STAFF EDITORIAL: Pelini Blocks DN, Reverses Decision
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Opinion
On Monday, for a few tense hours, the Daily Nebraskan was banned from attending football practice.
This ugly reminder of a similar situation we moved past weeks ago first surfaced after we published Monday's staff editorial on discipline and Husker football.
Our essential goal was to decry what we feel is a lack of sufficient transparency when it comes to Husker football's handling of disciplinary matters.
We named names, and cited specific cases where we thought the Athletic Department should have done more to keep the public abreast on the way it works to make sure these problems are handled.
We maintain it was our right to make the assertion that we did. As an editorial board and a moderator in a public forum, it is our position that we have a duty to facilitate and promote discussion on matters of public concern.
This is what we were trying to accomplish; Coach Bo Pelini did not agree.
After seeing the staff editorial, Pelini called our office and berated one of our board members so loudly that he was heard clearly from across the newsroom. There's no real point in printing the choice phrases he used during that first phone call.
But Pelini informed us the Daily Nebraskan's relationship with the football program would be severed unless an exhaustive retraction was published on today's front page. Athletic Department personnel confirmed Pelini's decision later in the day, and asked that our reporters and photographers not show up at Monday's practice while politely asking the one writer who did to leave.
It was tough for us not to think of the events of a couple weeks past, when Gov. Dave Heineman's press officers outrageously threatened to prohibit us from public meetings when we published a story they didn't find agreeable. But this editorial isn't designed to beat a dead horse.
We were discouraged by Pelini's initial reaction. We find it appalling that Pelini originally determined the best method of responding to our calls for increased transparency was childishly trying to keep our sports reporters from doing their jobs.
This ugly reminder of a similar situation we moved past weeks ago first surfaced after we published Monday's staff editorial on discipline and Husker football.
Our essential goal was to decry what we feel is a lack of sufficient transparency when it comes to Husker football's handling of disciplinary matters.
We named names, and cited specific cases where we thought the Athletic Department should have done more to keep the public abreast on the way it works to make sure these problems are handled.
We maintain it was our right to make the assertion that we did. As an editorial board and a moderator in a public forum, it is our position that we have a duty to facilitate and promote discussion on matters of public concern.
This is what we were trying to accomplish; Coach Bo Pelini did not agree.
After seeing the staff editorial, Pelini called our office and berated one of our board members so loudly that he was heard clearly from across the newsroom. There's no real point in printing the choice phrases he used during that first phone call.
But Pelini informed us the Daily Nebraskan's relationship with the football program would be severed unless an exhaustive retraction was published on today's front page. Athletic Department personnel confirmed Pelini's decision later in the day, and asked that our reporters and photographers not show up at Monday's practice while politely asking the one writer who did to leave.
It was tough for us not to think of the events of a couple weeks past, when Gov. Dave Heineman's press officers outrageously threatened to prohibit us from public meetings when we published a story they didn't find agreeable. But this editorial isn't designed to beat a dead horse.
We were discouraged by Pelini's initial reaction. We find it appalling that Pelini originally determined the best method of responding to our calls for increased transparency was childishly trying to keep our sports reporters from doing their jobs.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 76
Scumbag Journalism
posted 4/15/08 @ 2:28 AM CST
You guys are all scum this year. I don't demand to know what problems your DN "journalists" get into so why should you know other students business. Your hatred of the athletic department is pathetic and you actively carry an agenda against it because they are news and you are a bunch of insignificant weasels. (Continued…)
Mark H
posted 4/15/08 @ 8:20 AM CST
There is a difference between not allowing press because someone doesn't like what the press is substantively saying and not liking how the press is saying it. (Continued…)
Nate
posted 4/15/08 @ 10:05 AM CST
We're barely a quarter of the way through 2008 and the DN has already come dangerously close to alienating the governor of the state, the NU volleyball head coach, and now the head football coach. (Continued…)
Troy Wiegand
posted 4/15/08 @ 10:26 AM CST
"Standards of Journalistic Integrity" What does the DN know about this? It seems that they are just practicing sensationalist journalism. They are one step away from printing pictures of Brittney Spears's vagina. (Continued…)
Todd
posted 4/15/08 @ 10:37 AM CST
This is a dark era for the DN. One day you will realize your "doesn't play well with others" approach was an irresponsible way to manage a newspaper. (Continued…)
Peacefully?
posted 4/15/08 @ 11:13 AM CST
"Nevertheless, we appreciate your decision to lift the short-lived media ban and come back to the situation to find a way to settle things peacefully. (Continued…)
editorial soapbox
posted 4/15/08 @ 11:32 AM CST
The DN seems to be on a mission this year, but for what purpose? That they are qualified to make moral judgements about issues they obviously know little about or care little to research more in depth? It seems they have completely disregarded the goal of objective journalism in favor of some cheap desire to come off looking like they are better than everyone else. (Continued…)
Corbin
posted 4/15/08 @ 11:49 AM CST
I have to echo the sentiments of many of the commentators above. It's a scary tightrope that the DN is starting to walk. The overall quality of content has gone noticeably downhill the past couple of years, and now the paper is dangerously alienating the volleyball program, the Governor's office AND the football team, all in one semester. (Continued…)
Zonie87
posted 4/15/08 @ 11:51 AM CST
It appears that journalism students and faculty actually believe that Journalism is a profession. Journalism is nothing more that a profession to have an opinion, period. (Continued…)
Aaron
posted 4/15/08 @ 11:51 AM CST
Pathetic. Simply pathetic. When will the DN realize that and stop publishing such a pathetic paper? Good thing the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World Herald are don't piss off everyone otherwise we wouldn't get the news, although these "DN writers" believe they do. (Continued…)
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