Tim Layden says objectivity is dying in sports reporting

Sports journalism is moving away from objectivity

This is very real. Saw today where a credentialed Clemson reporter asked Dabo Swinney to sign a football for his nephew during a press conference.
I cover a college football team, and I legitimately believe the fan base presumed that because I covered the team, that meant I was a fan. Oh, the backlash I received the first time I wrote a negative column. Now many of them believe I hate the team. I'm actually the only objective media member who covers this team and the only one who didn't graduate from the school. Several of them wear team apparel in the press box or at press conferences. Honestly, I would challenge you to find a more "homer" media circle.

 

Luckily this hasn't bled over into politics.

 

College athletics, especially football, is the worst with homer media

 

Layden is right. I could post a gamer I read the other day that had a ton of editorializing by a legit NBA beat writer, but I'll refrain from publicly throwing the individual under the bus.

 

Who writes gamers anymore?

The first version we have on our site might be a straight gamer, but anything that comes in later isn't.

 

We've been hearing for a few years now that members of the sports media are nothing but fans anymore. It's especially noticeable in blog land.

 

So what? Maybe we had too much pure "journalism" in the past. Why can't there be room for both approaches? At the end of the day, sports journalism should entertain and inform--not simply live up to the ideals of some professor.

 

What kind of outlet was that person from? A website? Radio station? Television station?

 

Right. This was the first version following a game. The editorializing was still there on the second edition.

 

Welcome to my life the last 25 years. And as long as you stick to your guns, which I highly recommend you do, you'll continue to be hated. This is why I hate fans. They're ignorant as fuck.

 

I rarely watch ESPN, but somehow I actually caught that segment with Wilbon. Cringeworthy is putting it lightly. I lost all respect for him in that moment, though I never had much anyway because I've never really read him. Still, it was disgusting to watch. Made me want to throw up.