Mark Anderson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COLUMN:
STILL SECOND CLASS?

I recently asked a fellow Arena Football League beat writer what it would take to get him to join the AFLWA. He said his paper would not pay the $40 membership fee, and it wasn't coming out of his wallet. A public relations director for one of the teams gave me similar feedback, saying he didn't want to use his own money and neither did the writers who cover his club.

The reason I bring this up is because I have been amazed at the number of people who have spent their own money to join and help us get off to a fast start. Many newspapers pick up membership fees for other associations, but that's not happening often with the AFLWA. Why? Because the AFL is still seen as a second-class citizen in most newsrooms. It doesn't matter that the league continues to grow, is drawing bigger crowds, and is bringing in a higher television rating. There is a perception that is difficult to overcome.

It's a perception that puts many of our members in odd situations. As beat reporters, we want to give all we have to covering a team, but often are restricted by the number of stories we're allowed to write and the number of road trips we're allowed to make.

If a reporter pushes too hard to cover a team, it looks to the editors as if he or she has sold out. That is a rep! utation that is hard to shake and one that no reporter wants to be saddled with. My suggestion is to pick the battles. Write as many stories as you're allowed, and look for fresh angles other than the typical player features.

Also, ask to go on road trips that are more likely to be approved, such as the opener and the divisional games. This shows management that you aren't going to overwhelm them with requests, and the ones you put in will be taken more seriously.

Maybe one day, editors will take the AFL more seriously. And then maybe management will be willing to cough up the membership fee so that you don't have to reach into your pocket.

Until then, the question is why the fee is $40. It would have been difficult to launch the association by setting a lower price. We needed the dues to not only get the AFLWA started, but now to keep it going and truly grow it.

Maybe in the future, we can lower the fee, but this amount is! in line with other associations, which is another reason. We don't want to be seen as inferior to the other associations because it sends a bad signal to how we are regarded as a group. Credibility is too important to compromise.

Having said that, perhaps the AFLWA should entertain different price suggestions depending on what a member wants. We could offer full membership which covers everything from voting on the Top 8 poll and the Player of the Year to this newsletter and the members-only areas of our Web site. We also could offer limited membership for those want to to vote only for the Top 8 each week or receive some other specific benefit.

Please send me your ideas. We also want to know what you think the AFLWA should look like at this time next year. Our board will craft the AFLWA constitution later this year, so elsewhere in this newsletter you will find a place to send us your opinions.

Your participation is important. As a member, you not only make up the association this year, but you can have a role in deciding how the AFLWA operates for many years to come.

Mark Anderson is the executive director of the AFLWA. He also cover the Gladiators for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.