An unflattering profile of the softball program and new coach spawns troubles for the award-winning student paper.
By LOGAN MABE
Published May 20, 2003
TAMPA - Gaither High School's award-winning Pony Express newspaper ceased publication a month early this year after a power struggle over a story critical of the girls' softball coach.
The April issue included "New Coach Strikes Out," an unflattering profile of the Gaither girls' softball program and its new part-time coach, 23-year-old Jessica Kowal.
The story by editor Erin Maloney portrayed Kowal as harsh, unfair and confrontational.
Maloney reported that seven players had either quit the team or decided not to try out because of conflicts with Kowal.
Maloney said she tried to get Kowal's side, but the coach declined to be interviewed.
Kowal, who responded to the Times through her attorney, said her only opportunity to speak with the student journalist came as Kowal was directing her players onto a bus for a game.
Lacking the coach's comments, Maloney interviewed the team's captain, senior Candice Gootan, who defended the coach and her practices.
"I would have loved nothing more than to write a great story about the girls' softball team, but that wasn't the case at all," Maloney said.
Soon after the newspaper came out, Kowal hired a lawyer. In a letter to Gaither principal Ken Adum, attorney Patrick Vincent called statements in Maloney's article "poorly researched" and said they give rise to a libel claim:
"They paint a very disturbing picture of a young, inexperienced coach who cares little for the players and was out to hurt players she did not care for." Kowal demanded a retraction and an apology.
Maloney's response?
"There was no way I was going to apologize or print a retraction," Maloney said.
Vincent also sent copies of the letter to School Board chairwoman Carol Kurdell, athletics director Vernon Kohrn, five former softball players quoted in the story, and newspaper adviser Sharon Davenport.
Neither Davenport nor principal Adum would discuss the story with the Times.
Adum referred inquiries to assistant principal and athletic director Henry Strapp.
Strapp had interviewed softball team members and "discrepancies were found," Adum wrote in a letter to Kowal's attorney.
Adum said someone on his staff would write a rebuttal for the May Pony Express. But that edition never made it to press.
"Mr. Adum has started censoring our newspaper now, so we've completely stopped publication for this year," Maloney said.
Maloney questions how thoroughly the administration examined her reporting. She said she tried to give Adum an accounting but "he has not spoken one word to me. I've filled out office appointments. I've made many attempts. I've been at his beck and call."
Countered Strapp: "Basically, we already had the opinion of the paper's staff (in the story)."
Strapp said Gaither administrators would preview future Pony Express stories before publication.
In past student press conflicts, the U.S. Supreme Court has sided with administrators, ruling that a school principal is entitled to prior review or restraint of stories.
Historically, the Pony Express has been an award winner. It regularly receives attention from the National Scholastic Press Association. Former adviser Christie Gold was named Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year in 2001.
Gold, who has since transferred to Freedom High School, said the Pony Express' standing at Gaither was always prickly.
"My relationship with the administration, as far as a newspaper adviser, was sometimes precarious," Gold said. "I never knew when I was going to get called in."
Maloney, a recent runner up for a four-year St. Petersburg Times scholarship, plans to attend George Washington University in the fall to pursue a degree in broadcast journalism.
- Logan D. Mabe can be reached at 269-5304 or at mabe@sptimes.com
