Newspaper protests ban on UT football reporter

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A newspaper is protesting a decision by the University of Tennessee athletic department to ban a reporter from covering its football team as punishment for interviewing a player without authorization.<br> <br> The publisher and editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel sent a letter to athletic director Mike Hamilton on Friday about the suspension of media privileges for reporter Dave Hooker until Oct. 23.<br> <br> ``We are appalled and truly regret that the university has taken this step. We expect in the future a more fair-minded approach. In addition, we also question whether UT&#39;s media policy is relevant today. The goal of limiting media access to players seems to be motivated more by athletic administration control of the news than attempting to protect players. We think the policy should be completely re-evaluated,&#39;&#39; publisher Bruce Hartmann and editor Jack McElroy wrote.<br> <br> Hooker interviewed cornerback Inky Johnson by telephone about the serious injuries he suffered in a game against Air Force last month. The story was published on Oct. 5.<br> <br> Most interviews of players are arranged through the UT Sports Information office, and officials received numerous requests for interviews with Johnson. The player has not yet been made available for interviews.<br> <br> Hamilton said the athletic department had to act against Hooker because ``a very hard and fast guideline was broken.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Society of Professional Journalists issued a statement Friday from regional director Sonny Albarado urging the newspaper to fight the suspension.<br> <br> ``As a former business editor, I have worked closely with dozens of PR folks over my career,&#39;&#39; Albarado said. ``Almost all of them understood my professional duty to report the news and rarely penalized me for getting the story without their help or hindrance.&#39;&#39;