Sports editors finally meet with NCAA: Will have more input; No restrictions on social media during NCAAs

After a long wait, which prompted an angry letter to NCAA president Mark Emmert, the Associated Press Sports Editors, along with representatives from other news organizations, finally met with NCAA officials Monday in Indianapolis. The APSE posted a recap on its site.

What did it accomplish?

It’s too late to do anything about press seating for this year’s Final Four; the NCAA booted writers from a significant chunk of a prime location. However, according to the recap, the editors will have input in seating issues for future tournaments.

I’m not sure it will matter much. The NCAA seems unlikely to be deterred if it wants to turn prime media seats into high-price tickets. But at least the editors will have a chance to plead their case.

The biggest takeaway, from the editors’ point of view, probably occurred in regards to social media. There won’t be any restrictions on writers during the NCAA tournament. The NCAA also will inform the Pac 12 that it can’t place social media limitations on coverage of its games.

Bottom line: At least, the editors and NCAA are talking. It remains to be seen if it will do any good over the long haul. The NCAA is a fairly arrogant bunch these days, as evidenced by the way they initially refused to schedule any meetings with the editors.

Still, any talk is better than no talk.

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Here’s the APSE post on the meeting:

Representatives from APSE and five other major national media groups met Monday with NCAA communications officials for about two hours to discuss the concerns of our organizations.

The following items were agreed to as follow-up steps on the issues of media seating at the NCAA Tournament, uniform injury reporting standards in football and social media guidelines:

* The NCAA agreed to set up a call with our organizations after the upcoming basketball tournament to discuss the establishment of a permanent working group to address outstanding media issues.

* The NCAA will include APSE in future discussions with the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee regarding the seating of working journalists at the tournament.

* APSE will be invited to upcoming meetings with the NCAA and conference officials and have the opportunity to introduce discussion on injury reporting standards.

* NCAA officials said there would be no numerical restrictions on social media posting during its postseason events.

NCAA officials will contact the Pac-12 Conference to inform the league that there is no longer a policy limiting by number live tweets during college basketball or football games.

Representing the media organizations were: Gerry Ahern, president of APSE; Tim Franklin, co-chair of ASNE’s FOI Committee; John Cherwa, chair of APSE’s Legal Affairs Committee; David Bralow, counsel for NAA; Kevin Goldberg, counsel for ASNE; Sonny Albarado, president of SPJ; Jim Brady, president of ONA; and Mike Borland, president of NPPA.

Representing the NCAA were: Bob Williams, vice president of communications; Erik Christianson, managing director of external affairs; and Scott Bearby, general counsel.

APSE officials will keep you abreast of progress and developments in the coming months.