There is a quaint practice in journalism known as the embargo. It works this way: An organization wishes to release news to all media outlets at once, but wants reporters to have some advance word for planning purposes. Organization releases info with a specific release time and/or date. In theory, the news is embargoed until then; early release is "busting the embargo" and is considered bad form.
At 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the Community Foundation released its Community Focus report. But that was old news to readers of the Springfield News-Leader; the paper had a front-page package on Wednesday morning, and its website included a .pdf copy of the complete report.
Gary Funk, president of the Community Foundation, was quite angry with the newspaper's decision to bust the embargo, sources tell CHATTER. Funk was especially peeved because the Community Foundation had worked with the paper, prior to publication, on the best way to present the report to the public.
News-Leader Editor Don Wyatt tried to downplay the incident as a "miscommunication" between the paper and Funk. "I don't know that we agree on it," Wyatt told CHATTER late Wednesday. But, he added, "no promises were made" to honor the 2 p.m. embargo.
Wyatt also said the paper wasn't the first media outlet to break the news early. "KY-3 had something on the 10 p.m. news (Tuesday) night," Wyatt said. Generally speaking, once an embargo is busted, it's fair game to publish. That said, no one should believe the newspaper decided to run its story only after KYTV ran its report; the paper's front page is almost always locked down by 10 p.m., and the Community Focus centerpiece was too elaborate to be a last-minute placement.
However it happened, the Community Foundation's embargo was broken. Wyatt said there are no repercussions: "I think (Funk's) very satisfied with the outcome, and we're very satisfied with the outcome."
Wyatt may be satisfied, but we hear Funk is far from pleased. Our sources say Funk believed Wyatt had agreed to the embargo, and that Funk felt misled by the News-Leader. Will it mean strained relations between the city's biggest philanthropic organization and the city's biggest media outlet? We've got a call in to Funk for comment. Stay close.
11 comments:
This wouldn't be the first time the N-L didn't honor an embargo. A year ago, SMS put a silly embargo on information and an interview with the author of the book about the centennial. SMS said it didn't want info out until the book was presented to the Board of Governors. Sure enough, Friday morning in the paper, there's the full story on the book and its author.
It's hard to believe there would be any kind of embargo with the N-L on this story. In the press release announcing the Chamber's press conference, they specifically mention the News Leader and Gannett Foundation for all their help in the grantmaking campaign.
Nothing says there's a scoop to be had better than putting the words "embargo" or "major announcement" on a press release. If the info gets out before the press conference, don't cry about it -- when you put the cookie jar on the top shelf, it just makes that more exciting to finally get to it.
When organizations dedicated to seeking the truth break an embargo, it's more than "bad form." It reinforces the notion that media organizations are interested in expanding their audience, not upholding sound journalistic principles (i.e. honesty!). It's bad enough the N-L broke the embargo...but add to that the agreement Funk had with Wyatt that the info wouldn't be published til AFTER the 2PM Wednesday presser. The N-L is notorious for this sort of thing. I think it speaks volumes about the kind of people who run the paper. Their greed (increased readership=increased ad revenue) trumps truth and honesty. And I know one of the newspaper's defenses will be, "But if we hadn't run the story Wednesday and waited til Thursday, we would've had it last, after all the TV and radio stations." Hey, buddy, you chose to work in the ink business. So suck it up!!
Having spent the better part of the past two decades employed in media relations, I can tell you that anyone who trusts the News-Leader to honor an embargo is either a naieve first-time victim (such as Funk, perhaps) or simply a fool. Wyatt's word in this and other regards has proven to be completely worthless to more than one client I've served.
C'mon. You can't expect a morning newspaper to honor a 2 p.m. embargo. It's even insulting to ask for one if you want it to cover your event. The TV stations would get at least four chances to present the story before anyone would pick-up the paper. And, don't even talk about the Internet, no one sits around and checks to see if a Web site is updated. Good for the N-L if they broke such a silly request.
Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like KY-3 was the first news outlet to bust the embargo. If true, why no criticism for that news organization? And if KY-3 was, indeed, the first news group to break the deal, then I say, all bets are off and that story is fair game for all news outlets. Sorry, Gary Funk, but the embargo only invites trouble. They are not a good idea.
I agree that most of the time an embargo is silly. But when you set one, then a news organization should honor it. As for KY3, I believe they were the first to air it ONLY because Funk had found out that the N-L was going to have it the next day. At that point, Funk decided it was fairgame for anyone and he gave it to KY3 along with his permission to air it that night (the day before the presser). Maybe it was Funk's way of trying to stick it to the N-L for being such dicks. As for the N-L not covering an afternoon press conference...They cover afternoon events and press conferences all the time without getting advance information. Talented journalists in that situation will find ways to advance the story and/or tell it in a new and interesting way that will "beat" the coverage of the radio and tv stations...hmmm, better coverage by the N-L, enterprising reporters who advance stories...what a novel idea!!
OK, so Funk violates his own embargo just to prevent the NL from violating it? Precisely why embargos are stupid and should not even be requested save for the most extreme circumstances.
"Our sources say..."? Who's the unethical, irresponsible journalist here?
Anon: You make no sense. Are you seriously trying to claim that the use of unnamed sources is "unethical, irresponsible"? You must also believe in Santa Claus. Merry Christmas!
wyatt is an unethicasl lout; this goes back to his days at the Lansing State Journal. No surprise Wyatt hasn't changed his ethics. once a snake always a snake i guess.
Wyatt certainly is a man lacking in character. Why Gannett keeps this guy on the payroll is certainly a mystery. He lacks any discernable talent, and his paper is clearly sliding back into that "small town" genre. A totally incapable man whose ego far surpasses his meager talent. Ask his employess.
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