If someone burns you badly in business, chances are you’re not going to do business with them in future, right?
Well, most people wouldn’t, but unfortunately it’s not always that black and white, particularly when it comes to athletes and journalists.
Journalists burn athletes in the media all the time. But it flows both ways. It’s a mix of good, bad and downright ugly.
Often bad press is warranted. When that happens, athletes have to be honest, take it on the chin and move on.
Other times, a journalist may have misinterpreted or over-exaggerated the facts. This usually leaves a bitter taste in the athlete’s mouth and they’ll jump up and down vowing to never speak with that journalist again.
In this situation, you have three options:
- You can put a red marker through the offending journalist.
- You can live and let live.
- You can challenge the journalist.
The first option is an easy one to take (if you want to create an enemy for life). You see, often journalists are not personal, they’ll write what they believe will sell newspapers, bring in ad dollars or please the boss. So when you banish a journo, what you’re doing is making things personal. Suddenly they’ll only see your athlete through grey coloured glasses (and report on it). Not good.
The second option is best if the issue is small fry or the journalist has a history of backing your athlete with positive press. Sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad, particularly when there is more good than bad or the bad just aint that bad.
The third option. If you have a strong case and your athlete is really upset, then you have to discuss it with the journalist (in a constructive, calm manner). It’s not going to change what’s happened. But it lets the journo know you’re watching them and that they are accountable in some respects for what they report. Build respect here and let them know your door is always open. Encourage them to come to you first when reporting on future negative press.
Now let’s turn our attention to the athlete. Educate them on the points above. Lay everything on the table. They need to understand how the media works. There is more long term benefit for the athlete in keeping the peace than to shoot off over something people will soon forget.
