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I sincerely hope Crows veteran Brent Reilly recovers from the fractured skull he suffered at training last week.
Predictably the club was inundated with requests to talk to a family member about Brent’s condition. All of those requests were greeted with a polite ‘no’.
I am aware of how it all works. I have been employed in television newsrooms since 1984.
In this case the news director or sports producer tells the their reporter, “We need to get the family talking, we need to get an interview with someone from Brent’s family, what about his wife?”
And so the reporter would seek out their talent. They may find out where someone works or where the live, and then head there in the hope of securing an exclusive. That is simply the way it is. Get the key players within a story at almost any cost.
Now I’m not saying it is right or wrong, but in this case the Crows cut the chase off at the pass.
Last Wednesday Brent’s father Terry was interviewed by a member of the Adelaide Football Club, in their purpose-built studio. The interview was then uploaded to the club’s website. Adelaide then sent out a release informing all media outlets the interview was available, and that it could be used in television news and radio bulletins, sports shows and publications.
Do I like the idea of a club doing this all of the time? No probably not, but I 100 per cent back Adelaide in this case.
As a reporter there have been times I have conducted an interview with an athlete who is highly emotional, and all I wanted was the relevant grabs for my story. Often I would be looking impatiently at my watch, for fear of not having enough time to get the story cut and ready to air that night.
Now that I have taken a break from reporting, it has given me time to think about what is actually happening during these very difficult interviews.
As Brent lay in bed in the intensive care unit of the Royal Adelaide hospital, the media were in a frenzy, wanting to speak to the family, Brent’s mother, his girlfriend or father – anyone would do. Their requests to the club were loud and continuous.
So the decision was made that Brent’s father would be interviewed by the Crows only, and with certain questions that had been agreed to.
This was the best possible move, and everyone was the winner. The club managed what was developing into a very chaotic situation in one crow’s swoop.
The hungry media were fed, the fans were updated and Brent’s father wasn’t placed under undue stress that may have occurred during a full blown media conference.
The rest of the family can now be confident they won’t be hounded for a comment about their stricken loved one. And of course Brent, who’s number one goal is to get well, can be assured there will be no more harassing and pressure placed on his family to speak.
That’s a win-win-win-win-win.
Now would I have agreed if the same procedure had occurred when Tex Walker was announced captain? No. There are certain times when the media should have total access, and be able to ask what ever questions they like.
But Brent’s father knew that when he was being interviewed by the Crows’ representative, and would be afforded the dignity and rope to do it his way.
In this case it was important that we the media took a step back, and waited. In the process Adelaide scored a big win off the field.
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