fshorr's blog

With apologies to Perry Como, walking into a professional locker room can be daunting…these are the guys you’ve idolized and now you actually have to talk to them, you have to initiate the conversation….no question it can be scary but armed with a few simple guidelines, it can be navigated…

Ian Browne of MLB.com and Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk took students through the process recently at the Boston University Sports Journalism Seminar Series and the candor with which they did was assuring…”Try to get to know each guy and put them at ease because when they trust you, it makes your job so much easier… rather than being the guy who’s digging for dirt, let them know you’re the guy they can talk to and you’re not gonna burn them”  said Browne, a veteran of baseball locker rooms, perhaps the toughest to work of all our major sports…

But that doesn’t mean when it comes time to ask the hard question, you have to shy away….And you know what , the athletes know those questions are coming and they’ll be there to take the heat. Browne had a simple rule to go by:  “phrase it in a way that they are not threatened by it, you want to tell your readers what was going on or him(the player)”…

Easily the night funniest exchange came when i asked Olynyk if the players actually liked being interviewed even though they know it comes with the territory…”We play three, four times a week, said Olynyk, so let’s say this, (your) class was M-W-F…if I came M-W-F before each of your classes and asked ‘so, how was that test yesterday? (laughter)…I see you missed question six, it was obviously ‘A’ and you chose ‘C’, why do you think you did that? (more laughter)…was there some problem with the textbook, the teacher didn’t do a great job?…and then you go to Wednesday’s class, before class, (and i ask), so you’ve done great on two tests but you bombed the third one, do you think you were a little overconfident?…it’s every day, every day you don’t mind it but it’s just sometimes it’s a little overwhelming, some days you just don’t want to talk about test number 17!”(still more laughter)…

Whether it’s high school kids, college stars or professional players, you’re going to have to interact with them…treating them with respect will get you a long way and better yet, get your questions answered…how can you lose?

When I first proposed a sports journalism seminar series some dozen years ago here at Boston University, my hope was to bring industry professional on campus who could share their insights into the jobs and experiences my students aspired toward....I hoped an offshoot would be the beginnings of a networking process that would help the transition from student to working journalist...Little did i know it would survive all this time...

I mention all of that brief history in the context of our recent seminar about women in sports...I could not have imagined what an impact a simple Q&A session could have...Lesley Visser of CBS Sports and Carolyn Thornton of The Providence Journal jumped to the top of the all time rankings... The topic of women in sports (journalism) was certainly important enough but the ladies brought a vitality and genuine interest in the students that took over the room...

The goal of the night was as much to offer all the students, not just the women, hope and information that could move them forward in their careers and their thinking...Thornton isn't sure we're where we should be just quite  yet when it comes to equal opportunity for women; "I'm dismayed that all not all the changes have been for the better.   And there may be more opportunities but I don't know that the quality of the opportunities is where it should be"...Visser sees many women entering the field for the limelight and she doesn't like it..."There are two kinds of women who do what we do.  There are women who love sports and wind up on TV or in print and then there are women who just want to be on TV and wind up in sports.  The fans can see through it."

When planning this particular seminar, I often wonder if talking about this issue perpetuates the idea that women working in the field are different and are  on a level playing field with their male counterparts....Neither guest was ready to say this is something that's behind us..."I have a nine year old daughter who is very vibrant.  My job as a mom is to develop all the skills that she'll need so that when she gets her foot in the door, whatever door she decides that will be, she'll also have the skill set to back it up so she's not just some cute perky (female)"...Thornton's intent certainly is to prepare her daughter, but the words apply to the guys as well...

Visser took it a step further; "Make your emphasis knowledge, because knowledge is not negotiable.  And if you don't have the passion for it, don't do it.   Do something you have the passion for because the job is too hard."...Impossible to say that doesn't apply to everyone...

We haven't solved the problems, faced all the issues but on this one night, anyway, I think the students felt like there was someone out there who wanted to hear their opinions, wanted their input....You can teach stuff like that....Lesley Visser and Carolyn Thornton came to listen to the students and we're the better for it...Thank you ladies...

Thornton

It doesn't get more basic in journalism than interviewing...You have a need to know, someone has the answers....Armed with a few basics, you're off...

Now interviewing can be intimidating and no place more so than a professional locker room.  So it was great to have guests at the Boston University Sports Journalism Seminar Series that have mastered that challenge...Mike Salk of WEEI Sports Talk Radio and Arielle Aronson, of late from ShesGameSports.Com remember what it was like early on: "It took me a while before I asked anything, said Salk, I sort of listened to all the other writers and formulated questions in my mind and when my questions matched up with their questions, then I finally felt comfortable asking something."...For Aronson it was matter putting her subjects at ease..."Try to make it as conversational as possible and you'll make them feel comfortable(and talk to you)."

Aronson hasn't been doing this for very long, having just graduated from Boston University in 2012...But to hear her speak, she's already picked up on some very important lessons...Like trying to get a story all to yourself...It isn't going to happen in the "scrum"..."A lot of times if I have a question or I have a story that I don't want anyone else to really have, I don't ask it(the question) while their people around.  I wait till everyone leaves and then ask 'do you have time for one more question?'...And I think if you can thank someone after interviewing them, it does wonders, especially if you're coming back in the locker room(at some other point)."...Veteran advice from someone who's new to all this...

Salk pointed out that reporters go into interviews with blinders on sometimes...You've written your list of questions but forgotten one very important element, listening...Don't just concentrate on your list...Watch what this reporter does in interviewing Jozy Altidore of the United States National Soccer  team after a game..http://espnfc.com/video/espnfc/video?id=1522851&cc=5901....In addition to not listening, the interviewer, in effect, dismisses Altidore, in essence  saying, "I don;t really care what you're saying as long as I concentrate on my next question"...there's a word for that and it's 'rude'...

But be aware of your surroundings...You also don't want to be so focused on your interview that you miss something...Just ask Pam Oliver about that!...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-AkwAYre0U....Who said sideline interviewers don't get noticed?

And speaking of being noticed. how'd you feel about Fred Toucher's interview with Rick Pitino?...http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/10/03/toucher-rich-hang-up-on-rick-pitino-in-shortest-interview-ever/

Perception is often reality but in the case of Beat Reporters, the public has no idea...Sure, there are nice hotels on the road and stockpiles of frequent flier miles but with the advent of the 24 hour news cycle, the hours are long and the competition is stiff...

Being around the team as often as you are presents some very different problems....You need to get close, close enough for them to trust you, but not too close so that the readers/viewers think you're a cheerleader...Ben Volin of The Boston Globe is new to covering the New England Patriots and even though he spent three years in Miami doing much the same job with the Dolphins, he's realizes it's like being a rookie : "You can't fake it (a relationship), it's frustrating because I'm  starting all over again, i don't have any relationships...you're just building them up, being professional and respectful"...Volin was a guest at the Boston University Sports Journalism Seminar Series recently  along with Baxter Holmes, who covers the Boston Celtics, also or The Boston  Globe...While a relative newcomer himself, Holmes will be dealing with a new coach very soon, new to the area and new to the N-B-A...Baxter is aware that the dynamic will be worth watching...

Now all reporters run the risk of antagonizing the players and coaches they cover, something that can be deadly....The reliance on these people for information is paramount and you never want to get shut out...It makes for good theater but in reality, doesn't benefit anyone...witness longtime H-H-L hockey coach John Tortorella and beat reporter Larry Brooks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARhVC8uEbQU

Great TV but not very productive....

Boston University student reporters have had great opportunities here on campus to hone their skills with coaches like Jackie Parker and Joe Jones, Nancy Feldman and Kelly Greenberg...David Quinn enters his first year with the Terrier Men's Hockey team and it'll be interesting to see how the give and take develops, similar to the Brad Stephens hire in Boston  that Holmes faces....But Holmes has a word of advice for reporters heading out to parts unknown..."Take it as seriously as if you're covering the White House.  Get to know the people, be there every day.  Look for great human stories, stories that are so good that when you're reading the morning paper you'll say "Hey Martha, you gotta read this."  (Martha being your wife)  Everyone should aspire to find a "hey Martha" story that's really incredible."

It's worked or Holmes, worked for Volin...It can work or you...

Reporters live for the big story...It's a change of pace and often times, a chance to shine...But sometimes that very same reporter becomes part of that story and that turns everything upside down...Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe and independent filmmaker Sean Pamphilon visited the Boston University sports journalism seminar series recently and both have first hand knowledge...

Ryan was a guest on WBZ-TV's Sports Final one night in 2003 when he let his emotions get the best of him declaring, "She (Joumana Kidd) needs someone to smack her"...Host Bob Lobel immediately called Ryan out but the Globe columnist didn't waiver, "Why should I say anything different than I said all playoffs last year?" Ryan said...He would subsequently apologize but to this day if you ask him about it,  he'll tell you his biggest regret was becoming the story itself...

As for Pamphilon, don't even think of mentioning his name in the state of Louisiana let alone New Orleans....When he released the audio tape of Saints Assistant Coach Gregg Williams bounty speech, Pamphilon's world turned upside down, "I knew there would be some criticism but I didn't expect it to come from the people I was working with.  That was very different and it honestly was hurtful.  I had death threats.  Life changing for sure.  Before that people would say, oh, man I just saw Run Ricky Run and then suddenly you become "Bountygate" guy.  I don't want to be that guy."

Covering any story puts the reporter in a unique position but when the story has larger implications, an intense pressure to perform, often times leads to hasty choices...The rush to be first can override the rush to be accurate...And it's a lesson young reporters, just starting out can learn from the veteran Ryan...When he was handed his very first "beat", covering the Boston Celtics at an early age, he jumped into the fire..."I was twenty three when they handed this to me.  I was utterly unprepared to cover a basketball team (let alone the Boston Celtics).  They don't teach you, there's no course, nobody teaches you, you  have to figure it out for yourself!"...  Seven years later Ryan was still trying to figure it out and it almost cost him his job after a rocky relationship with then Celtics Head Coach Tommy Heinsohn...

Sometimes it's not enough to know how to cover the big story, you have to stay out of its way...The urge for that "nugget" now, that piece of information that might put you on the map can cost you a relationship , or worse, a reputation later...Ryan had a terrific answer for the students in the class, many of whom will graduate soon and face their first real job, "How do you build trust?  You learn the difference between what's printable and what's not printable and (maybe) you hold onto it and then float it down a little later.  There's a central balance.  How close do you want to get, how close can you get?  And you have to balance that off, you don't know how to protect yourself sometimes."

It's a lesson you'll never learn in the classroom, one I hope we've started you thinking about as you go forward...