Track and Field Improvements
I decided to do a story on the new construction at the track and field complex (soccer stadium) at USF. I had no idea it would be as difficult as it was.
I noticed construction almost immediately as my mail route included driving past the stadium on a near daily basis. In June, I had published my first story. I needed another one. Alan suggested doing a story on the new construction, which at that point had existed for several weeks.
There was a sign posted out front, which detailed the improvements via blueprint media. I decided to call around to see what I could find out.
Interviews
At work on friday, I called the facilities planning department at usf, which we share a building with. I knew they were involved in the construction, over hearing things all the time.
One instance in particular stands out. I was delivering mail to Facilities, and 5 guys were standing in the lobby discussing seating arrangements at the soccer stadium. “is there a picnic table or anything?” I heard them ask. I saw the blueprint documents in there hands, wondering what was going on.
A week or so later, the track was torn up.
When I called Facilities, they sent me right to the manager. He suggested calling the media relations person at USF, lara something. I called her; she sounded like a milf/cougar chick. She couldn’t comment though, because it was an athletics matter.
I called the athletic department media relations guy, Our paraphrased conversation:
CF: Hello?
Broseph; Hey, Im broseph from the usf oracle, how are you?
CF:fine.
Broseph: Good. I’m doing a story on the improvements to the USF soccer stadium and I was wondering if you could help me out.
CF: What improvements on the soccer stadium?
Broseph: All the construction, you know, the new track and what not.
CF: uh, yeah. We haven’t prepared a statement on that yet.
Broseph: Well, I saw a sign outside the stadium, and it has alot of improvements listed on it.
CF: I haven’t seen that sign.
Broseph: Well its right outside the stadium, would you be willing to comment on some of the improvements?
CF: I haven’t seen the sign.
Broseph: Well, how about I email you a picture of the sign, would you be willing to comment then?
CF: Well sure…you should really wait until we have a statement on the construction. I told you guys this already.
Broseph: I hadn’t heard about that. Any idea when your statement will be ready?
CF: No, not really
Broseph: Well, I think I have enough info to do a story now
CF: Well if you want to do a story on a sign, be my guest.
Broseph: So you’re suggesting we wait….
CF: yes
Broseph: ok thanks for your time
Cf: yeah
end
Research
For some reason, I was furious afterwards. I guess I assumed he would be helpful, and when he wasn’t, I got mad. I went into full research mode that weekend, grabbing as much info a possible from the internet regarding the new construction.
Links included:
1) http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=507606&SPSID=36626&SPID
=2915&DB_OEM_ID=7700
2) http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/track_and_field/index.html
3) http://usfweb2.usf.edu/ace/january%202005/
athletic%20land%20use%20agenda%20form%20complete.pdf
4) http://usfweb2.usf.edu/ace/
january%202005/ace%20work%20group%20meeting%201%2026%2005%20minutes.pdf
Staff Response
I went to the oracle office on sunday night, with my story thus far (nothing printed, just talking). Joe, my editor, had dealt with the CF guy before and had not printed his version yet. The senior editor, Amy, seemed to want the story. It was decided I should call the county and ask for information. The story was approved, and in my opinion, they were glad that I was undertaking the task of finally trying to get this printed.
More Interviews
I called the county and one coach, the cross country guy, who’s web profile was associated with the new track construction. The coach never returned my call.
Hillsborough county called me back, a PR guy, who was helpful.
He was a USF Alumni, ‘73 in mass communications. He actually wrote for the oracle back in the day. He confirmed the funding, just under 3 million, and said it was a mondo track.
I looked up the mondo website; damn good track we’re getting, an Olympic style track.
Story Submitted
I wrote the story tuesday night, I thought it was a bit overwhellming with info, but thorough. I sent it in midnight tuesday, after watching the celtics win the NBA championship.
Wednesday night, Joe called me asking questions. He asked:
1) what is FPC (Facilities planning)? I told him it was a department at usf, and a web site.
2) what is this mondo stuff? Told him I got the info from the mondo web site.
3) Whats the deal with saying athletics didn’t comment? I mentioned the earlier conversation, and that since the funding was approved in 2005, they’ve had almost three years to comment. He mentioned this was the same problem he ran into, and thus did not run the story.
I told him I trusted his judgment, and went on to drink with my bioethics class and celebrate the end of our class.
NO STORY THUS FAR
I went to work Thursday morning, waiting to see my story in the paper. Nothing, not even a clipped version. I was astounded, and a bit mad. I had worked pretty hard I guess, and just expected them to print it.
They didn’t print it, and I don’t know why.
Possible reasons for not printing it:
They are afraid of USF and USF athletics: I was not able to get comment from Chris Freet, thus the story will have “errors” according to him. In order to protect the oracle’s integrity, the story was halted.
They are waiting for monday to print the story. Possible reasons may include fact checking, ect.
I was not at the meeting wed night, of which I normally am. I was partying with my classmates.
The oracle has no idea what they are doing.
The oracle knows more than I do.
The oracle is “pulling the reigns” on me, so to speak, because it was such a extreme story.
some other reason(s) I haven’t accounted for
Conclusions
What can I really do? It’s not my paper. Also, I want to turn this into a paying gig, so I must play ball. What I can do is work on a new story. I can also lobby for the track story. I will attend to meeting sunday and find out, face to face, what is going on.
Sunday June 22
I went out on Friday night. That night, my buddy Doug gave me one of those Heineken keg things. This was a good gift. I drank some of it Saturday night, and the rest Sunday afternoon as it was raining. I ran out of course, and moved on to drinking a 40 of icehouse my roommate serendipitously purchased in GA on the way back from Bonnaroo. By the time Oracle meeting time was here, I was pretty buzzed and I’m sure I smelled like booze. I decided that going to the Oracle meeting, in that condition, was a real bad idea, especially since I was kind of pissed about them not publishing the story. I decided to go on Wednesday.
June 30, 2008 at 7:48 pm |
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