By Anton Rippon
In the Potteries, one club has taken to banning reporters and photographers from the local newspaper that not so long ago was leading the campaign to save that very same club.
Michael Baggaley, a reporter from Stoke-based The Sentinel, and Mark Scott, a photographer with the paper, were refused press facilities at Port Vale after the regional daily carried a story about a delay in the arrival of limited edition third-change shirts at the club.
An editorial in The Sentinel said: “On Saturday morning we published what we consider to be a balanced and fair article which we hoped would answer fans’ concerns.
“However, as Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite had warned on Friday, as a result of his enquiries Mike is now banned from the press box and press conferences and our photographers won’t be allowed to take photographs at Vale Park.
“We make absolutely no apology for asking what Mr Smurthwaite perceives as negative questions. That, occasionally, is the job of a local newspaper and something the Vale chairman has been told many times by many different people.
“However, it seems the newspaper which helped to expose the wrong-doing of a previous board of directors (at a time when other media outlets weren’t interested) and fought hard ¬– both publicly and behind the scenes – to help save Vale when it was placed into administration, isn’t welcome any more.”
Baggaley paid to sit in the stand to report Vale’s 2-1 win over Gillingham but the paper carried no photographs of the game.
Port Vale has told The Sentinel that it will be welcome to full press access if it pays the club £10,000 – the same fee that local radio pays for live broadcasting rights – but, to no one’s surprise, the newspaper won’t be taking up the offer.
- Who get’s your vote? SJA members are invited to submit their article, of around 500 words, on why they have chosen their Sportsman, Sportswoman or Team of the Year by email here
- Or consider the other leading candidates for the British Sports Awards here
- Between now and the end of 2013, anyone wishing to join the SJA may apply, with their initial fee covering their membership through until the end of 2014 – effectively 15 months’ membership for the price of 12. Click here for more details.
UPCOMING SJA EVENTS
Tue Nov 12: Laureus Lunch with All Blacks great Sean Fitzpatrick. Click here to book your place
Thu Dec 12: SJA 2013 British Sports Awards. Bookings now open. Click here for details
2014
Mon Mar 24: SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, Grand Connaught Rooms, London
Mon Apr 14: SJA Spring Golf Day: Croham Hurst GC, Surrey. Booking details to be announced
Long thought that newspapers whose local clubs try to get their local papers to pay for access should charge them pro-rata for the amount of free space they get every day in said newspapers.