RIP Joe Paterno

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

I know of 2: this and Giffords. The rest is all rumor, just more accelerated than real life. But just as in real life, it's up to journalists to confirm or deny the rumors through independent reporting. The real problem begins when journalists perpetuate the rumors.

As embarrassing as the NPR report was, they at least tried to confirm it independently but their sources were wrong.

This is 100 times worse. CBS Sports took another publication's report without independent verification and cast it at its own with no attribution to that report. If that wasn't bad enough, they then turn it around and blame it on the original source they didn't credit to begin with.

I try to be even-handed about these things, but anyone there who knew they didn't have their own source at the time of publication should be looking for a new job right now. Twitter isn't to blame.

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

I did on my blog.

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

One is a virtual nobody. Another is one of the most influential figures in the history of college sports. Who is worse between the guy that raped kids and the guy that could have prevented the rape of multiple kids is a close call, but JoePa's role in the Penn State athletics rape scandal is where the sports angle of this story properly focuses. There will be courts reporters and local general assignment work to cover every aspect of Sandusky's prosecution. Fine.

But this is a huge national sports story only because of JoePa's closeness to some very key events. His actions merit the highest level of scrutiny whether he's alive or dead. This guy's opinion was of major importance in any major decision that has taken place in Penn State athletics for the past 40 years. So when a guy who worked for him and allegedly raped and molested kids over the course of many years, perhaps with JoePa's willful blindness, or full knowledge, or assent, or with his aide in having actively covered up at least one of the rapes or the pattern of behavior, then that is the BIG story and what JoePa knew and when he knew it needs to be gotten to the bottom of.

Damn Sandusky to hell, sure, but that's a local/courts story. JoePa is the national sports story.

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

Check the Poynter link uptopic ...

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

CBSSports is about as credible as Rob Lowe right now.

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

Great rundown. Thanks.

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

Just marking this thread so I can see if BYH has anything more to tell us about Joe Paterno's life.

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

One thing I noticed from the Poynter link: they show their own tweet, which was something like "Joe Paterno is dead" followed by a shortened link to the CBSSports.com story.

No attribution on the tweet from Poynter? Really? I tweeted out the same link on my work account, and my tweet was "CBSSports.com reports Joe Paterno has died," with the link.

Perhaps Poynter should have an ombudsman. Someone to wring their hands over the institute's own hand-wringing.

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

I give you credit for restraint on this response.

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

The Romenesko fiasco showed they definitely need something better than what they have.

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

My wife had no idea who Joe Paterno was three months ago.

Just sayin.

 

Re: Joe Paterno in serious condition

CBSSports releases an apology/correction:

Earlier Saturday night, CBSSports.com published an unsubstantiated report that former Penn State coach Joe Paterno had died. That mistake was the result of a failure to verify the original report. CBSSports.com holds itself to high journalistic standards, and in this circumstance tonight, we fell well short of those expectations.

CBSSports.com extends its profound and sincere apology to the Paterno family and the Penn State community during their difficult time.