Leafs clamp down on media access

Eric McErlain has a great post up at FanHouse regarding a recent decision by the Maple Leafs to limit reporters' use of digital photography and video, something that seems more of a step back into the dark ages than an enlightened approach to how media coverage is changing.

I saw firsthand during a trip to Washington in April how Eric and others were covering the team, and while it took a little bit of getting used to as someone accustomed to the traditional locker room scrum, I think it's a positive that fans are getting better — and unfiltered — access to athletes from all sorts of sources.

The media's role here should be to report using all of the tools and technology available, and I really don't see the distinction between giving TSN, Sportsnet and others video access and not print reporters.

This isn't a ban that's going to stand up long-term.