Last year, I wrote about how the NCAA has pushed college basketball writers into the rafters for press seating during the tournament. U.S. Basketball Writers Association  president Kirk Wessler of the Peoria Journal Star notes this picture was the media view at one site last year.

Up close to the back of someone’s head.

In a column on the USBWA site, Wessler calls upon college SIDs to push the NCAA to provide better arena accommodations to the media. He writes:

So this is a challenge to our members who are SIDs. The basketball writers of the USBWA need you to stand up and fight for us. The primary goal of the USBWA has been simply stated since its founding in 1956: “To serve the interests of journalists who cover college basketball.” The flat truth is these ridiculous seating arrangements don’t do that.

Look, we get it. Your first obligation is to the university that pays your salary. We understand (even if we lament) the pressures to create more “premium” seating for fans who can maximize revenues. And the best atmosphere is one with a large and lively student section.

But SIDs also are liaisons between the media and the teams. That means advocating for reasonable working conditions, which include unobstructed views of the live action on the court.

All of you know this. Some of you might feel powerless to stand up to your bosses, but you’re not. You don’t have to wage that battle alone. As a member of this organization, you have our support. Ask for it. Please.

Seems to be a reasonable request. However, not sure that much will be done here by the SIDs. As Wessler noted, they ultimately answer to the schools, not the media.