My wife and I spent three days in Russia during the summer. It was more than enough time to see that the Russians can be highly rigid. While the people tried to be warm and accommodating, they generally seemed unsure of themselves and how to get what they want. It’s probably the result of being kicked around for the last few centuries.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there already is confusion about coverage policies for journalists at the Olympics in Sochi in February.
Yesterday, a report circulated that journalists would have harsh social media restrictions during the Games. From Fox News:
The 2014 Olympics might feel more like 1914.
Journalists attending the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia will be forbidden from using everyday technology to take pictures and share information — the mobile phones and tablets that have woven themselves into the fabric of daily life, the Olympics committee said.
“Journalists using mobile phones to film athletes or spectators will be considered a serious violation and will result in cancellation of accreditation,” Vasily Konov, head of the state-run R-Sport news agency, which controls accreditation at February’s games, told a seminar for sports journalists.
That means no iPhone pictures, no Vine videos, no Instagram accounts sharing the minute-by-minute details of the events, no Twitter accounts with updates and so on.
Sounds like fun, huh? Well, not so fast.
This morning, USA Today’s Nina Mandell has a clarification from International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams. Basically, it was, forget about what that other guy said.
From USA Today:
Journalists will be allowed to use Instagram, Twitter and other social media to post still photos and news from the Sochi Olympics, International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams confirmed to For The Win in an email on Monday.
“Please take as many photos as you like!” he wrote.
“Sharing pix on social media positively encouraged,” he added in an additional email.
That’s obviously good news. However, that doesn’t mean some Russian press officer still won’t become overzealous and grab someone’s mobile device because the reporter is taking pictures. Or something else might occur that restricts access and journalists’ ability to do their jobs.
Journalists should brace themselves for an interesting ride in Sochi.
I wonder if NBC Sports will have their “online coverage issues” squared away two years out from the London Games in 2012. The NBC coverage on the web last time out was, let’s just say politely, “challenging” for the Peacock.
Ed, It’s not really a Russian thing, even though the frontline of enforcement may be their responsibility. This is the same issue regarding social media and even athletes being able to take photos and publish them during the Games and in the Village that arose in London. If there is any reprieve and improvement on behalf of the IOC over the stifling policies imposed in London, it will only be because of the reaction and that experience in 2012 and the negative publicity of the London Games overreach generated for the IOC, the LOC and all their sponsors. The IOC in particular is trying to protect the sponsors and broadcast rights holders and the revenue stream they represent to the IOC and LOC. Seems a bit extreme to punish the athletes and fans in this way, especially since without those two groups, there wouldn’t be any Games or interest to begin with. It’s not the Russians, it’s just good old fashioned greed. They just might be better at enforcing dictatorial rules.