FIFA journalism internship causes questioning

Ohio University journalism students enthusiastic about the recent 2014 FIFA World Cup internship have caused a problem for those organizing the opportunity.

Representatives from the Scripps College of Communication held a press conference Monday, and students began calling the United States Soccer Federation in overwhelming numbers.

The federation could not be reached by press time for a comment about the number of callers or the internship, but OU organizers are asking students to direct all questions to Yusuf Kalyango, director of the International Institute of Journalism.

“The federation wasn’t really prepared for the onslaught of questions, and they’re just busy. They are very, very, busy trying to get ready for the World Cup.” said Robert Stewart, director of the E.W Scripps School of Journalism.

“It would be great if that would stop, because the federation needs to not see what they entered into is not a burden,” Stewart said.

To further the confusion surrounding the internship, The Poynter Institute for Media Studies released an article Thursday on its website, which raised questions about the ethics of the internship.

“Journalism students being journalism students ran with the story and contacted the federation for details, resulting in the loud sound of brakes being applied,” the article read. “Feeding the U.S. Soccer’s Twitter account and other media sites wouldn’t be a problem for students in the school’s public relations (Strategic Communication) track, but poses ethical issues for the student journalists.”

In an interview with The Post, Stewart questioned the validity of the claims made by the article.

“Poynter’s reporter’s initial questions all had to do with the ethical question of having journalism students doing PR related work," Stewart said. “There is nothing wrong with a journalism student doing a PR-oriented internship; they may go into that field. There is no ethical question at all about that."

Going forward, Stewart suggested students who are interested in the World Cup internship show their enthusiasm in other ways.

“If a student wants to really give themselves an edge, they should read about soccer. That’s the best thing they should do,” Stewart said. “I know you’re excited, I know you’re pumped, but I would hate to see private initiatives somehow jeopardizing the public. I don’t think students really want that, if they really stop and think about it.”

sa587812@ohiou.edu

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