Spring Break
MU policies inhibit sport journalists
Emile Dawisha
Issue date: 4/17/07 Section: Sports
the column.
However, due to the one complaint, the Athletic Department felt it necessary to call the journalism program and recommend that I be reprimanded for my actions. Why didn't they just write a Letter to the Editor and speak to the matter in a public way? Instead, they handled it in a backhanded way by trying to have me censured by my own professors. Their request was correctly rebuffed.
In this, one of my final columns, my intention was not merely to espouse anti-PR sentiments (widely embraced in the journalism profession). Again, I don't think any of the coaches, players or SIDs are bad people. This is just the nature of the beast - and it undermines the role of the journalist.
My experience at Miami has taught me that to be a story-hawking journalist, I need to go out of my comfort zone - ask the extra question, never settle for the same hackneyed responses, second-guess everything. Don't hunt for negative stories; but also don't allow yourself to turn you into an unwitting second layer of PR.
However, due to the one complaint, the Athletic Department felt it necessary to call the journalism program and recommend that I be reprimanded for my actions. Why didn't they just write a Letter to the Editor and speak to the matter in a public way? Instead, they handled it in a backhanded way by trying to have me censured by my own professors. Their request was correctly rebuffed.
In this, one of my final columns, my intention was not merely to espouse anti-PR sentiments (widely embraced in the journalism profession). Again, I don't think any of the coaches, players or SIDs are bad people. This is just the nature of the beast - and it undermines the role of the journalist.
My experience at Miami has taught me that to be a story-hawking journalist, I need to go out of my comfort zone - ask the extra question, never settle for the same hackneyed responses, second-guess everything. Don't hunt for negative stories; but also don't allow yourself to turn you into an unwitting second layer of PR.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
JD Malone
posted 4/17/07 @ 2:47 PM EST
Three cheers Emile.
Emile Dawisha
posted 4/17/07 @ 7:40 PM EST
thx!
Dave
posted 4/17/07 @ 9:37 PM EST
Here is some interesting discussion your article has created:
http://www.miamihawktalk.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=371306#371306
Mat
posted 4/17/07 @ 11:25 PM EST
I read those comments on hawktalk. It was nice to see that Clinton Yates is still as condescending and idiotic as ever. Last time I checked wasn't Emile the head of the local SPJ chapter? Doesn't sound like he is exactly lacking in professionalism! And really why can't Shane Montgomery expose his students to Miami Student reporters more? Would it be too much to ask? And what about all the pay for the Miami Redhawks PR machine--what good is all that money if all they do is shut-out student reporters? After all, it's not like Miami has a real team like OSU! Sorry, I couldn't help myself. (Continued…)
Matt Sohn
posted 4/18/07 @ 12:20 AM EST
Whoa... I think it's great to have discourse over columns, but let's stay away from personal attacks of people. Regardless of your feelings about an individual, keep the focus on the issues at hand. (Continued…)
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