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BASKETBALL T IMES Visit: www.usbwa.com VOLUME 52, NO. 1 November 2014 Being all a-Twitter has its perks – and problems Let me preface this by saying I like me for choosing Snoopy as my avatar. Twitter. Who can be angry about a cartooned I like how I can find links to stories beagle? that I might otherwise miss. There is a time and place for re- I like how I can follow breaking Dana O’Neil action in our business. Insightful, and news easily. thought-provoking columns from peo- And, selfishly, in this clickable ple with experiences to understand nu- world we now are beholden to, I like ESPN.com ances are a critical part of our business. that there is a fast and easy way to get But an immediate choice of black stories to the masses. President or white is not. What I don’t like is what Twitter is At its best, journalism is about the doing to our profession. It is killing us, gray – the unknown - – and journalists 140 characters at a time. at their best work to clear up the gray. At games, I have grown accustomed sound incredibly old. Which I am. They ask questions and find sources. to a press row of reporters looking down at their lap- My kids’ teachers tell me that “kids today” just They gather opinions of experts far more well-versed tops instead of up at the action. And in news confer- don’t learn like we did. Textbooks don’t work. They in subjects than themselves. ences, I’m numb to folks feverishly sharing quotes need video and even animation, short snippets and They read. They report instead of thinking up a good follow-up question. more tactile learning. And then, and only then, they write. That part of it can be a necessary evil, I suppose, de- And more, they’re used to doing 40 things at We need to get back to that. Heaven knows it’s pending on the devil of an employer you serve. And for once. For example, my teenager occasionally talks hard, especially in an age where immediacy is reward- those of us around since the days of Radio Shack Tandy to me and texts at the same time. I want to yank the ed. The old adage of better to be last and right than or longer, it’s manageable. We’ve got a few decades of phone away, but apparently, she isn’t being rude. She first and wrong reads like some sort of nostalgic nicety multitasking and press conferencing under our belts. is being generationally normal. rather than a creed to live by. But what of college students or young journal- So I get that journalism isn’t the same anymore, Equally difficult, with so much noise out there – ists? What are they learning – to be reporters or ste- either. from legitimate websites to fan sites to the proverbial nographers? There is a value to paying attention to I’m just not sure that our business – like our kids’ dude in his parents’ basement – it’s harder than ever to something and more, to listening. manners – is getting better. distinguish yourself from the crowd. I write this knowing two things. For starters, I am Along with our attention, Twitter is robbing jour- But it would seem the solution to that is to not as guilty of all of this as anybody and you each now nalism of something even more critical – reporting. join the noise in the first place. The way we get news have permission to yank me by the hair when I spend Twitter is the land of the reactionary, a virtual crowd has changed. The way we read and learn is different. a game looking down more than up. with pitchforks, as one colleague described it to me. If Credibility, though, still matters, even when it’s I also know this entire column will make me you want to be angry, log on. Someone once chastised limited to 140 characters or less. Online Credentialing Task Force makes recommendations By KIRK WESSLER but we wanted to avoid confusion by endorsed list is published on our website, and CoSIDA Sometimes it helps to be a little ENDORSED LIST omission. The sites we added via the agreed to distribute to its members. naïve and idealistic. Allsportsdiscussion.com review process can hold their own with One important point: While we expect media Bluestarmedia.org When we formed the USBWA’s Cityofbasketballlove.com the big brands when it comes to quality directors to give full consideration to the endorsees, the Online Credentialing Task Force, the Eagletotem.net and commitment to standards of good schools retain the right to grant or deny credentials to goal seemed simple: Figure out how to Hoopville.com journalism, but like a lot of those 12- anyone. But USBWA will go to bat for endorsees who support legitimate online journalists in Houstonroundballreview. 13-14 seeds in the NCAA tournament, encounter problems. com their efforts to cover college basketball Insidethehall.com they’re not household names. Hopefully, Also, we received a lot of applications from and help the institutions that grant Louisville.scout.com our endorsement will help correct that. traditional media outlets – newspapers, magazines, TV/ credentials to make good decisions. Metbasketballwriters.org The full task force conducted radio stations – and from individuals and some sports Simple? Midmajormadness.com several teleconferences to identify a information directors. We did not endorse traditional Netscoutsbasketball.com In hindsight, the task was like Pickinsplinters.com list of standards and best practices that media outlets because they already have access to full Eureka College trying to take on Duke. Projectshanks.com any respectable journalism enterprise consideration. Nor did we endorse individuals, whom Forget about winning or even keeping Umhoops.com employs. Our first thought was to publish we classified as freelancers, and decided they could the score respectable. The challenge is so those and let nature take its course. If a obtain credentials as freelancers have for decades. enormous, you start thinking how great it website appealed to us for help, we could We will clarify those points for the next application would be just to reach the first media timeout with a tie. apply those guidelines case-by-case. But that wasn’t cycle. Did we succeed? I think so, but we’re thankful realistic. But we also realize the landscape will continue to for the TO so we can re-evaluate and consider how to So we set up a process through which websites evolve, and we need to adapt. If you have suggestions attack the next four-minute segment. could apply for USBWA endorsement. A subcommittee for improving the process, or rationale to consider We endorsed 14 websites, in addition to the large of the task force was charged with reviewing applicants. expanding our scope, please email me – kwessler@ national sites that we grandfathered before tipoff. We received almost 50 by the Sept. 1 deadline, and pjstar.com – and I will share your thoughts with the task Those big boys and girls don’t need our endorsement, finished making our decisions in early October. The force. BASKETBALL T IMES The United States Basketball Writers Association Spread the word about 803 Wildview Lane; St. Louis, Mo. 63021 Visit us at: www.usbwa.com 314-795-6821 USBWA’s many benefits If you haven’t done PRESIDENT – Dana O’Neil, espn.com; so before now, spread C: 215-313-3425; [email protected] the good word about FIRST VICE PRESIDENT – Pat Forde, Yahoo! the USBWA to your Sports; H: 502-253-9761; C: 502-472-91633; colleagues and friends Joe Mitch [email protected] in the media who are not THIRD VICE PRESIDENT – Ed Graney, Las already members and USBWA Vegas Review-Journal; C: 702-524-3553; encourage them to join [email protected] before the end of the year. Executive Director THIRD VICE PRESIDENT – Vahe Gregorian, Be sure to tell them Kansas City Star, C: 816-799-6041; vgregorian@ also about the many kcstar.com benefits members receive. As a USBWA mem- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – Joe Mitch, ber, you are receiving this issue of the Tipoff as part of For full details about each discount program, go to H: 636-227-9113; C: 314-795-6821; the USBWA’s annual membership benefits program. the USBWA website at usbwa.com. [email protected] It’s one of four Tipoff newsletters that you will Members are also eligible to vote for players on the WEBMASTER – Ted Gangi, C: 214-909-9314; receive during the college basketball season. Tipoff will USBWA’s All-District and All-America teams as well as [email protected] keep you informed with lodge notes about the latest player, coach and freshman of the year in both men’s and BOARD MEMBERS association news and columns by USBWA officers and women’s basketball. DISTRICT I – Matt Vautour, Daily Hampshire board members on current issues impacting writers. Finally, members can enter the USBWA’s best Gazette, [email protected] In addition to Tipoff, you’ll receive a complimentary writing contest for plaques and cash prizes. DISTRICT II – Nicole Auerbach, USA Today, seven-month subscription to Basketball Times. Each To join the USBWA, go to sportswriters.net/ O: 703-854-5317; C: 908-672-2840; issue of Basketball Times includes columns by some of membership. Dues are $50 and $25 for retirees, students [email protected] the nation’s top sportswriters. and recent grads. DISTRICT III – Laura Keeley, Raleigh News & The USBWA’s annual membership directory is CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS.

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