As strange as it might sound, being the reporter in the world of journalism might be the easiest job of all…\u00a0 Never mind you get to be the star of the story but just as often as not, a producer or assignment editor hands you your story, complete with scheduled interviews and if you’re really lucky, a photographer\/editor…<\/p>\n
Such is not the case with the people behind the scenes…<\/p>\n
As the Executive Sports Producer for a major affiliate here in Boston,\u00a0 I was on call twenty four hours a day…It was my responsibility to make sure we had the story first, had it right and didn’t get beat… Calls in the middle of the night were regular occurrences…That midnight phone call on the night in October, 1982 when Bruins forward Normand Leveille<\/a> suffered a brain aneurysm during a game in Vancouver was par for the course…As was the six A.M. call from Assignment Editor Howie Levings, telling me our Washington DC affiliate was reporting that Celtics number one draft pick Lenny Bias<\/a> had overdosed on cocaine…Both called for immediate action, putting the pieces in place…<\/p>\n So, it was particularly telling when, at the most recent Boston University Sports Journalism Seminar, I asked New England Patriots Media Director Stacey James<\/a> if he felt like a “fireman” some times…James smiled and immediately understood the reference…”You’re always putting out a flame”…That includes making sure Coach Bill Belichick’s message gets out there loud and clear: “We’re always trying to eliminate the distractions, (stressing) what’s important for the football team.”\u00a0 Longevity in any job sometimes speaks volumes…. James predates owner Robert Kraft and coach Belichick, so he must be doing something right…<\/p>\n