SB Nation pulls Daniel Holtzclaw longform piece

I dunno. I still have a bunch of questions.

 

Reading between the lines, it seems like Stout like being the one and only guy to touch the copy at Longform even when anyone with a brain could see that certain stories (if not every story) could use other sets of eyes.

 

Now might not be the time to mail your submission to BASW. Unless you want it used as kindling, that is.

 

Like what? Genuinely curious.

 

I really want some shish kabobs now.

 

Well, Question No. 1 would be: Why are people from SBNation talking to Deadspin, both on and off the record, when their own internal review doesn't seem to be finished? I'd want to figure out the problem myself before I helped a competitor bury me or my colleagues. My only comment would be something like, "A clear mistake was made, and we're trying to figure out how and why so that it doesn't happen again. We'll let you know when we know."

I mean, what's your motive for talking?

 

What does this mean? One problem here, as the name of the vertical implies, was the elision of the difference between features writing and longform.

 

If I had to guess, I'd say the source was Elena Bergeron, and the motive would be in highlighting how a white editor who likes his BASW "overly masculine" ignored her warnings and got his just deserts.

 

I believe senior editor Elena Bergeron was the only one quoted directly. I assume she was probably really pissed and she feels she is on really solid footing compared to everyone else.

But still ...

 

The same types of things that motivate leaks from any organization before an internal review of some fuckup is complete? Ass coverage, axes to grind, grudges to settle, spin. Happens all the time, no? Why would a publication/website be any different?

 

This is what happens when you act as if you invented LONGFORM and lord yourself over the rank and file. There's a lot of people watching Stout slide past them right now.

 

Motives are often ill-conceived and the result of momentary weakness or selfishness, although I can imagine Bergeron's perspective being "I'll say what I want when I'm the only one who tried to stop it." She looks like the heroic whistleblower.

Your sense of loyalty and workplace prudence is perhaps far more developed than many.

Most Internet journalists are jackals in search of acknowledgement for their perspective.