A day in Turin

Frank Fitzpatrick of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes about the life of a scribe at the Winter Olympics. For outsiders and up-and-comers who think sports writers ought to simply shut up and be grateful for having a wonderful job, it might be an eye-opener. Certainly didn't strike me as an appealing 17 days.

AP-LPGA dispute resolved

You figured it wouldn't go on for very long; the LPGA had too much to lose. Here's the statement:

LPGA/AP joint statement regarding revisions to photo media credential regulations and coverage of this week’s Fields Open in Hawaii Feb. 24, 2006

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and The Associated Press (AP) have resolved today the most significant issues arising from revised media credential regulations for coverage of the LPGA Fields Open tournament in Kapolei, Hawaii. Beginning today, AP will provide normal coverage of the event.

The LPGA has always intended for its credentials to provide media companies with the same rights to use news and information obtained at LPGA events that are available from other mainstream sports leagues and governing bodies. AP is satisfied with assurances from the LPGA that its regulations were never intended to and don’t limit access or editorial use of information and photos obtained at their events.

The LPGA confirmed today that the following language applies to its events and will be included in future editions of its credential regulations:

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the LPGA Photographer and Journalist Media Credential Regulations, media outlets may make unrestricted editorial use of any images or articles they create pursuant to their access to any LPGA event.

AP also confirmed on Thursday that it had no objections to limits on commercial use of its coverage in the LPGA media credentials, which is a standard provision of most major event credentialing policies.

Rosenbush leaving SI

Veteran newspaper and magazine editor Sandy Rosenbush is leaving her job at Sports Illustrated, her managing editor has announced. In Sandy's immediate future is devoting even more time to her great work with the Sports Journalism Institute. There also might be some additional teaching in her future. Those who have worked with her consider one of the best in the biz.

Stupidity, thou art spelled 'L-P-G-A'

This just in from the AP through an advisory e-mail:

"The Ladies Professional Golf Association has introduced new media regulations to which news organizations must agree before being admitted to cover LPGA events. AP considers some of the changes to be unacceptable. They impose unusually strict limits on permitted use of stories and photos produced by journalists, and give the LPGA broad rights to use those stories and photos for their own purposes at no charge.AP journalists have been denied admission to the Fields Open unless they sign these terms without modification.

"AP is in discussion with the LPGA, but until our differences are resolved we are unable to cover LPGA events."

Just what the LPGA, with a lot of young stars just arriving and a chance for a huge spike in interest, wants to do: Alienate the people who cover them.

Without specifics, pretty dumb on its face. But I don't know that it's going to look any less dumb WITH specifics.

AP on ESPN's Solomon

David Bauder, AP's TV writer, checks out ESPN's experiment with ombudsman George Solomon after six months on the job. Vimce Doria, ESPN's news director, says Solomon's observations haven't reversed any decisions or changed policies. I suppose at that juncture, I kind of wonder: What's the point then?

Got it wrong, but all right

Veteran, admired baseball write Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News says he was wrong about Jim Beattie being the next GM of the Reds ("I was misled by a couple of outside sources, who believed Beattie was the choice. They were wrong and I was submarined.") but says he's happy with choice Wayne Krivsky. I think Hal will probably survive this career misstep.

More award mania

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel becomes the latest paper to announce it will no longer vote for sports awards. This is a news story by Charles Bricker. In the print edition, a column was written by relatively new sports editor Brian White.

Janet Weaver on Lee

The Tampa Tribune editor writes about her decision last week to fire high school reporter Rozel Lee for tweaking her vote for an award, rating one player lower than she would have so another won.