As the steroid scandal in baseball continues to grow and evolve, one issue that is constantly discussed is what role the media has played throughout the Steroid Era. In many people's opinions, sports journalists are just as guilty as ownership and the commissioner's office in ignoring an epidemic that was right in front of them for years. This issue is an example that brings to question the legitimacy of calling "sports journalists" real journalists. After all, they are covering a game. The article I've posted discusses some problems sports journalists face and questions the roles of sports journalists to the American public: http://thephoenix.com/Article.aspx?id=8312&page=4
It is an interesting issue that has a variety of possible opinions. Some people simply want their sports reporters to supply them with information on their favorite teams. They could care less about what is going on in a player's personal life. Others want to know about such gossip, which would require a reporter to some investigative reporting.
Sports have grown into such an institution that it has an unparalleled impact on the economy and society as a whole. Based on this concept, it seems necessary for sports to be reported as closely as it is followed by die-hard fans throughout the country.
The passion fans feel towards their teams may be the reason why sports are covered so passively. Sports journalists are usually the biggest of sports fans. Therefore, they most likely would hate to uncover a scandal, such as steroids, that would tarnish the pastime they adore.
What responsibility do you feel sports journalists have when it comes to issues such as steroids, and do you think the personal lives of sports celebrities are newsworthy? How much if any blame do you place on journalists for leaving the story untouched for so long? How do you think you would perform under similar circumstances as a sports fan?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
The questions you bring up are serious ones that I feel will be discussed for years to come. The Importance of Sports reporting can be viewed in many ways, I'm one who things it's very important since sports plays such a huge role in my life.
However not everyone feels this way and our handbook does a good job of stating the situation in simple terms, "...sports sections are among the most read sections of a newspaper, on the other hand, like Rodney Dangerfield, they" get no respect". Sports plays a huge role in people lives but at the same time its still just a game.
As far as the steroids issue, it is the duty of the sports journalist to bring to light everything whether positive or negative about the sport. No matter if the journalist is a fan or not, he is a journalist before a fan. I do put some of the blame on the journalist's for not uncovering the truth about steroids in baseball. There in the locker rooms and have the inside information most fans don't have, there is no way they couldn't have had suspicions.
If I was in there position I would do my best to uncover the truth and report it, I'm a fan of baseball and bringing the problem to light could only help it being solved quicker.
What role has the media played in steroid scandal? I think journalists have a major impact on the publicity of the issue of steroid use. I think the professional sports celebrities should be publicized so the public knows but not over done.
As a sports fan, I would like to know the news of the athletes. I get saddened when I hear great players using steroids, but I don’t want to be lied to as well as something being kept from me. I want to root for my Yankees but when I heard about Giambi and Clemens possibly using steroids, yes I was upset but I rather know then believe they are really that great.
Also there are many sportswriters that blame themselves for not exposing the use of steroids by professional baseball players. I feel that they should blame themselves because they are lying to the fans. The public has a right to know what professional people are doing if it impacts their daily routines by playing sports. It is their duty to let the people know even if it’s a negative thing.
The role of a journalist is to report the news truthfully and in an unbiased way. It should not matter what title you stick in front of the word "journalist," whether it's entertainment, sports, political, local, nation economic- those areas of journalism, while clearly different genres, are supposed to share the common denominator of reporting based on a distinguished code of ethics all journalists are supposed to follow. Entertainment journalists have no problem writing about Britney Spear's multiple issues, or other starlets’ drug abuse problems, political journalists report scandals within political parties as soon as they catch the slightest whiff of them- and these are all people in the media that consumers want to hear and read about- just like athletes. But when it comes to sports reporting, there is this different feeling regarding their credibility. It is as though these athletes are perceived as godly and with super strength- we don't want to know they only got this way because of steroids because that makes them more similar to us, and thus, less revered. So while as a fan, you might not want to read that there's a good chance your favorite athlete got to the level they're at because of steroids, it is something that we now must consider because we want to know there is still accurate and honest reporting out there. The point was made in Matthew's post that he would report on it to shed light on the problem for the hope that the problem could be solved faster, and I fully agree. Simply because you are a fan does not mean that you can mislead readers/viewers/listeners and avoid what is really going on in the world of athletes. Journalists should make it a point to report on those athletes who are using because it will help solidify the skill of those who aren't. It is not the journalist’s fault that they should, or have to report such news- it is the athletes for thinking they could get away with it.
Although they haven't always gotten the same respect, sports journalists are still journalists. For this reason, it is their responsibility to inform their readers about the issues, even the tough ones like steroids in baseball.
Two of the basic principles of journalism are to be a watchdog for the people and to report without bias. So, even with something like the steriod story which could mean tarnishing the sport they love, sports journalists are obligated to write about it.
In the Handbook, Wanta says that sports journalists now seem to be more accepted in their newsrooms, that they're better educated, consider their work more prestigious, and that they "hold very similar attitudes on newsroom policies" as their colleagues.
Sports journalists have come a long way, but they still need to do their jobs in a way that will continue to earn them respect.
I (unfortunately) feel like these questions will be raised again and again over the years to come…I feel that when it comes to issues as steroids, that sports journalists do have somewhat of a responsibility to provide us, the public, with information and stories. Although, it’s a fine line to dance upon. There raises the issue of privacy, yet the right to know. As any American, these athletes/celebrities have the right to a private life. However, when they go and do illegal things (steroids, cocaine, etc.) it is then that they are handing over their right of privacy as a trade in for their wrong doings. I feel that sports journalists have the right to speak of these private actions (such as steroid use) when the athlete crosses the line and breaks their code of ethics as a clean and fair athlete. Not only is it illegal drug usage, it is also, as equally important, cheating. It is then that the public has the right to know, as delivered by sports journalists, the untruthful actions our athletes have committed. When I hear celebrity gossip about their personal lives, I never see it as newsworthy, yet always entertaining. Of course Kobe Bryant’s alleged affair is entertaining, but no way is it newsworthy. As well as the antics of Brittany, etc. I think the issue of steroids was a hard subject for journalists to approach. I believe they left it untouched so long as a safety and precaution until more stories and cases unraveled. I do not blame the journalists for the delayed publication of the story. Under similar circumstances, I think I would have been slow to act as well. I would have waited for a legit amount of information from the commission before I made any moves for legal purposes and to actually put faith in an athlete that they are honest and true to their sport and fans – before jumping to any accusatory accusations.
Journalists play a major role in what we, as fans and spectators, are fed through the news,ESPN, and other such mediums. Their job as a sports journalist is to cover sporting events and the athletes themselves.
In no way do i condone what has been going on in the baseball world regarding steroids, but at the same time, you can not tell me that other players in past years and in other sports even, have not been taking supplements and other things that are known to help their performance.
I understand that the medias job is to inform us of these allegations and let us know what is going on but i also feel that the way the Media has portrayed these events may have an impact on the outcome of the rulings by the commissioner and the teams owners.
This would be extremely hard if possible, but i think that the owners and commissioner should settle all the disputes before holding press conferences.
I understand that these superstar players have been using steroids, I am not trying to smooth the situation out but i don't feel it should be in the public eye until everything is solved, as you can see, this scandal has had a tremendous effect on the game and records that have been broken due to "steroids".
I absolutely agree with Kate in saying that it is a journalist’s responsibility and duty to the public to report the news in a fair and truthful manner. It does not matter what kind of journalist you are. In undertaking this profession, you become the public’s eyes and ears, and are therefore obligated to inform.
With this being said, the current issue of steroids is something that sports journalists must report to the public. Wanta writes that “while scandals have rocked the news departments..sports departments have remained relatively free of troubles.” He also says that sports reporting is often referred to as the “toy department of life.” And although sports is often scandal-free, providing a primarily positive experience for viewers, such as through post-game locker room celebrations, it is a given that serious matters will occur. Whether it’s regarding current issues such as steroid use or the Patriots cheating, the public deserves to know, and the stories warrant complete attention and coverage from the media.
In maintaining the argument of the general public’s right to know, fans deserve to know about who they are cheering for each and every game and who they stay loyal to year in and year out. Younger readers especially tend to be drawn to the glamor and stardom that comes with being a sports star. Think about how many kids and teenagers have posters of Roger Clemens and other sports “heroes” in their bedrooms, hoping to one day be as great as them. Sports journalists have a responsibility to relay the truth about these supposed heroes. While players absolutely have the right to privacy, illegal behavior such as steroid use needs to be exposed. Even though we make professional athletes out to be so incredible, they are not above the law, and certainly should not be allowed to lead fans to believe they are someone more talented than they actually are.
For me, whether or not I blame the media is a tough call. With a situation as serious as steroid use, I think it’s necessary to gather as much information and evidence as possible before releasing the story. This impacts so many players, and the opinions of so many fans, that any premature accusations could be devastating to the game. However, as a broadcast journalism major I do stand by how important it is to be the public’s ears and inform them truthfully and thoroughly. As a fan it is hard to see favorite players in this negative light, but that would not prevent me from trying to solve the issue. The faster we resolve it, the faster we will be able to fully enjoy the upcoming baseball season, free from scandal.
In response to Brian's post, I would first like to say that I feel as though professional athletes who choose to use steroids deserve to have their story told to the public as soon as it is a known issue. Journalists should not be reluctant to write about the personal lives of professional athletes when an athlete chooses to illegally uses steroids.
I feel the responsibility journalists have when it comes to issues such as steroids is to truthfully report on the story, the story is in fact newsworthy. A journalist's job is to report on newsworthy events, and I feel that whether they like it or not they must report on sensitive sports issues such as steroid use. Journalists should mention the player's name as well as the background information known in regards to the player's steroid use.
Professional athletes who use steroids have an unfair advantage and I do believe that the sports journalists should have been reporting on the issue since it became known. I know this is an aspect of the athlete's personal life, but they decided to take part in using a drug that is against the rules and deserve negative publicity. However, I do not agree in sports journalists reporting on everything that surrounds an athlete's personal life. This includes stalking them with cameras when they are not competing at times when they are just partaking in innocent activities.
I do understand the situation sports journalists are in. If I was a sports journalist and over heard Tom Brady discussing that he was using steroids, I would not want to give my favorite player negative publicity. However, it is what the job of the journalist entails.
There is a fine line between what should be covered and what shouldn't be in sports. Since the beginning of the decade this line has finally come to light. Before this decade it was difficult because it was pre-Steroids. The majority of things that were reported happened outside of the actual sporting events would be if the athletes got in trouble with the law.
Beyond events like arrests, it is not a journalists responsibility to be snooping around an athlete 24/7. The problem is that companies like TMZ who specialize in following around celebrities are also realizing the popularity of athletes. People are just as interested in what the athletes are doing on the off-days as with what they're doing on the field of play (see Tony Romo/Tom Brady). Those types of things are ridiculous and it is not a journalistic obligation to follow around the athletes.
When it comes to steroids it becomes a different issue. This changes the way the athletes are playing on the field, not to mention it's illegal, just like if they got arrested and it was reported. Fans deserve to know this because they're paying good money to see these players and more importantly many fans are young and easily influenced by these athletes. Think about how many fans idolized Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens only to find out that they were taking illegal drugs to enhance their performance.
I don't really blame journalists for leaving it alone for so long because all these journalists really had was their opinion. They weren't the clubhouse guys that were supplying them and most journalists probably didn't much proof and certainly not enough to bring up such a huge issue. I can't imagine how awful it would be for a journalist to accuse someone of using steroids with no real evidence except their personal opinion. They would likely be sued and potentially lose their job. This is why it took huge investigations like the Mitchell Report as well as people like Brian McNamee to expose these athletes.
This is definitely an interesting issue to see how far is too far with sport journalists.
Are they really doing their job when choosing to breeze over such issues such as steroids? I would question the creditability of any journalist who saw the needle and looked the other way. Isn't it their job to cover the entire story, what completely affects the game? Its interesting how journalists can follow Tony Romo to Mexico or Tom Brady to Manhattan. Who cares? Whats going on in the back room is what should be brought to attention. Its what is affecting our pastimes negatively.
However, with all that said, I also believe that reporters are covering their own butts by not reporting the steroid or any other big issues. Say a John Doe outted a Roger Clemens, how much more difficult will his job become? After outting an athlete, other athletes will be more likely to stay away from John because they know he could be out for blood. Outting players and bringing issues forward could be the end of a career.
This is sadly a bi-polar issue. On one hand, reporters should do their job and cover the entire story. On the other hand, if reporters uncover everything, then they may be ignored for the rest of their career for doing what is ethically right.
Post a Comment