats/Learfield Radio Network. Durham
NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mike Whaley, Fosters Daily, Dover
NEW JERSEY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Matt Harmon, Shore Sports Network, Bayville
NEW JERSEY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Greg Lerner, Star Ledger, Newark
NEW MEXICO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Jack Nixon, New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces
NEW MEXICO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rick Wright, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque
NEVADA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Russ Langer, Las Vegas 51s Radio, Las Vegas
NEVADA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ed Graney, Las Vegas Review–Journal, Las Vegas
NEW YORK SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bruce Beck, WNBC-TV, New York
NEW YORK SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bob Glauber, Newsday, New York
OHIO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Paul Keels, Ohio State Buckeyes/IMG Sports Network, Columbus
OHIO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Hal McCoy, Dayton Daily News, Dayton
OKLAHOMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
John Holcomb, KOTV-TV, Tulsa
OKLAHOMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Berry Tramel, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
OREGON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mike Parker, Oregon State Beavers/Learfield Radio Network, Corvalis
OREGON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Kerry Eggers, Portland Tribune, Portland
PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSCASTER
Jim Jackson, Philadelphia Flyers/Phillies TV, Philadelphia
PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSWRITER
Bob Ford, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia
RHODE ISLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Steve Hyder, Pawtucket Red Sox Radio, Pawtucket
RHODE ISLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brendan McGair, Pawtucket Times, Pawtucket
SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Allen Smothers, Coastline Sports Media, Myrtle Beach
SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Gene Sapakoff, Charleston Post and Courier, Charleston
SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mike Henriksen, Sportsmax Radio, Sioux Falls
SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Terry Vandrovec, Argus Leader, Sioux Falls
TENNESSEE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Pete Weber, Nashville Predators Radio Network, Nashville
TENNESSEE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jim Wyatt, The Tennessean, Nashville
TEXAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Eric Nadel, Texas Rangers Radio Network, Dallas
TEXAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Kirk Bohls, Austin American Statesman, Austin
UTAH SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Carl Arky, Weber State Univ. Radio Network, Ogden
UTAH SPORTSWRITER
Gordon Monson, Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City
VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bill Roth, Virginia Tech Hokies/IMG Sports Network, Blacksburg
VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER
David Teel, Newport News Daily Press, Newport News
VERMONT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
George Commo, Northeast Sports Network, Essex Junction
VERMONT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Tom Haley, Rutland Herald, Rutland
WASHINGTON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Rondeau, Washington Huskies/IMG Sports Network, Seattle
WASHINGTON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jerry Brewer, Seattle Times, Seattle
WISCONSIN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Lance Allan, WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee
Matt LePay, Wisconsin Badgers/Learfield Radio Network, Madison
WISCONSIN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Tom Haudricourt, Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee
WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mark Martin, WCHS-TV, Charleston
WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Chuck McGill, Daily Mail, Charleston
WYOMING SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Reece Monaco, KFBC Radio, Cheyenne
WYOMING SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Eric Schmoldt, Casper Star Tribune, Casper
NFL Week Eleven Schedule, With Local Media Links
Here is the week eleven schedule in the NFL, with links to the local media contingents covering each team:
| Thursday, Nov. 17 | ||
| Game | Time | TV |
| N.Y. Jets at Denver | 8:20 pm | NFL Network |
| Sunday, Nov. 20 | ||
| Game | Time | TV |
| Buffalo at Miami | 1:00 pm | CBS |
| Dallas at Washington | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Oakland at Minnesota | 1:00 pm | CBS |
| Tampa Bay at Green Bay | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Carolina at Detroit | 1:00 pm | FOX |
| Jacksonville at Cleveland | 1:00 pm | CBS |
| Cincinnati at Baltimore | 1:00 pm | CBS |
| Seattle at St. Louis | 4:05 pm | FOX |
| Arizona at San Francisco | 4:05 pm | FOX |
| San Diego at Chicago | 4:15 pm | CBS |
| Tennessee at Atlanta | 4:15 pm | CBS |
| Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants | 8:20 pm | NBC |
| Monday, Nov. 21 | ||
| Game | Time | TV |
| Kansas City at New England | 8:30 pm | ESPN |
| Open date: Indianapolis,New Orleans,Pittsburgh,Houston | ||
Sports Media Weekly Podcast No. 79- Eric Deggans, St. Petersburg Times
Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites and I are back for another edition of the Sports Media Weekly Podcast.
The top story remains the media coverage of the Penn State scandal. Ken and I discuss the fine job done by Bob Costas in interviewing former Penn State Defensive Coordinator Jerry Sandusky while taking CBS to task for promoting what proved to be a non-interview between Armen Ketayian and Sandusky accuser Mike McQueary.
Ken and I also praise ESPN for its coverage of last weekend’s Nebraska/Penn State game, the first in 46 years without former coach Joe Paterno on the sidelines.
We also touch upon the ratings for the first UFC on Fox match, the debut of Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock on the NFL Network, and the prospects of NBC Sports Network now that former HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg is on board to produce documentaries and Costas’ new program.
Our guest this week is Eric Deggans, media writer for the St. Petersburg Times as well as writer for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center. We spend most of our talk with Eric discussing the media coverage of the Penn State story, but also spend some time on his work for the paper and the university.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Media Coverage Of Red Sox Collapse a Teaching Moment for Students
Red Sox fans in New England are finally starting to relax a bit as stories on the circumstances of the team’s historic collapse are beginning to find themselves off the front page. The three week deluge of coverage has become a fascinating study on how the media of today handles the distribution of information that, under normal circumstances, might not make news. And journalism schools across the country are taking notice.
“We’ve had real spirited discussions about how you cover a story.” says Frank Shorr, Senior Lecturer, Journalism and Director of the Sports Institute at Boston University.
When the Red Sox ended the season by blowing a nine game wild card lead in September, the local media began to search for reasons behind the colossal breakdown. It soon became apparent that they were going to look at the events of the final month by delving into what happened to the club on and off the field.
It began with references by John Tomase of the Boston Herald and Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston.com that pitchers Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Jon Lester were seen drinking beer in the clubhouse during games in which they did not pitch. A week later the firestorm erupted with a report by Bob Hohler of the Boston Globe that expanded upon the beer drinking in the clubhouse to include personal issues possibly affecting Manager Terry Francona and general disinterest on the part of some members of the club.
“Bob’s original article was terrific.” Shorr says, ”What has happened next was to be expected. I’m sure there were conversations in newsrooms of, ‘How come we didn’t have this.’ Then you are charged with finding something new.”
Shorr says much has been made in the classroom on Hohler’s use of unnamed sources. He tells students that it’s okay to use anonymous sources, as long as you are confident that the information provided by those sources is accurate.
“You just have to be safe, you just have to be confident. If you are comfortable in what you’re writing that’s all you need to be concerned with.”
Many of Shorr’s students have never been in a locker room. He says as part of the real-life reporting experiences shared with students include the importance of cultivating, and sometimes protecting, reliable sources.
“Bob could not have told his story if he sourced out all his information. Nobody can.” said Shorr, “You never know when you’re gonna need to call a player to get information. I think (the students) understand that.”
The coverage of the Red Sox’ demise has become so competitive that members of the media have begun criticizing each other as to what should, and should not, be published. Those discussions are also taking place in Shorr’s classes.
“The sports journalism culture of today is focused on what is considered opinion journalism. And that everyone has an opinion and that’s what you put out there there. But when you are a reporter on a daily basis and you are face to face with your subjects, it’s not that easy”
Students, like many other fans, have questioned why the disarray in the Red Sox clubhouse wasn’t unearthed earlier in the season, since many beat reporters were aware of those issues for some time. Shorr says people who cover the team on a day-to-day basis often balance the need to keep things quiet with the need to protect access to players, coaches, and management.
“Students are very idealistic when they say ‘If I was in the locker room I’d ask why they were drinking.’ But then no one would talk to you for the rest of the year. How could you do your job then?”
“The day-to-day reporters that cover the team know a lot more than they print. Sometimes they do that purposely. If a reporter could sit down and make list of all the things that are never reported, you’d totally be amazed.”
Boston has always been a tough sports media town, especially in regards to its coverage of the Red Sox. In the 70′s and 80′s many a player would refuse to play for the Red Sox because of the difficult media environment. That seemed to change recently as the Sox won two World Series titles over the last seven years. With how the media has been reporting on the 2011 club since the end of the season, will Boston again be a city on the list of undesirable destinations for potential free agents? Shorr doubts it.
“If they offer a guy more money, He’ll deal with the media.”
Photo via http://bostinnovation.com/
