A now annual meeting of the AGW Committee and the European Tour media was conducted on Thursday, November 21st in the Media Centre during the 2019 DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
NB – The information contained hereunder is ‘strictly confidential’ and is for the notice of members of the Association of Golf Writers (AGW) and nothing hereunder can be reported, copied or whatever without the consent of the Association. Further enquiries contact the Secretary.
Points raised included:-
- EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE SHORT-COMINGS – The meeting commenced with the AGW Secretary highligthing short-comings in the new European Tour and with Tour advising the site remains ‘work in progress’. The Tour indicated if any member has an issue with the site to take a screenshot of the issue and email Roddy Williams at the Tour – email hidden; JavaScript is required Scott Crockett, who hosted the meeting for the Tour, indicated the Tour is also ‘driven nuts’ with some inadequacies of the website but with the input of the AGW and the continued work of the Tour’s staff the website will soon become more user-friendly.
- TOUR ASSISTANCE WITH COPY – It was suggested that in far off events such as in China and South Africa, and knowing that there will not be any AGW members present, if the Tour could obtain quotes from particular players though only if their own duties allow. The Tour indicated it would try to do ‘what the AGW wanted’ but then it is conscious as is the AGW that if a member of the AGW is present at that event, it is then not appropriate for such a request. Scott agreed that the Tour media staff know the ‘working’ AGW media enough to know the situation they now face. The Tour indicated it would ‘love’ to get more coverage at such events and would work with the AGW on any proposal. David Facey asked that perhaps the Tour could advise in their weekly news bulletin ahead of each event who is the Tour press officer in attendance. The Tour agreed it could adopt such a practice.
- ARMBANDS – John Hopkins asked why he had been asked to sign a form at the DP World when seeking an ‘inside the ropes’ armband. The Tour indicated it was just to ensure the arm band did not go missing.
- EMBARGO OF COPY – The question of embargoes of copy was raised but it was agreed until the AGW has agreed on a policy it wishes the Tour to adopt it is not appropriate to discuss the issue. Meaning what the AGW agrees, the Tour will enact. Scott Crockett mentioned that in an ideal world there would be just one press conference but then to remember the Tour and sponsors have expended a lot of money to have everything like on tap and on Facebook and Twitter live. He agreed this is not what the AGW wants and the issue, and this following an email from an AGW member (Name withheld) re the events in Turkey, and with this AGW member objecting to the ‘trying to recreate the media center thing’ out in the recording area, as well. Scott indicated that after a player is interviewed by SKY, the European Tour and then say radio, the AGW member in question objected to the material obtained by the golf journalists in a huddle being embargoed. Scott agreed the AGW needs to look at the embargo policy and that in replying to the AGW member, the Tour was defending the wishes of the AGW. Scott indicated also in replying to the AGW member he suggested the AGW Member may consider writing to Martin Dempster and the committee. John Hopkins indicated the AGW ‘has to sort this out’. But then in conclusion, and with input from David Facey, Scott Crockett agreed with the AGW that there will be occasions where some comments from players in the ‘flash area’ will need to be held back for the written media present. David Facey mentioned that if there is a ‘huddle’ after a round and a player produces a good line then it should be a decision among those in the huddle to decide when to use the lines in question. Scott agreed for those who make the effort to attend and event there should ‘be a little that could be held back’ for later use. Martin Dempster indicated the AGW needs a full and frank discussion on the policy of embargoes ahead of season 2020. Scott Crockett agreed and supported such arrangements as ‘it is you guys (AGW) who do ask the best questions.’
- EUROPEAN TOUR/AGW ACCREDITATION – The Secretary asked the Tour what is the policy with regards the number of tournaments you needed to attend to warrant consideration for a full-time season media badge. Scott Crockett responded that it is reallly now more a scenario of the AGW advising the European Tour who the AGW think should receive a full-time season badge rather than the Tour now setting a mandatory number of tournaments you need to cover. Scott indicated a few years back the Tour undertook ‘a whole study of tournaments’ and one item on the review agenda was ‘media attendance’. Scott mentioned that at the Nedbank Challenge there was more Sunshine Tour guys attending the event such as Grant Winter, who may have attended all five ET events in South Africa whereas Jim Black maybe has only attended two ‘so who gets a full-time season badge?’ The Secretary then asked if the Tour could provide a list of those with full ET/AGW badges (Since obtained). Scott indicated that it should now be the AGW who advises the Tour who they wish to be issued with ET/AGW endorsed season badges. The AGW accepted this and advised the Tour it would get back to the Tour in this regard. Scott did point out that there was concern that those with full-time ET/AGW season badges were turning up to tournaments without formally applying for accreditation.
- MEETING WITH EUROPEAN TOUR CEO – The Secretary asked if Keith Pelley may be available to sit down with members of the AGW Committee. It was indicated Keith will be available on Saturday morning.
- MEETING CLOSED – The meeting concluded 23 minutes and 15 seconds later.
Recent Comments