This issue: News from APME news

Sports credibility: Should your sports staffers vote in college football polls? What about pro polls? What about naming your prep "all star" teams? Where is the line between making news and cover it when it comes to sports? Click here to join the debate.

Conference reminder: Sure, we'll have fabulous, useful and educational programs in San Jose at our conference, Oct. 26-29. But there area also has vacation treasures. Click here for more excuses to join us.

— Sept. 9: Nominations due for Robert G. McGruder Awards for Diversity Leadership
— Sept. 25: Cut-off for $150 conference room rate at The Fairmont, San Jose
— Oct. 26-29: APME Conference, The Fairmont, San Jose

THE ETHICS — AND POLITICS — OF SPORT POLLS

By RICK HALL
Deseret News

To vote — not to vote.

Or, more accurately said: to participate in the sports polls — or not.

Sports writers and columnists have been involved in selection polls for as long as most of us can remember. They select the top college football or basketball teams. They rank local prep teams. They vote in conference and league polls. They help select winners of the all-NBA awards. And most papers, at the end of every prep season, select an all-state squad.

In so doing:

• Are we making, not just reporting, the news? Or are we sharing our expertise — just like we do everyday with the written word?

• Are we determining the winners, the champions, the eventual money-makers — with long-term consequences and repercussions? Or are we interacting with the community by giving them information available no where else?

Last year, The Associated Press disallowed the Bowl Championship Series to use the AP (sportswriters) poll to help select the teams that play in the BCS "national championship."

The BCS is now sponsoring its own poll and inviting journalists to participate. Some papers are uncomfortable with that. So lines are being drawn. But where — and why?

If participating in the AP poll is okay, why isn't participating in the BCS poll? Or vice versa?

One paper reportedly has banned participation in all polls, but allows voting for induction into halls of fame, arguing that such an honor comes after the athlete's career is complete.

Ummm.

Isn't induction into a hall of fame the crowning touch to an athletic career? Perhaps an athlete's greatest honor? Could one argue that, for an individual, that selection is just as important as a national championship?

As with most credibility issues, there seem be more questions than answers.

What about voting in the Downtown Athletic Club's annual Heisman race?

What about the all-NBA awards?

Virtually every collegiate athletic conference sponsors a pre-season media poll. Does that have any effect on a team's season? And some of those polls are almost spur-of-the-moment responses hurriedly put-together at the end of the pre-season media conference. How much does such a spontaneous, low-profile, poll have much influence on anyone?

And how could anyone legitimately argue that the AP preseason football poll does NOT have effect on the season? Clearly starting out in the top 10 is far easier — politically not athletically — than climbing into the top 10.

And what about a newspaper's annual "all-state" selection for prep football, basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer or any other sport? Being selected to that team carries high significance, at least among parents, players and coaches. And some argue that those selections help determine college scholarships.

Is it okay for a columnist — who is paid to opine — to vote, while disallowing an 'objective' beat writer. How about the sports editor? Or a desk guy? Or a designer?

One thing seems certain: The issue requires open and frank newsroom discussion. And another thing would help: discussion industry wide.

Hence, we'd like your comments. E-mail them to rhall@desnews.com

NOT REGISTERED FOR THE CONFERENCE YET?

If you haven't registered yet, now is the time to start planning your trip to San Jose for the Oct. 26-29 conference. Expect the sessions to be packed with loads of helpful information for all of us striving to cope with the (ever) increasing demands and (even) faster pace in our newsrooms.

And if you need more motivation, may we mention that downtown San Jose (and our conference hotel, the Fairmont) are near some fabulous attractions that might entice you to spend an extra day or two.

Within a one-hour drive you'll find:

• Felton Roaring Camp (train ride through redwoods)
• Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk
• Santa Cruz Mountains wineries

Within two-hour drive you'll find:

• San Francisco, with Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Alcatraz and much more.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Napa Valley Wine Train

For more on things to do in San Jose and northern California, go to http://www.fairmont.com/sanjose/ And to register for the conference, go to http://www.apme.com/registration

Today's Credibility installment was prepared by Rick Hall, managing editor of the Deseret News and a member of the Credibility Committee of APME.