We’ve been here before with me commenting, usually critically, about how many of my colleagues in various realms of the media simply ignore facts for whatever reasons that drive them.
Some are lazy, some have agendas, some lean toward sensationalizing stories, thus they simply don’t care about facts, and some just aren’t very good at their jobs.
Once again, a story involving UNC athletics has brought these unfortunate realities to the surface, reinforcing them, though that wasn’t really needed. The collective nauseatingly poor coverage of the NCAA investigation hammered that home with a fistful of exclamation marks, so those interested in the Tar Heels won’t soon forget.
But, in case anyone needed a reminder, enter coverage the last two days of the case involving reserve football player Allen Artis.
As one of about 15 members of the media that attended Delaney Robinson’s press conference Tuesday, and one of five sports writers, a few of my sports colleagues and I walked away agreeing this was not a sports story, it just happened to involve a reserve football player.
Robinson’s attorney, Denise Branch, and Robinson herself, said this was not a football issue and they had no beef with the football program at all. They had made no efforts to contact Larry Fedora or anyone on the staff in hopes of getting some traction in their case, which was going nowhere because the authorities investigating didn’t believe there was sufficient evidence to charge Artis.
Robinson’s beef, if you will, has been and is with UNC’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) and that they allege it did not follow Title IX procedures. Their reason for calling a press conference was to bring light to that, hoping to affect change, they said.
So it wasn’t in any way presented as a football deal. That was quite clear yesterday, but it didn’t stop some of the local news – news, not sports – TV media from descending upon the football practice fields to ask questions after practice Tuesday. So out of their element were some of these members of the media several thought defensive coordinator Gene Chizik was actually Fedora. One even asked a fellow scribe afterward who it was she had just asked three questions with a microphone in his face.
Fedora doesn’t address the media on Tuesdays, defensive coaches and players do. The head coach’s days are Monday at his weekly presser and Wednesday after practice.
Okay, they have their jobs to do, and it had to be covered, but while it would have seemed the story would be in the rear view mirror by today, we learn that some of the national news broadcasts and even Inside Edition, a fraudulent news program if there ever was one, sensationalized the story making it a football matter.
Inside Edition described Artis as a “star football player,” even though he’s played what, 40 naps in four seasons? He’s a fourth-year player who was moved from the secondary to linebacker in fall camp. He’s listed third on the depth chart, but is really the fourth-string linebacker where Cayson Collins starts, if there even is a fourth string.
Not to disparage Artis, as he is on some of the special teams and got in a few plays last Saturday at Illinois, but he’s not a significant player on the team. Yet, that didn’t stop Inside Edition from describing him as a star and others from treating the story as if a big-time player has been convicted of rape.
Now, also lost in the reports is that the accusations have been investigated and he was not charged, and the only reason it was in the news again was because Robinson self-swore out a warrant for Artis for misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor sexual battery. Neither are rape, yet the rape word is being recklessly thrown around. It’s easier, more sensational, and will trick viewers into watching, truth be damned.
I have no clue what happened that night and am in no position to apply any judgment on her veracity or the actual details of her accusation. That’s not my job, either. My job, however, is to cover UNC football and men’s basketball, and sometimes how the media covers relevant stories are worthy topics of discussion. This is one of those occasions.
It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that many in my profession don’t cross their Ts or dot there Is, or simply have an agenda they are determined to drive home even if many of their pegs are square and the holes are round.
I am also not here to defend Artis. If he’s guilty he should be punished accordingly, no questions asked.
But the media, as negligent and irresponsible as it has proven to be once again, has no higher authority that can levy a reprimand. The media can just keep on trucking along bulldozing over facts that don’t fit agendas or ignore them when more than an arm’s reach away.
There, I’m stepping down from my soap box. I hate criticizing my own profession of 21 years, as there are still so many amazing people in it and elements to it, but sometimes one can’t simply sit back without speaking up. So, I’ve spoken up. Now I will move on.
Some are lazy, some have agendas, some lean toward sensationalizing stories, thus they simply don’t care about facts, and some just aren’t very good at their jobs.
Once again, a story involving UNC athletics has brought these unfortunate realities to the surface, reinforcing them, though that wasn’t really needed. The collective nauseatingly poor coverage of the NCAA investigation hammered that home with a fistful of exclamation marks, so those interested in the Tar Heels won’t soon forget.
But, in case anyone needed a reminder, enter coverage the last two days of the case involving reserve football player Allen Artis.
As one of about 15 members of the media that attended Delaney Robinson’s press conference Tuesday, and one of five sports writers, a few of my sports colleagues and I walked away agreeing this was not a sports story, it just happened to involve a reserve football player.
Robinson’s attorney, Denise Branch, and Robinson herself, said this was not a football issue and they had no beef with the football program at all. They had made no efforts to contact Larry Fedora or anyone on the staff in hopes of getting some traction in their case, which was going nowhere because the authorities investigating didn’t believe there was sufficient evidence to charge Artis.
Robinson’s beef, if you will, has been and is with UNC’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) and that they allege it did not follow Title IX procedures. Their reason for calling a press conference was to bring light to that, hoping to affect change, they said.
So it wasn’t in any way presented as a football deal. That was quite clear yesterday, but it didn’t stop some of the local news – news, not sports – TV media from descending upon the football practice fields to ask questions after practice Tuesday. So out of their element were some of these members of the media several thought defensive coordinator Gene Chizik was actually Fedora. One even asked a fellow scribe afterward who it was she had just asked three questions with a microphone in his face.
Fedora doesn’t address the media on Tuesdays, defensive coaches and players do. The head coach’s days are Monday at his weekly presser and Wednesday after practice.
Okay, they have their jobs to do, and it had to be covered, but while it would have seemed the story would be in the rear view mirror by today, we learn that some of the national news broadcasts and even Inside Edition, a fraudulent news program if there ever was one, sensationalized the story making it a football matter.
Inside Edition described Artis as a “star football player,” even though he’s played what, 40 naps in four seasons? He’s a fourth-year player who was moved from the secondary to linebacker in fall camp. He’s listed third on the depth chart, but is really the fourth-string linebacker where Cayson Collins starts, if there even is a fourth string.
Not to disparage Artis, as he is on some of the special teams and got in a few plays last Saturday at Illinois, but he’s not a significant player on the team. Yet, that didn’t stop Inside Edition from describing him as a star and others from treating the story as if a big-time player has been convicted of rape.
Now, also lost in the reports is that the accusations have been investigated and he was not charged, and the only reason it was in the news again was because Robinson self-swore out a warrant for Artis for misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor sexual battery. Neither are rape, yet the rape word is being recklessly thrown around. It’s easier, more sensational, and will trick viewers into watching, truth be damned.
I have no clue what happened that night and am in no position to apply any judgment on her veracity or the actual details of her accusation. That’s not my job, either. My job, however, is to cover UNC football and men’s basketball, and sometimes how the media covers relevant stories are worthy topics of discussion. This is one of those occasions.
It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that many in my profession don’t cross their Ts or dot there Is, or simply have an agenda they are determined to drive home even if many of their pegs are square and the holes are round.
I am also not here to defend Artis. If he’s guilty he should be punished accordingly, no questions asked.
But the media, as negligent and irresponsible as it has proven to be once again, has no higher authority that can levy a reprimand. The media can just keep on trucking along bulldozing over facts that don’t fit agendas or ignore them when more than an arm’s reach away.
There, I’m stepping down from my soap box. I hate criticizing my own profession of 21 years, as there are still so many amazing people in it and elements to it, but sometimes one can’t simply sit back without speaking up. So, I’ve spoken up. Now I will move on.
