Reporting on Trade Rumors?

[naturenick]

I'm a sports journalism grad student doing a report on trade rumors. I'm specifically looking at the ethics surrounding reporting these rumors. I can't find too much information on the actual process. I just have a few questions.

-How do reporters go about getting legitimate rumors? What types of people do you talk to?
-How has social media changed this process? Have you had a speed vs. accuracy dilemma?
-How do you verify the rumors?
-Have you ever retracted a rumor?

If anyone has any other resources on this topic it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[21]

Nick--Not trying to be rude, but I don't know how else to ask this: How can you be a sports journ grad student and not know the answers to a lot of those questions? Are you looking for anecdotal support for your report, or do you really not know how to verify rumors?

 

[naturenick]

Sorry, let me clarify.

I'm looking mainly at the speed vs. verification dilemma that many journalists are facing with social media.

Have you ever had a "hot" rumor that you couldn't verify with two sources, but posted anyway for the sake of page views?

 

[LongTimeListener]

What is a "sports journalism grad student"?

 

[naturenick]

Graduate student studying journalism with a focus on sports reporting

 

[Versatile]

Graduate student studying journalism with a focus on sports reporting

 

[Mark2010]

Nick,

Opinions will differ. I seldom report rumors unless I can reliably confirm them. One of the things that has hurt the industry is too many people taking a wild rumor, even speculation, and reporting it as fact. Too many times it ends up being nothing but hot air and you wind up looking like an ass when it doesn't pan out.

My advice would be to use caution.

 

[writingump]

Mark nailed it right on the head. I'd rather be slow and right than quick and wrong.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Grad student sourcing a report via online message board.

If your professor specifically approved this method, they have done you a disservice. If not, then this isn't exactly the most reliable or robust way to acquire information.

 

[BillyT]

Grad student sourcing a report via online message board.

If your professor specifically approved this method, they have done you a disservice. If not, then this isn't exactly the most reliable or robust way to acquire information.

Why not?

I have had my kids use message boards before. Not uncommon at all. See it in education classes all the time.

Besides, is he sourcing or just looking for opinions in one of the most valid places in the Internet?

The key, of course, is the word "rumor." No, we report facts.

 

[HanSenSE]

Grad student sourcing a report via online message board.

If your professor specifically approved this method, they have done you a disservice. If not, then this isn't exactly the most reliable or robust way to acquire information.

Was just thinking it'll only be a few more weeks until I start getting emails wanting assistance on term papers.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Grad student sourcing a report via online message board.

If your professor specifically approved this method, they have done you a disservice. If not, then this isn't exactly the most reliable or robust way to acquire information.

Why not?

I have had my kids use message boards before. Not uncommon at all. See it in education classes all the time.

Besides, is he sourcing or just looking for opinions in one of the most valid places in the Internet?

The key, of course, is the word "rumor." No, we report facts.

The nature of his post makes it sound like this is his first stop.

Nick--Not trying to be rude, but I don't know how else to ask this: How can you be a sports journ grad student and not know the answers to a lot of those questions?

Oh, you'd be surprised. It's inexplicable to me, but the ranks of sports journalism master's students aren't exactly chock full of individuals with significant journalism experience.

 

[naturenick]

This is just my first step in the process. I thought I would feel out what some professionals had to say about it. I wasn't planning on quoting or using anyone here as a source.

Any time I google "reporting on trade rumors" I just get a bunch of links to the Bleacher Report. Not a whole lot of help there.

Thanks for those who did offer some advice.

 

[dreunc1542]

Shouldn't the first stop in any grad school research paper be to reputable journals?

 

[sgreenwell]

This is just my first step in the process. I thought I would feel out what some professionals had to say about it. I wasn't planning on quoting or using anyone here as a source.

Any time I google "reporting on trade rumors" I just get a bunch of links to the Bleacher Report. Not a whole lot of help there.

Thanks for those who did offer some advice.

Just call up or e-mail some columnists. I was talking to ombuds for a senior group project when I was in college, and I was shocked about some of them who got back to me - the guy from ESPN, New York Times, Toledo Blade, a couple others. If you're approaching a professional in a respectful way as a soon-to-be professional yourself, most of them are happy to get back to you, or at least acknowledge your presence.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

If I know the team I cover has been asking what it will take to acquire Joe Slugger from the Padres, I can write that. It's not a rumor. I know they have an interest in Joe Slugger. It doesn't mean a trade will be made, it means exactly what it says: They have an interest in Joe Slugger and have inquired about him.

If I find out the Padres are asking for Masanori Sinker in return, I can write that. It doesn't mean a deal will be made, it just means exactly what it says: That's what the Mariners have asked for.

That's reporting. It's up to the reader to understand what's being said. If Sports Bulldog on Sportsradio 96 runs with that as a "rumor," it's not my fault.

If you're not connected enough to know things that are going on, you're not doing a good job of covering the beat. You get information from scouts, from agents, from executives on other teams, from reporters who cover those teams. It's your job to determine who has good information and who's full of ****. Some GMs (Kevin Towers) are very open about what they're doing. Most scouts will spill what they know as long as they trust you not to attach their name to it.

 

[buckweaver]

Any time I google "reporting on trade rumors" I just get a bunch of links to the Bleacher Report. Not a whole lot of help there.

In your Google account settings, go to Manage Blocked Sites here:

https://www.google.com/reviews/t?hl=en

Under "Manually block a site," type: http://www.bleacherreport.com

Now you don't see that crap anymore.

 

[Versatile]

Any time I google "reporting on trade rumors" I just get a bunch of links to the Bleacher Report. Not a whole lot of help there.

In your Google account settings, go to Manage Blocked Sites here:

https://www.google.com/reviews/t?hl=en

Under "Manually block a site," type: http://www.bleacherreport.com

Now you don't see that crap anymore.

Advice for everyone.

I guess I can give one point of advice: We don't (seek to) report rumors. Rumors are manufactured out of thin air. We (attempt to) report discussions and agreements and news.

 

[spikechiquet]

Any time I google "reporting on trade rumors" I just get a bunch of links to the Bleacher Report. Not a whole lot of help there.

In your Google account settings, go to Manage Blocked Sites here:

https://www.google.com/reviews/t?hl=en

Under "Manually block a site," type: http://www.bleacherreport.com

Now you don't see that crap anymore.

Nice. Am going to do that...like yesterday!

 

[BillyT]

Shouldn't the first stop in any grad school research paper be to reputable journals?

It doesn't say it's a research paper. It says "report." I read that differently. I could be wrong.