RichieWhitt: Shame on You ESPNDallas. Shame, I Say.

WoodysGirl

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By Richie Whitt in Radio, TV and that Damned Media
Tue., Dec. 8 2009 @ 8:30AM



​If you're one of those who doesn't believe in the theory of "credit where credit is due", and who thinks principles like "ownership" and "theft" are antiquated ideals better left behind in a kinder, gentler, softer era, please stop reading.

Now.

If you have a tendency to respond with "Dudn't matter!" or "Who cares?", please move on. Nothing for you to see here. Comprende? Good.

For the rest of you, let me start with this with this salvo:

The new web site ESPNDallas.com is run by a bunch of supercilious robbers who are defiantly ignoring the ethics of journalism and staining their precious "world-wide leader" brand.

How's that you say?

Repeatedly since its hats-'n-horns launch, ESPNDallas has constantly and consistently used the creative property of 105.3 The Fan without nary a mention of the station.


Latest example, posted last Friday:
"Actually, I didn't know anything about it until this morning," Jerry Jones said on his weekly radio show. "It's not a big deal to me."
On his weekly radio show? Like, maybe it's a syndicated, national thing picked up by hundreds of stations? Maybe even some ESPN affiliates? Is it satellite radio? Or is it just a generic, omnipresent buffet free for whoever wants a piece?

ESPNDallas would like you to think that. But, of course, it ain't true. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones makes two weekly radio appearances - with Jagger Tuesdays at 8:10 a.m. and with Newy Scruggs and me Fridays at 10 a.m. - both on 105.3 The Fan.

This is tantamount to plagiarism. To theft. I don't need a Journalism 101 refresher to know it's ethically, grossly wrong.


And it gets worse. Apparently ESPNDallas has a policy of ignoring the specifics of crediting sources. Unless - how convenient - that source just happens to benefit them. Example:
"As far as relationships go, sometimes that stems from winning and losing," Romo said to Michael Irvin, who also hosts a midday show on 103.3 FM.
So Tony Romo says something to Michael Irvin, who hosts a midday show on 103.3 FM ESPN, but Jerry Jones merely says something on his weekly radio show. You smell that stench?

In no way is this a knock on the writers of the site, most of whom I know and consider to be talented writers and friends, or at least friendly. They know better, but this decision is way out of their control. Not their doing. Not their fault.

Nonetheless, what's occurring here is akin to a salesman specifically giving you a hot lead and then - when you close the deal and cash in - claiming you got the tip at a sales convention. If ESPNDallas gets a breaking news scoop, should I use the information on this blog, re-write the quotes and credit just "a web site"? Of course not.

I will continue, as I did last Sunday on the 105.3 The Fan Cowboys Pre-Game Show, to give credit where credit is due. When I talked about receiver Miles Austin being surprised at the hubbub over his Vegas vacation, I credited his quote to its proper source: ESPNDallas' Calvin Watkins.

I won't stoop to ESPNDallas' level. But I will call out their sophomoric shenanigans. ESPNDallas editors/management - you know who you are - I have two words:

Chicken. ****.

In other - front-page worthy? - media news this morn, looks like The Dallas Morning News is hooking up with The Ticket. Morning News writers will now appear exclusively on the station and have their work linked at The Ticket's web site.

Wow, what a novel concept.

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/sportatorium/2009/12/shame_on_you_espndallas_shame.php#more
 

Chocolate Lab

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He is right, though...

But his problem is thinking ESPNDallas cares anything about journalistic ethics.
 

CowboyMike

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Yeah, it's a little stupid, but he's right.

ESPNDallas isn't the only one though. This stench has permeated all of ESPN. There is no such thing as journalism ethics anymore.
 

Randy White

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theogt;3134817 said:
Okay, this was pretty stupid.



Not if you're a writer... sports or otherwise..

This is a big deal for them, and I can't blame them. Receiving credit for their work is, basically, their livelyhood. If somebody else, or others, keep stealing it, then they might as well fold the tent and get out of the business.
 

TheMarathonContinues

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So what are they suppose to say? He said it on his weekly radio show on 105.3 the fan in Dallas when ESPN has a radio show in Dallas as well? Is it really smart business to mention a competing radio station in a article on your website?
 

Tio

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rocyaice;3134872 said:
So what are they suppose to say? He said it on his weekly radio show on 105.3 the fan in Dallas when ESPN has a radio show in Dallas as well? Is it really smart business to mention a competing radio station in a article on your website?
If you are using material from that competing station, it is imperative that you cite where the content came from properly.
 

gimmesix

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Chocolate Lab;3134819 said:
He is right, though...

But his problem is thinking ESPNDallas cares anything about journalistic ethics.

No, he isn't. ESPNDallas did not take credit for generating the quote.

It is a courtesy to credit the organization/writer who did generate the quote, but not an obligation.

Plus, ESPNDallas was quoting Jerry Jones and not Scruggs or Whitt, so it gave proper credit to the person who said it.

If you take written material verbatim from a source without crediting the source, then you have plagiarism. If you take a person's quote, Jerry Jones in this case, and use it as your own, then you have plagiarism.

This is nothing more than a journalist getting hurt because his name or show didn't get mentioned.
 

gimmesix

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Randy White;3134852 said:
Not if you're a writer... sports or otherwise..

This is a big deal for them, and I can't blame them. Receiving credit for their work is, basically, their livelyhood. If somebody else, or others, keep stealing it, then they might as well fold the tent and get out of the business.

Really, quotes are not a big deal. You, as a writer, didn't say them, so if they are used by someone else that's their prerogative.

If they take something you wrote or said and use it as their own, then there's a problem.
 

Beast_from_East

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So what exactly is the point of this article???

If the guy thinks ESPNDallas is ripping off his content, then he needs to seek legal action against them. Either way, what the hell does he expect his readers to do about it???
 

Boyzmamacita

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Beast_from_East;3134936 said:
So what exactly is the point of this article???

If the guy thinks ESPNDallas is ripping off his content, then he needs to seek legal action against them. Either way, what the hell does he expect his readers to do about it???
He just wants us to know about the lack of integrity and unprofessionalism at ESPNDallas. The first tenet of journalism is the right to know (truth).
 

xWraithx

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am I the only one confused about what the hell the point of the article is?

what I'm getting is that ESPNDallas doesn't credit sources or something?

what the hell was that whole bit about Jerry Jones on a radio show?

*confused*
 

adbutcher

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Chocolate Lab;3134819 said:
He is right, though...

But his problem is thinking ESPNDallas cares anything about journalistic ethics.

Bingo.

In addition, I don't see anything coming out of this. It would be nice if there was some type of War for ethics but I afraid that with so many hacks out there, the ethical reporting side would lose in a slaughter.
 

viman96

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Ah the joy of the Dallas media turing againt each other. Its like wild animals eating their own.
 

Randy White

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rocyaice;3134872 said:
So what are they suppose to say? He said it on his weekly radio show on 105.3 the fan in Dallas when ESPN has a radio show in Dallas as well? Is it really smart business to mention a competing radio station in a article on your website?

It's done all the time on every medium. You see FOX airing MSNBC clips giving them credit, the opposite as well. Competing local stations do it all the time, newspapers, magazines, etc..

It's an unwritten rule most follow..
 

THUMPER

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xWraithx;3135095 said:
am I the only one confused about what the hell the point of the article is?

what I'm getting is that ESPNDallas doesn't credit sources or something?

what the hell was that whole bit about Jerry Jones on a radio show?

*confused*

I thought it was just me. Glad to know I'm not the only one who couldn't make sense of the examples he was using.

If he is just now figuring out that ESPN has no sense of journalistic integrity then he is pretty dense.
 
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