How one biz reporter covers the NFL team in town

Rich Ryman is a business reporter at the Green Bay Press-Gazette in Wisconsin and USA Today Network-Wisconsin who covers the city’s National Football League team, the Packers, from a business news perspective.

Ryman, a Northern Illinois University graduate in journalism, has also worked for the Belvidere (Ill.) Daily Republican, Galesburg (Ill.) Register-Mail, and the Alexandria (La.) Town Talk. He joined the Press-Gazette in 1998.

His reporting has won several awards, including first place in business reporting in 2008, 2014 and 2015 from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and third place in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013 in business reporting from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.

Ryman spoke Monday by email with Talking Biz News about what it’s like to be a business reporter covering a professional sports team. What follows is an edited transcript.

How did you get interested in business journalism?

I was an assistant metro editor at the Town Talk in Alexandria, La., when the business editor/reporter slot opened up. It was better hours, Monday through Friday mostly, instead of nights every other month, and it was writing instead of just editing. So I took a shot and liked it. I started my career as a sports reporter.

How did the Green Bay paper decide to put a business reporter on the beat of its professional sports team?

I had been covering aspects of the Packers for most of my 18 years here. We were redesigning our newsroom – to do more with less, essentially, plus trying to become more digitally oriented – so it was decided we should focus more attention on what was unarguably our franchise topic, the Packers.

Also, the team announced plans for a 35-acre commercial/recreational/residential development called the Titletown District and we felt we needed coverage that didn’t take second place to other demands. It was felt the Packers would provide enough subject matter to fill a reporter’s time, and it’s mostly worked out that way.

What are the types of stories that you cover?

Anything financially related to the Packers, plus other things that might be of interest to fans. Nothing on-field related. Also, I still cover some general business stories, including writing a Sunday column that can be Packers-related or not.

What kind of stories do you cover in the off-season?

There’s not much off-season any more. I’ve actually been busier in the summer than during the season. Off-season stories include the ticket price announcement, the team schedule, the annual meeting in July, Titletown District developments and more.

What was the reaction of the team to a business reporter covering it?

They were appreciative of the effort. I think they felt that the Titletown District would get better coverage that way. I don’t think they are thrilled about the close coverage of their finances, but they realize it’s something they have to do, and I think they are happy to have someone doing it who has experience and doesn’t need to have everything explained every time.

What types of public records do you use to cover this beat?

Public records do not much apply to the Packers as an entity. More often, records come into play when they are interacting with local municipalities, such as development plans they must file with the village of Ashwaubenon for Titletown District development.

While they are a publicly owned team, they are not actively traded and are not regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, so the records they are required to make public are limited.

Do you still cover traditional business news stories?

I do on occasion, as mentioned above. I’ve held onto the majority of coverage of Northeastern Wisconsin wineries and I do a lot of business coverage of restaurants.

What advice would you give to a paper or reporter in covering a professional sports team?

The Packers are unique to the world of professional sports. They are publicly owned, one result of which is they are closer to the community and realize they have to interact with the community. That makes this job easier than I would image it to be for other professional franchises, which are privately owned and can be more closed.

Like any other reporting, relationships and a thorough understanding of your subject are keys. You stick with it and build on your knowledge over time.

Do you go to the games to look for stories?

Sometimes. For example, I’ve reported on parking in the neighborhoods, which provide the bulk of parking for Lambeau Field. Over the course of four home games last season I walked all the neighborhoods around Lambeau Field talking to homeowners who park cars in their yards and driveways.

Other game-day stories have or might include retail shop operations, concession stand operations, security, and management of the game-day video board programming and related tasks.

Where are you on the waiting list for Packers season tickets?

I am not on the waiting list. I would not live long enough to benefit.

I appreciate the economic impact the Packers bring to the community and the positive effect winning has on that impact, but like our sports reporters, I am not a Packers fan, which would be an ethical issue.