Most people would be saying "duh" to these athletes posting personal information. Everyone knows that the Internet is a public information source. Common sense, right? I believe it is the responsibility of the University to make student-athletes aware of such incidents. The University should include in its media training the proper way to handle posting sites, whether it be a community.webshots.com page or a blogging site.
Nowadays, a typical media training session for a collegiate athlete would include tips on answering questions, proper interview etiquette, and appropriate dress for both broadcast and print media. The training would introduce athletes into the media world: what to expect from the interviewer, how to develop a relationship with the media sources and the reasons for conducting interviews. Athletes would be helped on handling adversity through the media, and would be warned how the media has the potential can make or break reputations.
The NFL Media Relations handbooks states: “Fans judge you as a player according to how you perform on the playing field. They judge you as a person according to how you perform with the media. If the fans develop a good impression of you through the media, especially when things are not going well on the field, the benefits to you can be significant.”
This statement also applies to the intercollegiate athlete. The issue that now comes up, however, is new media.
How do we train athletes to properly use the Internet and blogging sites? Even more difficult, where do we start?
Some aspects of media training may be invalid now, with such new media issues coming to surface so rapidly.
Fans have the opportunity to become interactive with players, coaches and prospective athletes with the booming popularity of sites such as facebook.com and myspace.com . Fans also have the opportunity to harass rivals through these pages. What is appropriate content for athletes to post on these pages?
Athletes have always been viewed under a microscope. Each interview, each word, each action scrutinized by the public. With so many new media sources coming out, athletes need to be properly trained. With proper training, they can take advantage of these opportunities on the Internet, instead of being taken advantage of by the Internet.
