Thoughts on sports journalism in the age of COVID-19, from Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic:

I’ve thought about this question a lot for obvious reasons. Our jobs will be forever different, but I do expect some elements of the job to return. I’d be shocked if we don’t get in-person interviews back in some form. There’s no reason we can’t talk to people in person once everyone is vaccinated and the virus is behind us. We don’t know exactly when that will be, but we’ll get there at some point. In-person interviews are easier for the reporters, the team and the player.
The question is whether the open locker room will return. Every professional league in the United States has mandated periods where the locker room is open to reporters during the week and after games. I’m concerned that could go away in favor of a “mixed zone” like you see in college sports or the English soccer leagues, where players come out to a designated area to do interviews. The locker room always created an environment for natural and sometimes informal interactions that help build trust and relationships, especially during the week. It also serves to set the scene after games. Of course, there are ways to tell enlightening stories without that level of access, but I think those in-person interactions help bring fans a lot closer to the team. Let’s hope leagues see it the same way. Even a mixed-zone setting, though, would be a step up from Zoom.
My hope is that this further amplifies original content. I know it’s pushed me to think outside the box and find ways to get unique voices into my stories or tell those stories in different ways. It’s never been enough to have a credential, be on the scene and sit in press conferences that are streamed to the public. That’s become more obvious this year. All that said, I hope we’ll return to more in-person access in 2021. It’s essential toward developing trust with the subjects we cover and giving you a glimpse into who these people are.

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