Queen's University Cuts Student Media Coverage

((HT: Queens University Journal/Peter Mueller))

Being a former member of the student media, the HQ remembers what it's like to be buzzing all over campus covering every revenue and non-revenue sport for whatever form of media was available at the time when we were in school.

Softball and women's basketball were just as important as volleyball, football and baseball and we covered the crap out of it. Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada now can't do that to the tune of 87.5-percent of its past effectiveness because of a past aticle written by students.

Like rowing at Queen's for example- one of the star athletics programs on campus...


Eight credentials have now been cut to one because of an article that wasn't wrong, it just made the administration look bad.

Here's the crux of the argument from student Editor-in-Chief Nick Faris:

We were told that this decision stems from a story we published on March 28, detailing how the result of Queen’s varsity team of the year vote changed after Athletics retroactively struck a new voting panel.

On March 29, I received a letter from Jeff Downie, associate director at Athletics, in which he wrote, “We will be reevaluating our relationship, and the privileged access we provide the Journal moving forward.”

It's kind of the same thing that happened when FIU pitched a hissy-fit and tried to deny the Miami Herald's beat reporter from doing the newspaper's work last week.

The Herald had decided not to cover the program after said hissy-fit but, two days ago, recanted their decision and is allowing David Neal to do his job.

From Michelle Kaufman at the Herald:

Neal’s access to FIU coaches and athletes had been reduced for months. He was not allowed to attend football practice or conduct interviews.

FIU issued a statement last week explaining its decision to deny Neal’s credential: “We did not issue a media credential to the Herald’s beat reporter because of concerns we have brought up to the Herald’s reporter and editors over the past few years about the reporter’s interactions with our student athletes, coaches and staff, and the nature of the resulting coverage."

The Herald examined Neal’s coverage and found it to be fair and professional.

But what does this move by Queen's say about universities and their want to control information...???

About what it says these days... those who have the power want to control the information...
And, sadly college student, that won't change any time soon...

Houston Newspaper Guy Eats His Own Paper

((HT: chron.com))

The Houston Chronicle's John McClain said that he would eat the front page of the Draft Day Chronicle if the Texans did not draft a quarterback in the first round...

The HQ thinks this bet was doomed from the start...

The Texans picked Clowney and McClain had to make a plan for some roughage...

Here's the meal...

Newspaper Tells Columnist He Can't Write About Sakerlina Anymore (THURSDAY UPDATE: He Can Again)

((HT: Jim Romenesko))

It's a safe play that none of the television stations in Columbia, South Carolina will go into any depth in this story...

On two separate occasions over the last two seasons, the Old Ball Coach has told the assembled media that he won't be answering questions from them- just because... and anything that Spurrier says in his press conferences, currently, has no value other than taking up oxygen...

But the "because" is, according to Romenesko, that The State columnist Ron Morris was negative (in 2011)
Spurrier ranted about it...
((HT: Student Gamecock Television))


And that Morris was suspected of planting questions with fellow reporters so THEY could ask Spurrier questions that he had after an incident in 2012 where Spurrier was criticized by Morris for starting Connor Shaw against UAB...

Six days later, Morris was on Bill King's show on SiriusXM College Sports Nation...


Here was OBC's response with Todd Ellis...


He won't have to worry about it anymore...

Morris has been told by his newspaper that he is not to write any more stories on USC...

From Romenesko:

The State publisher Henry Haitz III wasn’t a Morris fan, though; he wanted his columnist fired, I’m told. Executive editor Mark Lett talked him out of it, though, according to sources. There were no legitimate grounds for dismissal, the publisher was told.

Lett “has basically protected Ron’s job,” says one of Morris’s friends. “He’s had the guts to stand up to the publisher” when Haitz wanted Morris pink-slipped. “This is not a Mark Lett problem; if anything he’s been a protector.”

Morris kept his job, but he was told he could no longer attend Spurrier’s press conferences. He was also ordered by the publisher to write an apology column. That ran last Sept. 26.

The HQ can't say that we're shocked about a high-profile, heavy-handed coach like Spurrier being the pit boss in a college town being able to wield his vocal sword in a manner like this...

But, it also says a lot about the business as it currently exists...
Big business means you have to protect your relationships, and if that means that you divert a long-time, well-respected columnist for the sake of driving content...

Then, so be it...
And "The State" has put its line in the sand...

THURSDAY UPDATE: Unless Haitz backs off entirely...

Deadspin got a holt of an internal memo that backs off the policy- for now... at least in name...

Below is part of a memo written by executive editor Mark Lett today

Please know this today: Ron Morris and other columnists at The State are free to pursue topics and stories as guided by their curiosity, their news judgment, their obligation to readers and our standards for quality journalism. No subject or individual is off limits for examination.

Relationships can be difficult between news makers and journalists, especially those who write analysis, commentary and opinion. You all understand why. Around here, much has been said and written about Spurrier and Ron — in blogs, on the web, on talk shows and in other publications. . As with any relationship, it sometimes helps to step back and allow conditions to cool. In recent months, we asked Ron to draw upon his considerable sports knowledge and experience to produce highly readable, relevant columns and enterprise features.The work has been outstanding and has given sports fans much to enjoy and to think about. During this time, we asked Ron to focus first on coverage other than the USC football program.

Moving forward, all topics — including USC football — are in play. As always, this is a newspaper committed to accuracy, fairness and holding accountable the news makers and institutions that serve our community and our state.

So Much For Living In The Present

Okay...

Full disclosure...

TBH told us about this one...

You're all aware that Auburn survived their shootout with Washington State at home, but this was the boxscore they used in the Dothan Eagle newspaper...

First, to show you we're not messing with you and that it isn't a work on our part...
Here's the date...

And here's the box score...
Notice everything goes wrong starting with the opponent...

The HQ has heard about living in the past, but this is a bit much...
And rubbing it in to the Aggies one more time...???

C'mon, man...