Why can’t there just be different kinds of journalists. Like, what if we just say Schefter is more in the rumor business than hard hitting analysis and leave it at that?
I rank sports reporters at exactly the same level as entertainment reporters and do not expect a level of ethics above entertainment tonight.
One of the funniest thing about sports journalism is the profession takes itself so seriously.
Whatever y'all consider a real journalist, Adam Shefter sat in the same classes, learning the same lessons, adhering to the same standards. If he wanted to be like one of the TMZ guys, or whatever Happy Slapnuts is hosting your local AM talk show, or some blogger, or podcaster that's fine. However, that's not how he nor his employer positioned him. I just saw this dude on Real Sports three weeks ago flexing his big J journo cred and talking about his Michigan J School education. He positioned himself as a journalist, he's certainly paid like one and he's out here letting his subjects write his stories.
That being said if he shouldn't have a problem continuing to get scoops from front office people, and that's probably enough to keep ESPN happy. He's mumped himself with players and agents though.
are people actually surprised at the schefter thing
Very clearly so.
They teach you to not let your subjects write the stories literally on the first day of newspaper class in high school. I remember the very seat I was sitting in when I heard this the first time in early September 1991.