A conversation I had with a reporter years ago about media access came back to me this week while talking to a PR friend.

It’s a not-so-secret-secret when a team or athletics department grants preferential access to “team-friendly journalists.” That might morph into local vs. national media. Sometimes the limits are subtle, but other times they’re in plain sight.

Then and now, the conclusion is the same. For you — and sports organizations — restricting media access rarely goes well. In fact, it can damage an organization’s reputation far beyond the reporters you turn away.

Reasons for limiting reporters could be legit

We hear all kinds of reasons businesses cut media access or in sports, game credentials. Sometimes it’s an owner who doesn’t like how an outlet covers their organization. Maybe management thinks national media matters more than local.

However, if reporting is accurate and backed by other sources, calling it “false” and limiting permissions don’t fly. If you say a journalist lied, you'd better have proof. Otherwise, PR ends up on the defensive rather than achieving the control it thinks it gained.

Outside PR looks in

It often takes someone in a different niche to remind us how things look from afar. For me, it was PR pal Jeff Pizzino when we talked about local and national media in modest communities.

“Local media is important for a community’s connection to a team,” Pizzino said. “They live in the communities they cover and typically know the pulse of fans.” 

Blow off local media at your own risk

The WNBA’s Indiana Fever learned that dissing a local reporter is risky. He wrote about the proverbial shackles placed on him, and the team’s finger shake became a national headline.

You need local reporters

Wayne Hogan worked side-by-side with Florida State’s late legendary coach, Bobby Bowden, so I asked if he ever prioritized national media over local beat reporters.

“Absolutely not,” Hogan said. “The Thomasville Enterprise got the same access as the New York Times. Although the big boys got better seats in the press box.”

Fair — and honest. Having worked with TV crews that covered the Seminoles during Hogan’s 18 years at FSU, I know they got all they needed and more. On the PR side, I also worked with area reporters who had as much, if not more, daily access because they showed up each day.

But sometimes it’s management, not PR, that shreds the cord on a reporter’s access.

Former Oakland Raiders president Amy Trask worked hand-in-hand with team owner Al Davis, who was famous for his public opinions about how he and his team were covered.

“I worked with a team owner who had some interesting views on the media and there were plenty with whom Al disagreed,” Trask said. “That said, whether reporters were local or national had no bearing on who we invited into the building.”

Trask said she understands if team management initially sees more value in national media. “You speak with national media, you get national coverage.” But in the same breath, she also said local media is important for fans.

“If you want your fans enthused and engaged, national media is important. For that reason and more reasons, local media should have the same access as national media.”

PR SIDEeffect — No media outlet is more important than another. Even in our fragmented media world, each has a purpose. You benefit from equal access; after all, local or niche media speak directly to your audience. Restricting it makes you look bad. Simple PR math.

Learn to balance media priorities for your business, book or ball. I’ll help you stay out of the news for the wrong reasons and make headlines for the right ones.

AI Disclaimer — SIDEbar was written by a human and for humans. Try as AI does when I ask it to edit, it won’t lead me to deliver you corporate gibberish.

©2026 Gail Sideman; gpublicity.com; SIDEbar

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