Mortensen On Time Stamps And Breaking Stories
Thursday, November 13, 2008
TBL came across an interesting ESPN chat item from much-maligned ESPN Reporter, Chris Mortensen today. A reader was asking about ESPN attributing stories to certain websites and the same not being the case for other networks and websites. Mortensen ended up giving a pretty interesting response and even hinted that some outlets utilize "time stamp" fudging....
Ken (Scottsdale, AZ): Mort, you got props on the blogs for answering my question a few weeks ago about ESPN “confirming” other network’s stories. You guys still continue to do it. Do you know why Fox or SI doesn’t post headlines confirming your breaking stories?Interesting angle there, but I don't think it addresses the real issue. It's not that ESPN, or Mort for that matter, isn't doing their job. No, it's the fact that up until recently, ESPN had been taking credit when other outlets had the story upwards of a few hours before them. I know stories can break fast, and that not every item needs to be accredited to a certain individual, but the perception that ESPN breaks everything is just insulting.
SportsNation Chris Mortensen: It’s not that big a deal. really, some of the reporting is so split-second..or minutes apart and there’s a little trick to getting it out. I think each brand/agency should just do their job and not worry about the “credit.” ESPN is the big brand so I think we’re treated like that.
I think things have gotten much better, and I wouldn't doubt there's time-stamping going on, but it's just something that ESPN needs to keep more of an eye on.
Chat with Chris Mortensen (ESPN)
Chris Mortensen Concurs with Buster Olney on the Mysterious Time Stamp Controversy (The Big Lead)
12 Comments:
Sorry about that.......my crazy friend took control of the computer, let's try that again.
Mortensen is just someone following the crazy person running the asylum. ESPN doesn't even report the news, they make up the news.
Well, the whole point is that ESPN is so fixated on the "credit" that they refuse to acknowledge the existence of anyone else.
And the other whole point is that the lazy people at ESPN are piggybacking on the hard work of others -- they are, in short, failing to "just do their job."
How about this for an honest response? "Who gives a damn about anybody else? We're ESPN, goddammit. We'll take credit for anything we want to, and what the hell is Jay Glazer gonna do about it?"
AA, Michael Smith has just confirmed that Chris Mortensen did take part in a chat.
When you are covering a game, call irrelevant, meaningless items about the idiot people who play the game "NEWS", what priority does an organization that does these things put on integrity and objective reality?
I'd say, not pretty fuckin low.
I wouldn't expect anything less. ESPN has taken the "Rule No. 1 -- I'm always right. And Rule No. 2 -- if I'm wrong, then see Rule No. 1" to a new low.
ESPN rule for Clayton and Mortenson, Whatever Jay Glazer says, copy, and put your name on it.
ESPN isn't the only outlet to confirm stories. Plenty of deals were confirmed by SI.com's John Heyman during the MLB trade deadline. Same can be said for Yahoo! having NBA Write Adrian Wojnarowski "confirm" stories. While ESPN may take center stage for this, they are not the only guilty party
ESPN still does it for baseball. The recent Matt Halliday trade was reported by Heyman first then three hours later was reported on ESPN that Bust Onley and Jerry Crasnick broke the story
by the way ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that tomorrow is Friday
Hey, Mort got the ESPN Sportscaster Mic early!
Speaking of proper attribution, props for your mention in USAToday about the college stereotype casting call:
"In a memo leaked to awfulannouncing.com Thursday, it specified exactly what it wanted in actors who'd play students from specific colleges."
Friday edition, page 3C.
Who listens to Mort anymore? He's a broken clock.
