Outrageous (or unbelievable) statement dilemma

[BB Bobcat]

Let's say you are talking to an athlete on your beat who is prone to saying things without really meaning them, either for shock value or just because he's a little goofy. He says something that you don't believe he really means, but taken on its own the quote is certainly newsworthy. You probably won't have a chance to get back to him for clarification until the next day.

Do you run the quote right now? Talk to him again the next day? Just blow it off?

 

[EE94]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma


You're a journalist if you go back and have him clarify. If he means it, you're good.

You're a salesman if you go with it now, just because it will shock. If he doesn't mean it, then what's its worth to the public?

 

[Mayfly]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

Covering Mike Tyson again BB?

 

[BB Bobcat]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

You're a journalist if you go back and have him clarify. If he means it, you're good.

You're a salesman if you go with it now, just because it will shock. If he doesn't mean it, then what's its worth to the public?

Good advice. That was my first instinct, but sometimes I think I'm too conservative about these things and end up watching someone else make a big story out of something I had blown off because I thought it was ridiculous.

 

[Ace]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma


So a journalists can only quote people if we confirm they really mean what they say? Did political reporters get this memo?

I'd quote Goofy if he knew he was talking with a reporter. Why not?

 

[spnited]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

Are you talking about a high school athlete here or higher level?

 

[DanOregon]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

See Ted Koppel vs. Al Campanis on Nightline for your answer.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

Agree with spnited... different levels warrant different consideration. I had a couple kids at the college I covered who were quote gold mines. Said some absolutely absurd ****. Had it been a high schooler saying some of it -- or if I didn't know them so well -- I might have thought twice about running most of it.

 

[BB Bobcat]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

Are you talking about a high school athlete here or higher level?

High profile professional athlete.

 

[dawgpounddiehard]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

Are you talking about a high school athlete here or higher level?

High profile professional athlete.

Then he should know better. Go with it.

 

[spnited]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

Are you talking about a high school athlete here or higher level?

High profile professional athlete.

Then he should know better. Go with it.

Absolutely. Just like when Sheffield shoots of his mouth, nobody says "are you sure you wanna say that."

Pro athlete has to be ready to take the heat. Definitely go with it.

 

[Joe Williams]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

See Ted Koppel vs. Al Campanis on Nightline for your answer.

Koppel tried to throw Campanis a couple of lifelines, too, clarifying and following up. But old Al stuck with his "necessities" position.

 

[Ace]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma


Seriously, if you are interviewing the guy and he says something crazy, go with it.

If you are just chit chatting and he says it to you alone and you want to maintain a relationship, I'd ask if you can quote him.

 

[BB Bobcat]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

The guy definitely knew it was an interview.

I guess I should go ahead and use it, but I'm still going to provide the context for the reader with "Although he said this, don't necessarily take it to the bank." Or something like that.

I believe it was one of those situations where he didnt' want to give a lot of thought to the answer, because neither of the two possible answers was appealing to him, so he just threw out something.

Unfortunately he had to walk away right after he said it, and I doubt I'll be able to get him again today.

 

[Stitch]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

Context is important, but it's important to led the reader know how full of crap someone is if they're the ones providing the manure.

 

[sirvaliantbrown]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

I guess I should go ahead and use it, but I'm still going to provide the context for the reader with "Although he said this, don't necessarily take it to the bank." Or something like that.

BB, why do you feel the need to protect him? Unless someone is making a joke, in which case you should make it clear that the comment was not meant to be taken seriously, I don't think it's your job to shield the well-paid public figures you cover from the impact of their words. And...isn't it condescending, just a little, to say, "This, word for word, is what he said...but he's a little slow/unthinking/ridiculous, so you shouldn't actually believe him"?

I know I don't know the specific circumstances (and the specific answer) you're dealing with here...just strikes me as somewhat strange.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

What is the purpose of an interview? To help us give the readers some insights into that person. We filter all kinds of things in doing that -- we might write about what he wore but not what he ate. If the quote is out of character (and not public), does it serve your purpose of helping your readers "know" the person? You could catch me on a bad day and scribble down, "The world is going to hell and I don't care because I hate people anyway." You'd really have to evaluate whether that offers an insight into my soul or is just frustration because some cellphone-using idiot in the parking lot nearly ran me over. Context is important, true, but so is deciding what's illuminating and what's just shock value.

 

[BB Bobcat]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

Well, I just talked to my SE about it and we decided to run it, even though both of us agreed that the statement may not have been 100 percent earnest. We can't read minds. I'm providing the context that his statement may amount to nothing, but here it is.

It's something people are talking about, and this will be interesting to them. If the player changes his mind later, we can just run another story.

It's really not that big of a deal, I guess. It's nothing you are going to see on Nightline.

 

[DGRollins]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

Well, I just talked to my SE about it and we decided to run it, even though both of us agreed that the statement may not have been 100 percent earnest. We can't read minds. I'm providing the context that his statement may amount to nothing, but here it is.

It's something people are talking about, and this will be interesting to them. If the player changes his mind later, we can just run another story.

It's really not that big of a deal, I guess. It's nothing you are going to see on Nightline.

I'm sorry, but why was this even a question? Your SE is right, you can't read minds. He's a pro athlete. You're a reporter. If he doesn't want to see something in print he shouldn't say it to a reporter. As someone else said, you wouldn't think twice if it was a politician that said it.

 

[cranberry]

Re: Outrageous statement dilemma

What is the purpose of an interview? To help us give the readers some insights into that person. We filter all kinds of things in doing that -- we might write about what he wore but not what he ate. If the quote is out of character (and not public), does it serve your purpose of helping your readers "know" the person? You could catch me on a bad day and scribble down, "The world is going to hell and I don't care because I hate people anyway." You'd really have to evaluate whether that offers an insight into my soul or is just frustration because some cellphone-using idiot in the parking lot nearly ran me over. Context is important, true, but so is deciding what's illuminating and what's just shock value.

Ridgeway with a great answer, as usual. Another question: Was he joking? Did he laugh when he said whatever he said? Did he say it facetiously? Was he in a hurry and trying get out of the room? All of these things can be reported, too, and can often give the quote better context. Put the reader in the room with you the best you can and maybe they can decide for themselves.