My presentation was on the theory of sports journalism, more specifically if sport journalists are called to the same code of conduct as standard news journalists. I talked specifically about the Player X article on ESPN.com and how the anonymous players made pretty bold claims at times but there was no journalists credibility behind those claims. Some people could make the case that since this is a blog, it's ok to allow some claims of this nature to be made. But others would still say that since it is on a news site, the writer of Player X should write to the same standards as the writer of the front page article. The issue with sources also touched on the Brett Favre situation and how there are potentially huge consequences for a claim that could turn out being fake anyway (but evidence doesn't look good for poor Brett).
For further discussion, take a tour of some of the sports blog type news sites such as deadspin.com and let me know if you think sports journalists should be allowed some slack, or if they need to be by the book as well?
I just saw a report on SportsCenter where there was an anonymous quote about Brad Childress, and the source was "a source close to the situation." Really? What qualifies "close to the situation" and is it credible? Was it his neighbor? His car salesman? The owner?
ReplyDeleteI personally don't think that sports journalism follows the same ethical code that other types of journalism do (although it should). Even something like Brett Favre's naughty pictures that he sent to a reporter need to be checked out before they can be called his. Saying that just "a source" said something and then printing/broadcasting is the same thing as putting a picture online of someone, blurring out their whole body, and then saying "This is the Queen of England. I promise." Good presentation, Tyler!
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