FAI partnership with Independent.ie

expectationlost

the FAI made a media partnership deal with the FAI it was announced last year http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/fai-teams-up-with-irish-independent-as-official-partners-30059192.html exclusive coverage that I think goes all the way down the levels of football, it caused conern at the time, but now that Ireland are playing again other media are complaining publically, and its not unconnected to the coverage of

Denis O'Brien

the papers owner

Media player
John Burns Published: 28 May 2015

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/article1561305.ece

A Sunday Times sports journalist said he tried to contact 3 mobile, a major sponsor of the FAI, to arrange an interview with the managers or players but was refused by 3 mobile saying that the FAI had made a deal with the Indo and they would get any interviews.

my immediate reaction to that is, why would a sports journalist contact a sponsor for an interview with FAI employees ? its seems like the Sunday Times is playing the game they are complaining about, why not go straight to the FAI?

the ST sports journo replied that, the only way to get an interview these days is to go through a sponsor, I've seen examples and seen ST journos complain about short "interviews" with sports appearing in the Independent that are obviously just an excuse to get the product they are promoting into the papers, now I know the ST wouldn't do that, they have to try every avenue to get an interview I guess.

my second reaction was so if they can't get a interview screw em, write about them anyway, using press conferences and any doorsteps etc. but the ST sports journalist says you can't write a decent article without access. Now while he used the word access I wouldn't call it access journalism, its not unreasonable for them to interview the managers/players everyone now and again.

although

Denis O'Brien

the papers owner pays part of the wages of the managers, Im not sure what kind of organisation the FAI is just a private company that is also given large public grants and recognised by both the government and FIFA to have team that calls themselves Ireland.

can a sport journalists just cover the sport? now they weren't looking to interview John Delaney or cover the FAI but the managers players and the coming games, but perhaps its all just commerical operation, should anyone bother reporting on them at all? should they be annoyed at commercial operation making commercial deals?

Dodge

Sports people, businesses, and in fact any individuals are under no obligation to provide interviews for any newspaper.

As long as newspapers are not refused accreditation for games and press conferences there isn't really an issue.

The 'access' to players has always been through either sponsors or agents/managers. The exclusive Indo deal doesn't effect that at all

expectationlost

Dodge wrote: »

Sports people, businesses, and in fact any individuals are under no obligation to provide interviews for any newspaper.

As long as newspapers are not refused accreditation for games and press conferences there isn't really an issue.

The 'access' to players has always been through either sponsors or agents/managers. The exclusive Indo deal doesn't effect that at all

ok but isn't it a kind of anti-competitive media monopoly ( in a particular sector)