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ESPN Journalistic Standards: The Emperor No Longer Wears Clothes
I've seen a lot of people over at CSN criticize ESPN in the past but had never really seen anyone actually do any sort of report on it until now. You may be able to argue some of the points, but even I have to admit that I've watched less and less of ESPN over the years for some of the reasons that are pointed out in the article. But this is what happens when there's no competition. I really do hope that CBSSN or NBCSN or both can move forward and provide some sort of competition. It won't be over night, but that's the only way that things will change at all. Fox seems to be happy with what they're doing so I don't see them trying to be a national contender and stick with their more regional stuff.
For quite some time, ESPN has been the know-all, tell-all leader in sports media. But times change and companies rise and fall. Because of missteps and competition, it looks like the king might have a rebellion on his hands.
Disney created a beast in ESPN. It grew to incredible heights very quickly and in the process nearly monopolized sports news and entertainment. Look at its accomplishments: it defined the highlights show with "SportsCenter," created the ESPYs and found a niche for extreme sports with the "X-Games." Its reach and business decisions helped it determine the fates of many sports and college conferences.
Also read: 'Monday Night Football' To Remain on ESPN Through 2021
But ESPN isn't what it once was. It's become a bloated bastion of hyperbole. Instead of giving us the highlights and sound bites, the network is shoveling hours of mindless dreck into our TVs. Needless to say the journalistic standards have suffered.
Also read: Deadspin Spy Infiltrates ESPN Meeting
The decline in news quality can be directly attributed to conspicuous conflicts of interest. ESPN covers sports leagues journalistically but also pays them billions of dollars in rights fees to broadcast their games. As ESPN has won the rights to more sports, it has started covering athletes as if they were promotional ideas. By playing things both ways it has become a shell of its former self.
Let's look at the crimes ESPN has perpetrated against the American sport-loving public:
Disney created a beast in ESPN. It grew to incredible heights very quickly and in the process nearly monopolized sports news and entertainment. Look at its accomplishments: it defined the highlights show with "SportsCenter," created the ESPYs and found a niche for extreme sports with the "X-Games." Its reach and business decisions helped it determine the fates of many sports and college conferences.
Also read: 'Monday Night Football' To Remain on ESPN Through 2021
But ESPN isn't what it once was. It's become a bloated bastion of hyperbole. Instead of giving us the highlights and sound bites, the network is shoveling hours of mindless dreck into our TVs. Needless to say the journalistic standards have suffered.
Also read: Deadspin Spy Infiltrates ESPN Meeting
The decline in news quality can be directly attributed to conspicuous conflicts of interest. ESPN covers sports leagues journalistically but also pays them billions of dollars in rights fees to broadcast their games. As ESPN has won the rights to more sports, it has started covering athletes as if they were promotional ideas. By playing things both ways it has become a shell of its former self.
Let's look at the crimes ESPN has perpetrated against the American sport-loving public:
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