The ongoing pandemic is forcing the Raptors to call Tampa home at the start of the NBA season, a move that will make covering the team tricky for hometown media outlets. Toronto Star Sports Editor Dave Washburn told THE DAILY that the publication is planning to have writers on the ground in Tampa for at least part of the season, but the feasibility of doing so will depend on the level of access reporters are given to players and execs. The Star has the top circulation in Canada among all newspapers that publish seven days a week, and Washburn said, "We're working to figure out exactly what the Raptors and the NBA are going to allow us. Our hope is to be down there with them, perhaps not every day, but certainly enough to be able to get the stories for our readers and our subscribers."
READY FOR ANYTHING: Washburn is anticipating a mix of virtual and in-person coverage from Tampa this season. If the NBA restricts reporter access for safety reasons, Washburn and his team are prepared to adapt the way they cover the team. "Maybe you're leaning more on stats and trends and the analytic side of storytelling, because you can't ask the stars those questions without everybody hearing them," Washburn said, referring to the transparent nature of Zoom interviews. "If you can offer insights or intriguing storylines or things that other organizations aren't producing, then that gives you a bit of a one-up." The Star has yet to reach out to any Tampa-based media outlets regarding content sharing or other collaborative arrangements for this season, but Washburn said that that remains a possibility.
