[NU Sports] great, just great
szeller at comcast.net
szeller at comcast.net
Sat Mar 31 15:32:57 CST 2007
Well done, Ben, for using your own mistaken column to demonstrate a learning experience. I think your modesty sets a good example for the younger writers.
Scott Zeller MD
Med '86
-------------- Original message --------------
From: Ben Adler <whosonfirst81 at yahoo.com>
> As a recent Medill (and WNUR) alum and a public radio reporter who sometimes has
> to ask confrontational questions or report confrontational facts, a few points:
>
> 1) Medill and WNUR reporters have just as much a right to cover NU sporting
> events as everyone else. Period. End of story. In fact, Mark Murphy (and his
> administration) deserves a huge amount of credit for going out of his way to
> work with WNUR to expand their relationship. Under Rick Taylor, WNUR was
> treated with healthy doses of scorn and ignorance. That WNUR was able to
> broadcast the Lacrosse championships and College World Series on a meager budget
> is thanks in large part to Murphy and his staff.
>
> 2) So why are the students getting on Coach Roy's nerves? Simple -
> experience, or lack thereof. Most Medill and WNUR students are practicing
> journalism at the highest level of their life - and for the first time. In my
> opinion, they should stick to beat reporting and ditch the opinion pieces.
> Columns are the hardest to write, since they require a mix of evidence and
> opinion. The most common mistake (among experienced as well as young
> columnists) is neglecting the "evidence" part.
>
> And if you need further proof that young reporters should stay out of the
> column-writing business, check out this gem by a kid just starting his sophomore
> year at NU from just before the 2000 football season:
> http://www.wnur.org/sports/analysts/ba081000.html
> Hmm...Stauss over Kustok, huh? How'd that one turn out?
>
> So...some advice to any current students on this list: No one's going to hire
> you for your columns. Earn your chops writing an amazing feature on the
> challenges Carmody faces, and be sure to get some quotes from people who think
> he should stay and people who think he should go. Let each side make its best
> argument -- and let your readers decide for themselves.
>
> 3) Alan's hit on one of the most difficult issues to balance as a reporter:
> How confrontational should you be? I think you can ask a tough question
> politely, and most people will understand you're just doing your job. On the
> other hand, if they give you the run-around, I think it's perfectly fair to say,
> "I don't think you're answering my question." Or if they're saying something
> you know for a fact to be untrue to say "But that's just not true" and cite your
> source.
>
> On the other hand, being confrontational just for the sake of being
> confrontational is just for ego's sake. It's stupid and unless you're on cable
> TV or commercial talk radio, it simply doesn't work. (Of course, even on cable
> or talk radio, it's still stupid.)
>
> Okay, rant's over.
> -- Ben
>
> "Abrahamson, Alan (NBC Universal)" wrote:
> I get my best stories that way usually, too. When I was in my first year
> out of Northwestern, working at the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot, a
> sheriff's sergeant schooled me in the way things work -- it being his
> view that you caught more flies with honey than vinegar.
> But that's not the way it works for some of my colleagues. And that
> includes student journalists ...
> Go Wildcats -- Alan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roy Lamberton [mailto:rstetson at capps-assoc.com]
> Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 9:11 PM
> To: Abrahamson, Alan (NBC Universal); szeller at comcast.net;
> nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Subject: RE: [NU Sports] great, just great
>
> Yeah, you're right, it shouldn't matter, its just that the Daily and
> WNUR seem to always lead the charge against the coaches.
>
> I know journalists are supposed to question everything, but I get my
> best stories when I'm not calling for someone's head on a platter.
>
>
> rsl
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate
> Computer Applications & Support Associates and Publisher of Purple
> Reign, The Scout.com Northwestern University Site
> (http://www.purplewildcats.com)
> AIM Handle: CoachRoy74
> ======== Go Cats - Beat 'em All =========== "You have a Republic Madam
> --
> If you can keep it" - Benjamin Franklin
> ============================================
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Abrahamson, Alan (NBC Universal)
> > [mailto:alan.abrahamson at nbcuni.com]
> > Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 6:50 PM
> > To: rstetson at capps-assoc.com; szeller at comcast.net; nwu-sports at tssi.com
> > Subject: Re: [NU Sports] great, just great
> >
> >
> > Coach Roy, you know I have the greatest respect for you. In this
> > instance, I want to say as gently as possible it's not the least bit
> > relevant that the student journalists get a press pass to cover NU
> > events.
> > The student journos know that.
> > So do the Medill profs.
> > And so does the Wildcat athletic administration.
> > - Alan
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com
> > To: szeller at comcast.net ; nwu-sports at tssi.com
> >
> > Sent: Fri Mar 30 18:18:34 2007
> > Subject: RE: [NU Sports] great, just great
> >
> > Its interesting that the loudest voices in the media calling for Bill
> > Carmody's head are the writers for the Daily [see today's issue] and
> > WNUR.
> >
> > They haven't started to lobby for Fitz to fire everyone just yet, but
> > I wonder where the animosity towards our athletic leaders comes from
> > since they get a pass to all the coverage events.
> >
> > Even the latest football coverage put McGee in a bad light - he's just
>
> > like anyone else who pleaded out a traffic offense.
> > He actually got off easier than my son who also had a reckless driving
>
> > ticket and wound up on the hook [probation] for a year. He still won't
>
> > drive over the Bay Bridge.
> >
> > rsl
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> > Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate
> > Computer Applications & Support Associates and Publisher of Purple
> > Reign, The Scout.com Northwestern University Site
> > (http://www.purplewildcats.com)
> > AIM Handle: CoachRoy74
> > ======== Go Cats - Beat 'em All =========== "You have a Republic
> > Madam --
> > If you can keep it" - Benjamin Franklin
> > ============================================
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com
> > > [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of
> > szeller at comcast.net
> > > Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 12:57 PM
> > > To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
> > > Subject: RE: [NU Sports] great, just great
> > >
> > >
> > > Given the perception that 83.2% of sportswriters are NU alums, it
> > > makes more sense that our local college football columnist
> > > (non-alum) in the Conta Costa Times bashes NU every chance he gets.
> > > There must be some resentment there!
> > >
> > > Sort of like the "Northwestern mafia" in Hollywood on the episode of
>
> > > the TV show "Joey".
> > >
> > > Scott Zeller MD
> > > Med '86
> > >
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > nwu-sports site list
> > nwu-sports at tssi.com
> > http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
> >
>
>
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