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Remember those old Inspector Gadget cartoons? Each episode would open with the Inspector reading one of Chief Quimby's letters with top secret information in it. Then, the message would end with the phrase "this message will self-destruct" and then BOOM! In this exercise, Marshall University is Chief Quimby. The media plays the role of Inspector Gadget. Let me explain... Marshall's spring football practice starts Tuesday. Marshall sent out the following rule in its release today: "the electronic real-time posting of practice updates or live 'blogging' from all Marshall practices is prohibited." I inquired about this new rule for 2009. According to the athletic department, the newspapers blogged updates from practice last year about formations and injuries. That "was not appropriate" according to the school. So this year, Marshall invited the media to watch but not write at practice. Nothing, however, stops the media from stepping outside Joan C. Edwards stadium and writing about what they witnessed though. I asked the difference and was told this way Coach Mark Snyder can address the injuries or formations with the media after practice. In essence, Snyder or the other coaches can put a "spin" on it. And by and large, sports reporters are more likely to be persuaded than other journalists. So I can't blame the tactic. WVU has the same rule. I checked with Mike Montoro, the Director of Football Communications for the Mountaineers, who told me they just last year re-opened practice to the media. But really, Marshall (and WVU) are just delaying the inevitable here. If someone gets hurt, it is going to get out. That's the chance you take when you open practice. Technology is improving and communication is getting faster. This is not a trend that will reverse any time soon. These issues are only going to keep coming up again and again. I don't write this to criticize Marshall. Other schools simply close practice completely. I think it's admirable Marshall and WVU allow the sun to shine in on the program. Just keep this in mind -- those messages to Inspector Gadget always ended up blowing up in Marshall, er Chief Quimby's face. |
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Posted by: CP
Why is FBI and police at Hurricane High today? Why is no one reporting it?
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