Sports writer makes up quotes, is fired

"Just put something down" burned me - as the subject, not the reporter.

At my college paper, one of the folks wanted to do a New Year's Resolution package. I don't make New Year's Resolution, so I just gave something really generic. About 10 words. She wanted closer to a hundred so I stupidly said "Well, flesh that out to 100 words."

That came back to bite me and not in a "listen to this funny story from college" way but a "defend myself in front of the dean" way. My photo, my byline saying that I was had drugs in my possession....

So, I would never do that with the shoe on the other foot because I know what it feels like

 

This is totally different than taking quotes from a broadcast and using them, especially when covering a game remotely (not in person). It may be all you can get on deadline.

Hey, if the radio guys are going to use MY story verbatim in their morning broadcast, I can use a quote from a radio interview.

 

This seemed to take a hard 90-degree turn here ... did somebody say making up quotes and taking quotes from a broadcast are not totally different?

 

Interesting.