Good journalism gets and reports the story first

[MU Avenue]

Some who post here have written that it was somehow improper or even wrong for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to have reported first that J.P. Tokoto has decided to attend and play collegiate basketball for the University of North Carolina.

These posters include rocky_warrior, KenoshaWarrior and especially TallTitan34.

From rocky_warrior: "So much for the suspense...unless the JS is wrong. Which wouldn't be surprising either."

From KenoshaWarrior: "These things never get to the actual press conference anymore. What ever happen to suspense!"

From TallTitan34: "Kind of a dick move by the Journal Sentinel to report it before his press conference."

Also from TallTitan34: "I know. Dick move by the JS not giving him his moment."

Huhhhhh?

Does anyone really believe that the Journal Sentinel should have sat on this information once it was able to confirm it?

This is a fairly large sports story in the Journal Sentinel's coverage area. It is laughable to suggest the newspaper should have waited for the press conference before reporting what it knew to be true.

Some people would rather have newspapers worrying about "suspense" than about reporting news as quickly and as accurately as possible?

Press conferences are staged events. No good reporter, editor or news organization waits for a press conference if he, she or it can get the story earlier and be the first to report it.

Hooray for the Journal Sentinel for reporting this story first. I would respect no newspaper that had had the story but sat on it out of courtesy.

There is enough nonsense "journalism" happening out there. We must applaud those who still practice good journalism that seeks to break stories.

[reinko]

Hip Hip Hooray!
Hip Hip Hooray!
Hip Hip Hooray!

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

That's idiotic. This wasn't a "story." Ever heard of "embargos?" They should wait until a kid announces his decision.

[dgies9156]

Some who post here have written that it was somehow improper or even wrong for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to have reported first that J.P. Tokoto has decided to attend and play collegiate basketball for the University of North Carolina.

Does anyone really believe that the Journal Sentinel should have sat on this information once it was able to confirm it? This is a fairly large sports story in the Journal Sentinel's coverage area. It is laughable to suggest the newspaper should have waited for the press conference before reporting what it knew to be true.

Newspapers exist to make money for their owners. I know most journalists find this reprehensible but they do. If it makes money for Journal Communications to report what they've confirmed about Tokato and it isn't unethical or illegal, then by all means, report it.

Besides people in Tokato's family and the caterers at Dave & Busters, who the hell cares? The Journal Sentinel has become a very lame newspaper in recent years and I'm glad to see they have some fire somewhere in their bellies.

[Pakuni]

That's idiotic. This wasn't a "story." Ever heard of "embargos?" They should wait until a kid announces his decision.

Given that the whole exercise Thursday night was set up for the benefit of one single media outlet, it's exceptionally unlikely the JS or anyone else would have agreed to embargo it (and thus aide a competitor).
And if it really isn't news, then why should anybody care much that the JS broke it first.

Bottom line: the JS did exactly as it should. It got the story and published it.

[IWB]

It wasn't all set up for one media outlet, there were several there.

[Pakuni]

It wasn't all set up for one media outlet, there were several there.

There may have been several there, but it's been reported that the time and place were chosen specifically to accomodate one particular television station.
Regardless of the accuracy of that report, it doesn't change the fact that barring an agreed upon embargo, there's nothing inappropriate about the JS reporting what it knew in this situation.

[rocky_warrior]

From rocky_warrior: "So much for the suspense...unless the JS is wrong. Which wouldn't be surprising either."

From KenoshaWarrior: "These things never get to the actual press conference anymore. What ever happen to suspense!"

I fail to see how those two posts imply the JS did anything improper.  But hey, thanks for the the notoriety anyway. 

[TedBaxter]

I know for a fact that at least 2 media members were told of the decision at least 5 hours before the Tokoto press conference and they promised to sit on this decision and one of those members prepared his story in preparation of releasing the story AFTER JP had his night.

Both of these gentleman could have broken quite a few stories over the years but have sat on the info for the benefit of the people involved.  That's a long lost art in the media business. 

[IWB]

Ted, this is true in this case, and has also happens way more often than people realize. 

[Dr. Blackheart]

And how many more newspapers did the J/S sell in the hour before the announcements? None. Was is it worth the extra $1 in web ad revenue to blow a high school kid's once-in-a-lifetime announcement? This wasn't the Egyptian civil tumult they were breaking on.  I loved how they confirmed the story "with multiple sources"....bet they blew their entire investigative journalism budget on this story.

[GGGG]

You guys are so funny.  You rag on the JS when it doesn't reports certain stories, then rag on them again when they do.

[TallTitan34]

I also posted in that thread:

I just feel like they could have saved it an extra 30 minutes so he could get the spotlight.  I guess it is there job though.

If it was a major story I can see breaking the news but I don't think being the first to report where a high school kid is going will make or break the newspaper or reporter.  But thats there job so whatever.

[Pakuni]

I also posted in that thread:

If it was a major story I can see breaking the news but I don't think being the first to report where a high school kid is going will make or break the newspaper or reporter.  But thats there job so whatever.

And yet here we have a thread discussing the fact the JS was the first to break the story.

I'm not sure I buy the "spotlight" angle. Did people flee the D&B's Thursday night once the JS posted its story online? Did JP call off the announcement? Did he even know (or are) that the JS posted it? Did the TV stations go away?
I seriously, seriously doubt his evening was impacted - much less ruined - in the least bit.

[TallTitan34]

I didn't watch the press conference after that.  I'd assume there were many others as well.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Let's face it...the break claim was only for the J/S's own gratification to say "us first" when in fact every outlet had the story and was sitting on it (and 95% of the message board posters). They really did a bang up job on this "breaking story". Hell, the Menomenee Falls paper did a better journalism job following this story.  

Did it matter? If you believe in taste. Every other outlet held the story, one ran with it as "breaking".  Where were their "investigative sources" when Pearl was in town?  lol

[Pakuni]

I didn't watch the press conference after that.  I'd assume there were many others as well.

Then good for the JS. They became the exclusive outlet for news you, and perhaps many others, were seeking.
You're not suggesting that JP's "special night" was somehow ruined/lessened by the fact you and several others didn't watch his press conference, are you? I don't know the young man, but Lord help him if he's that much of a narcissist (and I have no reason to believe he is).