Radio, newspaper, and my ethics

[jgmacg]

Is this the part where you explain to all of us how the real world works?

 

[jgmacg]

They work for me.

 

[forever_town]

People in the journalism community and out of it are going to question your ethics or not based on their perceptions of what constitutes ethics. Ultimately, you're the one who has to live with what you decide for yourself. None of us can make any decisions for you either way.

If your sense of ethics prevents you from working at both the Oregonian and the radio station, don't do it. If you believe you can truly put your all into both gigs and do so ethically, go for it.

It says a lot about you that you're willing to post on this forum and take whatever heat you're facing. Many folks wouldn't do that. We may not be unanimous in our views about whether you're doing the right thing or not, but ultimately, we don't matter. If you think what you're doing is wrong, you only make it worse by continuing to do so.

 

[JackS]

Actually, the only one that probably doesn't fit is the China story, and it's not like the coverage of that is exactly overwhelming. How many sports reporters you got tied up on that one?

Cable rates are very important? Yeah, how could we survive without cable TV?

But just to turn off my sarcasm for a moment, tell me about the Sonics stories. Were they just typical sports stories about the Sonics moving, or were they actually stories about how the people of Seattle were going to be impacted by a move (or conversely, a tax hike)? And if the latter, who reported them? A regular sports reporter or someone who deals specifically with more important "sports related" issues?

Except for the huge article about the upcoming Olympics in SI a couple weeks ago.

And whether you think cable rates are important or not, plenty of people do. To many people, having cable TV is their main form of entertainment and social activity. It's what they can afford. When the rates are jacked up, it really matters.

I won't provide you with a bibliography of articles on the recent sale and threatened move of the Sonics; you can read them yourself and determine their value. I'll give you just one article, written by Seattle PI sports columnist Ted Mller more than a year ago, which forecast pretty much everything that's happened: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/miller/278074_miller19.html

Imagine that, a sports columnist nailing it.

I find it hilarious that the article you link contains these two paragraphs...

There's City Council president Nick Licata, who told Sports Illustrated that the Sonics give Seattle "near zero" economic or cultural value.

There's Chris Van Dyk, his "Citizens for More Important Things" and other grassroots efforts that railed against subsidizing millionaire owners and players.

You're right, the columnist nailed it. He found two people who put sports in proper perspective. "Citizens for More Important Things." Thanks for proving my point...I rest my case.

P.S. I'll take your answer on SI to mean we've currently got one sports reporter tied up on the China issue. Overwhelming indeed.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

You're right, the columnist nailed it. He found two people who put sports in proper perspective.

You must have missed this part:

"That taxpayer-funded $220 million KeyArena renovation that's spawned a citywide apoplectic fit? Not good enough. Bennett will demand a brand spanking new arena, one that figures to cost at least $400 million."

Anything taking that big a chunk of public funding actually has lots of value and lots of relevence.

 

[da man]

These threads have been weird to me.

Globe writers get paid for appearing on NESN, which is owned by the Red Sox, and I've never once seen anyone here cry conflict.

NY Daily News writers appear on SNY, which is owned by the Mets.

It goes on and on. It's in every market.

What about the guy many around here consider a god, Jason Whitlock? Columnist for the Star had a job at KCSP, which telecasts the Jayhawks. Also had a job at WHB, which telecasts the Royals.

The Cubs and the Chicago Tribune (also LA Times) have been mentioned several times.

Bottom line: Everybody's in bed with everybody. Conflicts are unavoidable. Best you can do is keep your nose clean, and if anybody asks you to pull a punch, that's when you quit a gig.

Been weird to me, too, bot for the opposite reason. I can't believe people can't see the obvious problem with this.

As for your examples, I haven't cried conflict about the Globe or NYDN writers because I don't live in Boston or NY and had no idea that was happening. Assuming it is, that's wrong, too. I'm not a fan of Whitlock's, but working for a station that broadcasts a team's game is not an issue for me. The problem comes in when you take money from someone you cover.

Perhaps conflicts are truly unavoidable. But that doesn't mean you should jump into them when you don't have to.

 

[forever_town]

What about the guy many around here consider a god, Jason Whitlock?

I don't know how many of us around here consider Jason Whitlock a god. The only god I know ain't on SportsJournalists.com.

 

[Ace]

What about the guy many around here consider a god, Jason Whitlock?

I don't know how many of us around here consider Jason Whitlock a god. The only god I know ain't on SportsJournalists.com.

You sure about that?

 

[zeke12]

Jesus was here for a while, but he got tired of people trying to draft off his heat...

 

[jgmacg]

He was on fiyah.

 

[blondebomber]

Is this the part where you explain to all of us how the real world works?

Not at all... But you're idealistic views on journalism just stun me...

I guess when you're seven for seven on your little unethical example list, somebody with admirable principles would have no choice but to stun you.

 

[Omar_dont_scare]

I certainly see how this situation creates the appearance of impropriety.

But the harsh rebukes coming from so many corners are really surprising me.

Apparently, I'm to believe all those up on the high horse have never...

-Played golf at a media function

-Gotten a free meal or any free food or drink of any kind, even something as innocuous as a bottle of water or one slice of pizza

-Received or been sent in the mail any piece of swag, no matter how chintzy or trivial

And hey, while we're at it, let's throw in those parking passes. If you didn't pay to park, why, that puts you right in the pocket of the people running the event.

I'm sorry but I don't see how any of the above taint one's ethics. I don't play golf but I've done lots of 2 and 3--so have most sports journalists I know.

And guess what? Not ONCE have I said, "Gosh, I really need to drop the hammer on them in this story. But they fed me so I won't."

If that makes me an unethical slimeball in the eyes of some of you, then I guess I'm an unethical slimeball.

That being said, there's a difference between a free meal and an 80k salary to do a radio show.