The PGA Tour will prohibit reporters from live-tweeting golf tournaments in an age when social media is becoming more critical to sports and news coverage.
PGA Tour official Ty Votaw sent an e-mail to reporters on Thursday that said the PGA will “revoke the on-site credentials of all journalists affiliated with outlets that post play-by-play coverage, whether those posts are originating from tournament site or otherwise.”
This new policy seems to be extremely counterproductive, especially prohibiting reporters from tweeting even if they are not on the tournament site. Many sporting events get ratings after viewers find out about it on Twitter. For sports that are considered “boring” like golf, many fans start tuning in when a golf reporter tweets something interesting from the golf course or about a development on the leaderboard.
Golf writer extraordinaire Dan Jenkins (@DanJenkinsgd) and other reporters like Ron Sirak (@RonSirak), Kelly Tilghman (@KellyTilghmanGC), Stephanie Wei (@StephanieWei) and Damon Hack (@damonhackGC) have brought the game many new fans with their live-tweeting. Their tweets have become a vital part of the golf-watching experience for many fans of the game.
Here is the full e-mail:
As you know, our media regulations prohibit the use of real-time, play-by-play transmission in digital outlets. In order to enforce these regulations, beginning this year, we will revoke the on-site credentials of all journalists affiliated with outlets that post play-by-play coverage, whether those posts are originating from tournament site or otherwise.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Best,
Ty
Ty M. Votaw