By Beth Welsh — University of Missouri

Many complaints, a few success stories, and a number of suggestions filled out a lightly-attended breakfast panel discussion on the challenges online journalists face in getting access to news events.

The discussion, "Cold Mountain: Overcoming access obstacles," was moderated by Barry Abisch, assistant managing editor online for The Journal News in New York. Panel participants were Jeff Peline, editor of CNET News.com, and Chet Rhodes, senior video editor of washingtonpost.com.

Peline stressed the importance of educating current and potential sources in improving access for online journalists. He said news organizations often don't take the time to explain a site's news goals, which may be required to obtain access to events.

"Credibility weighs heavily" on the online journalist, Peline said, noting that for many people the term "Internet journalism" includes everything from CNET News to Matt Drudge.

Rhodes related some examples of access issues washingtonpost.com had faced, from the Washington Redskins to the White House. With each, restrictions were placed by the sources on online video use, with television networks being given preference over the Post's site. Rhodes urged online journalists to educate their employers in securing access alongside members of traditional media.

Audience member Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, said online organizations should concentrate on two selling points when talking to sources about access: Online readership is large and is growing; and online readership ultimately helps the subjects of the reporting because of the quality of information the sites provide.

Other audience members echoed Niles' suggestion.

August Cole of CBS MarketWatch recommended explaining that a company's employees use external sites to gather information about their employer.

Staci D. Kramer of the Online Journalism Review suggested building a file of sample stories about recalcitrant sources, written two ways to demonstrate how reporting differs with and without official access.

And Jim Brady of washingtonpost.com proposed directly asking potential sources how online journalism sites could best convince them to grant access.

Rhodes observed that the ONA's Web site needed a section dedicated to access issues. He said such a section could include downloadable access request templates.