Good sourcing

Our sports editors and reporters found out Friday night that two top high school basketball recruits were on campus, meeting with the Hoosiers and their coaches. \nThe editors rushed to Yogi's Grill and Bar to confirm with their own eyes that, indeed, Eric Gordon Jr. and Derrick Rose were eating with coach Kelvin Sampson and IU basketball players.\nLater, when our reporters investigated rumors that Gordon and Rose were in Assembly Hall with the IU basketball team, we snapped a photograph of Gordon leaving the locker room.\nThe quality of the photograph left something to be desired. A reporter took the picture with a simple point-and-shoot camera, and it was little more than a mug shot of Gordon.\nSome members of our sports staff worried that running the photograph could unnecessarily sour the relationship between the Indiana Daily Student and IU Athletics.\nStill, there was a debate in the newsroom about whether to run the photograph. \nOne problem with the initial draft of the story about the recruits was that it was based entirely on the observation of sports reporters and editors.\nSince the University is barred by the NCAA from publicizing or talking about recruit visits, no source in the Athletics Department could officially confirm the visit.\nThe photo, however rough, showed that Gordon was actually on campus. \nIn the end, though, the remedy was obvious. We needed more reporting. \nThe reporters made some phone calls. They talked to a waiter who was working at Yogi's Friday night. The waiter confirmed that Gordon and Rose came to the restaurant with Hoosier players and coaches.\nA student crowded near the entrance to the basketball court in Assembly Hall confirmed that the two high school students went on the court with the players.\nNow that there were two pairs of eyes independent from the reporters attesting to the recruits' appearance in Bloomington, the photo, which otherwise didn't add anything to the story, was unnecessary.