What Lee Jenkins' LeBron scoop says about our industry

Weingarten was right in that this was absolutely PR by LeBron and his camp. The piece was a PR release (by any other name), and was exceedingly well done in that vein.

Many old-school Journalism folk don't like the idea of SI serving as an outlet for an athlete's first-person views. They haven't been paying attention to SI over the decades.

 

So, as long as it's strictly a toy department story, it's cool?

 

The print story .... http://www.si.com/nba/2014/07/15/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers

 

Looks like an online story to me.

 

I would be curious if there is a news organization that would have turned down the deal.

People are acting like Jenkins/SI sold their souls to get the story. They didn't.

 

I'd love to know the ethical difference between this and the same treatment that was given to Jason Collins. Sure, there was no "As told to" line. That means the name of a journalist was not "sullied." But from the publication's perspective, what is the difference?

 

The Collins treatment had "With Franz Lidz" right there on the cover, under "The Gay Athlete" hede.

So, in other words, it was exactly the same as the LeBron treatment. Read some of Lidz's quotes, and it's even more identical to this situation:

http://deadspin.com/how-franz-lidz-landed-the-jason-collins-scoop-for-his-f-485370757

 

The "With Writer's Name" form of journalism is ancient. I can't believe this is an actual argument, let alone it's on its eighth page.

 

Yeah, there's none.

People were mad about Jenkins getting the exclusive and they're reacting like petulant children. That wasn't the case with Collins, although there was with Michael Sam, and IIRC, he was the one who screwed over SI and someone at SI whined about it.

 

It seems more like some sports writers get upset that statements, interviews, etc., that are granted to a particular writer, should have been made in a presser so nobody's feelings get hurt.

 

Yeah, Brian Windhorst is withholding snuggle time until LeBron apologizes.

 

May as well throw another viewpoint onto the pile, though this one is more about the grumblings that SI was a PR arm for LeBron.

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/84849746/lebron-james-decision-sports-illustrated-ownership-news#!bgbpqN