The Rules of Engagement, Part Deux

More thoughts -- these from the conclusion of next week's CoSIDA presentation:

The key is engagement, not enforcement. There is a certain amount of policing of basic copyright. It is established that rights holders can claim the performance as their intellectual property, including the statistical representation. Here is where the real-time internet policies simultaneously get it and miss it. While for some it is about access and credentials, for the vast majority it is not. The greatest enemy? Maybe Steve Jobs and the iPhone – a dedicated transaction blogger only needs to see what is happening. A ticket and a 3G data plan takes care of that; or in the case of one prominent on-line media and the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track Meet, a free video stream and a couch. Commentary is the coin of the relm, and the B&B crowd want to express their opinion about events. The real power of the boards and blogs: amplification. Who’s message do you want to reinforce?

If I can encourage one thing, it is a frank discussion with the administration about the rules of engagement. Define them now before the opinion crisis begins. Consistency in using whatever policy is created is important. This has a legal component as well as a public relations component. There aren’t a pair of stone tablets with 10 rules to lead the athletic department. The solutions created when I was with the Arkansas women’s athletic department are not the ones that fit your athletic department. In building the system that works at your institution, consider the old five W’s as the guideline.