This discussion is still going? I wish there was this level of outrage when real harm was being committed in the world. I do find it outlandish for Cowherd to climb up on a soapbox based on the actual facts of this situation. What a PFT potshot artist [and yes, there is history here]. I totally disagree that the big networks are much better at confirming reports, as a general rule. What a self-serving and totally inaccurate depiction of ESPN. Maybe they feel they are more careful reporting deaths, but PFT was not reporting a death. This was a one time occurrence, which makes it a perfect opening for ESPN to broadcast generalities about their high standards. In any event, if ESPN wants to debate scruples, what about Mike and Mike rolling with the TO suicide attempt? Was that not a situation where people should be acting with a sense of reverence when facts are unknown? How about Mort speculating that Carson Palmer was so severely injured that he would miss the first 8 weeks of a season? Is the impact to fans and teammates reading this "news" less important than Mort getting his utter guesswork on the market? How about when they report 'rumblings' that this guy is going to lose his job, and he in fact does not? What of situations where they report another guy is going to get a job, and he does not? What about ESPN's speculation that this guy is going to be cut from his team? Do the livelihoods of these men take a backseat to ESPN being first on the scene? Should their families be subjected to these rumors? There are any number of "mistaken reports" that come from ESPN that have untold impacts on the people ESPN leaves in their dust, and their families. But no harm, no foul, because ESPN is just speculating or citing anonymous sources. They're "careful"? But that's not even the underbelly of ESPN and its high standards. IMHO it goes without saying most of the ESPN stories are being spoonfed to ESPN by biased agents and others who are merely using ESPN to broadcast their version of "news" -- not that ESPN cares, as long as they have an unnamed source and something to go public with. Len Pasquarelli specifically has been cited a zillion times for authoring fluff "news" pieces unmistakably aimed at helping the clients of his agent sources. Furthermore, I can't recount the number of ESPN "news" stories related to drama they themselves instigated to create the news they'd like to report. Over the years this has become a more common occurrence. Last but not least, as for Mr. Cowherd's own media professionalism, this is a guy who has repeatedly ripped off PFT material without attribution. Once he even claimed on air he'd never heard of PFT, despite proof that he'd used their material for on-air discussion.There are any number of ethical conundrums taking a backseat to ESPN media interests on a daily basis that outweigh a the errant "we're hearing unconfirmed rumors" PFT report -- a mistaken report that had an almost immediate correction, explanation and apology mind you. Let me know next time you hear ESPN apologize for an errant report.
Totally unconfirmed, but a couple folks just mentioned this.Is there anyone out there that can verify whether or not this is true?
That's exactly how I'd characterize this division. I think others expect "more" coming from PFT than I do. They're in an interesting (and dangerous) position because they present themselves as wearing two different hats much of the time. In the "Buy or Sell" tradition, I'm selling them as a "news" outfit but "buying" them as a rumor mill. But, I understand that the perception (cultivated, I think, by PFT themselves) is that they present "news." And, I think this most recent incident with TB suggests they have a ways to go before reaching that level of respect.
The TO suicide issue is a perfect illustration as to why the talking heads at ESPN have absolutely no moral ground to stand on and bash PFT. This was equally, if not more, damning than the 20 minutes it was thought TB might be dead.Another recent incident where the "news" media totally ran with the story before absorbing all the facts was the Vick-marijuana-airport fiasco. ESPN got it all wrong and didn't do appropriate fact-checking here, either.That doesn't address, specifically, what PFT did with the Bradshaw rumors. One can be of the opinion that all of these were in the wrong. But, it certainly leaves little room for the Dan Patricks and Colin Cowherds to speak of their journalistic integrity when they, themselves, are guilty or running with rumors before doing the research to check it out.
