How to be a sports journalist. (7 tips.)

[Red Dragon]

1. Come to a premature conclusion and stick with it firmly. Interpret all evidence in light of that already-decided conclusion. Cherry-pick all evidence that supports that conclusion, and dismiss all facts that suggest to the contrary.

For example: You, an ESPN journalist, decide that Wade is a "Cupcake coach" and "too soft." As such, you select only evidence that suggests that Wade is soft, and ignore all evidence that suggests that he is a tough or demanding coach.




2. Hype up the Cowboys - ridiculously - as Super Bowl contenders before the season begins. Then, when the Cowboys fail to reach the Super Bowl (as 94% of NFL teams do each year,) viciously attack and criticize them for "buying into the hype and drinking the media Kool-Aid" and "failing to live up to expectations...again."



3. Cite things out of context.
For example: You, an ESPN journalist, decide that "Romo is an interception-prone, reckless gunslinger." You dig up his 9 interceptions last season as proof, and cite that as evidence that he is one of the most careless, gambling quarterbacks in the entire NFL.............disregarding the fact that Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, McNabb, Rivers, Roethlisberger and Drew Brees all threw as many or more INTs last season, too, and that 9 interceptions in one season is actually a very good figure for any quarterback.




4. Hold the Cowboys to a double standard.
As a sports journalist, it's your responsibility to shield and defend Ben Roethlisberger after his recent assault allegations. You are to divert attention away from him, and focus on other stories instead until this all blows over.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Romo were accused of assaulting a woman in a restroom? A meteor hitting New York City would receive less media coverage.



5. Make mountains out of molehills. When Dez Bryant declines to carry Roy's pads after a football pad, due to rookie ignorance, turn the story into a week-long media saga, with nonstop coverage, headlines, interviews, blog posts, and TV segments.

Listening to the media drama, one would think that Peyton Manning had just torn his ACL or that Larry Fitzgerald had just made a shocking decision to retire.



6. Make completely unsupported, inaccurate statements.
Adam Schein of Sirius NFL Radio proclaimed that Doug Free was a "human turnstile" last season, despite the fact that Free surrendered a grand total of one sack on 611 plays.




7. Draw conclusions between completely unrelated points of data.
"Romo still won't quit his golfing habit. He's spending his offseason on the links with Tiger Woods and having fun with celebrities. This sort of behavior by Romo is the main reason why the Cowboys lost to Minnesota 34-3 last season."



8. When all else fails, tell blatant lies.
Ed Werder claimed on FOX television last season - before the Green Bay game - that Miles Austin had shot his mouth off right before the game, bragging, "I think the Packers are ready to collapse with just one more push." There is NO evidence whatsoever of Austin ever having made such a statement.

 

[Longboysfan]

Facts be dammed.....

I work for ESPN.....

 

[Doomsday101]

1. Come to a premature conclusion and stick with it firmly. Interpret all evidence in light of that already-decided conclusion. Cherry-pick all evidence that supports that conclusion, and dismiss all facts that suggest to the contrary.

For example: You, an ESPN journalist, decide that Wade is a "Cupcake coach" and "too soft." As such, you select only evidence that suggests that Wade is soft, and ignore all evidence that suggests that he is a tough or demanding coach.




2. Hype up the Cowboys - ridiculously - as Super Bowl contenders before the season begins. Then, when the Cowboys fail to reach the Super Bowl (as 94% of NFL teams do each year,) viciously attack and criticize them for "buying into the hype and drinking the media Kool-Aid" and "failing to live up to expectations...again."



3. Cite things out of context.
For example: You, an ESPN journalist, decide that "Romo is an interception-prone, reckless gunslinger." You dig up his 9 interceptions last season as proof, and cite that as evidence that he is one of the most careless, gambling quarterbacks in the entire NFL.............disregarding the fact that Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, McNabb, Rivers, Roethlisberger and Drew Brees all threw as many or more INTs last season, too, and that 9 interceptions in one season is actually a very good figure for any quarterback.




4. Hold the Cowboys to a double standard.
As a sports journalist, it's your responsibility to shield and defend Ben Roethlisberger after his recent assault allegations. You are to divert attention away from him, and focus on other stories instead until this all blows over.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Romo were accused of assaulting a woman in a restroom? A meteor hitting New York City would receive less media coverage.



5. Make mountains out of molehills. When Dez Bryant declines to carry Roy's pads after a football pad, due to rookie ignorance, turn the story into a week-long media saga, with nonstop coverage, headlines, interviews, blog posts, and TV segments.

Listening to the media drama, one would think that Peyton Manning had just torn his ACL or that Larry Fitzgerald had just made a shocking decision to retire.



6. Make completely unsupported, inaccurate statements.
Adam Schein of Sirius NFL Radio proclaimed that Doug Free was a "human turnstile" last season, despite the fact that Free surrendered a grand total of one sack on 611 plays.




7. Draw conclusions between completely unrelated points of data.
"Romo still won't quit his golfing habit. He's spending his offseason on the links with Tiger Woods and having fun with celebrities. This sort of behavior by Romo is the main reason why the Cowboys lost to Minnesota 34-3 last season."



8. When all else fails, tell blatant lies.
Ed Werder claimed on FOX television last season - before the Green Bay game - that Miles Austin had shot his mouth off right before the game, bragging, "I think the Packers are ready to collapse with just one more push." There is NO evidence whatsoever of Austin ever having made such a statement.

I think you left 1 out. Have an imaginary friend and call him unnamed sources

 

[THUMPER]

I think you left 1 out. Have an imaginary friend and call him unnamed sources

How true!

Or someone who lives in the same state and call him "a source close to the team..."

 

[NextGenBoys]

I challenge each and every one of you who likes to bash modern day journalism on a daily basis to write a piece that is better than that of which you are criticizing.

Seriously.

It's not as bad as many of you make it out to be. Is journalism a freaking pen and notepad anymore? Hell no. Times are changing and journalism is evolving.

Are ESPN's ways of going about their business practical journalism? No way.

But many on this board act like it's the biggest joke in the business.

But you know what, you continue to watch, read, and in general indulge yourself in as much Cowboys journalism as you can. So they are doing their job well, whether you like to recognize it or not. Despite what many of you think, journalism is NOT simply reporting facts. That changed with the Vietnam War.

/rant

 

[bbgun]

1) death
2) taxes
3) fan-driven anti-media paranoia

Just think: only seven more months of this ****.

 

[NextGenBoys]

1) death
2) taxes
3) fan-driven anti-media paranoia

Just think: this **** will never end.

Fixed it for ya.

 

[Doomsday101]

I challenge each and every one of you who likes to bash modern day journalism on a daily basis to write a piece that is better than that of which you are criticizing.

Seriously.

It's not as bad as many of you make it out to be. Is journalism a freaking pen and notepad anymore? Hell no. Times are changing and journalism is evolving.

Are ESPN's ways of going about their business practical journalism? No way.

But many on this board act like it's the biggest joke in the business.

But you know what, you continue to watch, read, and in general indulge yourself in as much Cowboys journalism as you can. So they are doing their job well, whether you like to recognize it or not. Despite what many of you think, journalism is NOT simply reporting facts. That changed with the Vietnam War.

/rant

That change was big. As a viewer and reader I want just the fact not their opinion their opinion means nothing just give me the straight facts if you can't backup your facts then hold off on the story until you can. Today’s reporters are too busy trying to become celebrities in their own right. When most in the media are no better than the National enquirer it is time to look at them and call them out.

 

[bbgun]

Fixed it for ya.

How dare they say we're a Super Bowl contender! I mean, it doesn't even make sense! Don't you realize its all a dirty trick?!?!

 

[windjc]

I challenge each and every one of you who likes to bash modern day journalism on a daily basis to write a piece that is better than that of which you are criticizing.

Seriously.

It's not as bad as many of you make it out to be. Is journalism a freaking pen and notepad anymore? Hell no. Times are changing and journalism is evolving.

Are ESPN's ways of going about their business practical journalism? No way.

But many on this board act like it's the biggest joke in the business.

But you know what, you continue to watch, read, and in general indulge yourself in as much Cowboys journalism as you can. So they are doing their job well, whether you like to recognize it or not. Despite what many of you think, journalism is NOT simply reporting facts. That changed with the Vietnam War.

/rant

I'd take that challenge and OWN you.

Don't make excuses for the media. And what I am talking about has nothing to do with how the media treats "The Cowboys", but about media in general, be it mainstream, tabloid, or the hybrid of the two - sports media.

I could write a 500 word article everyday that was insightful, interesting and educational. And there are many people that could.

Journalists and their editor bosses have lost sight of the forest for the trees. The level of journalism all around is marginally pathetic. To make apologies for it is likewise pathetic.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I'd take that challenge and OWN you.

Don't make excuses for the media. And what I am talking about has nothing to do with how the media treats "The Cowboys", but about media in general, be it mainstream, tabloid, or the hybrid of the two - sports media.

I could write a 500 words article everyday that was insightful, interesting and educational. And there are many people that could.

Journalists and their editor bosses have lost sight of the forest for the trees. The level of journalism all around is marginally pathetic. To make apologies for it is likewise pathetic.

Man up then bud. Post a 500 word insightful, interesting, and educational article tomorrow please. And for the record, 500 words is a joke.

 

[windjc]

Man up then bud. Post a 500 word insightful, interesting, and educational article tomorrow please.

To do it I would have to put away my writing responsibilities for web content and the entertainment businesses I run now. If you want to "pony up" the dough to subsidize these efforts then I will write daily articles for you. Let me know.

 

[NextGenBoys]

That change was big. As a viewer and reader I want just the fact not their opinion their opinion means nothing just give me the straight facts if you can't backup your facts then hold off on the story until you can. Today’s reporters are too busy trying to become celebrities in their own right. When most in the media are no better than the National enquirer it is time to look at them and call them out.

No argument with that. But I cannot for a second put down others for trying to financially secure themselves.

But I cannot agree with you comparing national sports media to National Enquirer.

 

[NextGenBoys]

To do it I would have to put away my writing responsibilities for web content and the entertainment businesses I run now. If you want to "pony up" the dough to subsidize these efforts then I will write daily articles for you. Let me know.

So you're telling me you can't take the time that is needed to conduct a 500 word article?

I call bull****. 500 words should take you an hour or two tops. And that's stretching it.

 

[Doomsday101]

No argument with that. But I cannot for a second put down others for trying to financially secure themselves.

But I cannot agree with you comparing national sports media to National Enquirer.

Why you don't have to be right you can create rumor never back it up and that is a story. Sorry I don't accept the change in the media as a change for better. At 1 time a journalist had to backup their story or else the editor would not run the story now everything is fair game

 

[windjc]

So you're telling me you can't take the time that is needed to conduct a 500 word article?

I call bull****. 500 words should take you an hour or two tops. And that's stretching it.

Actually 500 words would take about 30 minutes. But I don't write for free. Got it?

Good. I'm glad. If you want to pay me then fine. Otherwise, I believe Calvin Watkins back is still sore and you didn't finish your massage.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I challenge each and every one of you who likes to bash modern day journalism on a daily basis to write a piece that is better than that of which you are criticizing.

Seriously.

It's not as bad as many of you make it out to be. Is journalism a freaking pen and notepad anymore? Hell no. Times are changing and journalism is evolving.

Are ESPN's ways of going about their business practical journalism? No way.

But many on this board act like it's the biggest joke in the business.

But you know what, you continue to watch, read, and in general indulge yourself in as much Cowboys journalism as you can. So they are doing their job well, whether you like to recognize it or not. Despite what many of you think, journalism is NOT simply reporting facts. That changed with the Vietnam War.

/rant

Good call. The only thing I would add is then repeat the task saeveral times a week like they do.

 

[windjc]

Why you don't have to be right you can create rumor never back it up and that is a story. Sorry I don't accept the change in the media as a change for better. At 1 time a journalist had to backup their story or else the editor would not run the story now everything is fair game

As I wrote in another thread, sports media is WORSE than tabloid journalism. Tabloid journalism doesn't take itself very seriously. There is a strong comic undertone to it.

Sports media generally reports in ways very similar to tabloid journalism, but there is no comic undertone. There is a sanctimonious self-righteous undertone, that defends itself as though it held itself to the journalistic integrity of Walter Cronkite. That is a frightening and unfortunate hybrid of traditional and tabloid journalism.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Actually 500 words would take about 30 minutes. But I don't write for free. Got it?

Good. I'm glad. If you want to pay me then fine. Otherwise, I believe Calvin Watkins back is still sore and you didn't finish your massage.

500 words of crap maybe.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Why you don't have to be right you can create rumor never back it up and that is a story. Sorry I don't accept the change in the media as a change for better. At 1 time a journalist had to backup their story or else the editor would not run the story now everything is fair game

I have a feeling you're talking about "sources" and how they're never named.

You have to take the good with the bad. Because without these "sources" we would not be getting any breaking news.

You think for a second people are going to tell Adam Schefter what they tell him if they have their name attached after it?

"Rex Ryan of the Jets tells me that he is disappointed with Derrel Revis and how he is handling his contract situation"

"Sources within the Jets organization have told me there are rumblings that the organization is not happy with the way he is handling his situation"

When Rex Ryan has his name attached to it, it is automatically drama. Sources within the organization leave it broad enough that people know the Jets aren't happy with Revis, but there is not a direct person responsible for the quote.

For the record, this situation is hypothetical lol