McCarthy's criticism of Jason Wilde 'unprofessional'

[Bretsky]

Since when are writers merely messengers of whatever anyone tells them? They have a responsibility to their readers to do more than that.

We're back to square one: what did Wilde report that proved to be false? I agree he should print a retraction if some info was mistaken, but I see nothing to retract.

What did he print that was true ?

What he wrote was speculation from a source.

We really don't know if it was made up or true.

So does the responsibility go on the writer to show a credible source, or can he make what he wants up and then force the others to prove his story is not true ?

And while I don't like MM calling him out like he did, if the answer is the story was not credible, then if I was MM I woudn't give him a second of my time for the next year.

[RashanGary]

Technically the arical was true. A source could have said that. The way it was written, it was just spreading rumors. Pretty lame. I'm glad MM took him to task on it.

[Harlan Huckleby]

So does the responsibility go on the writer to show a credible source, or can he make what he wants up and then force the others to prove his story is not true ?

Of course a writer can't make stuff up - are you alleging that's what happened here?

It is not a writer's responsibility to identify his sources.

The difference between spreading a rumor, and reporting information from a credible source should be obvious. That's not to say that the info will always prove true in either case.

I want sports reporters to repeat opinions and tips from credible sources. I realize they might end up being mistaken, the reader takes info from unnamed sources with a grain of salt. I sure as hell wouldn't want to just read summaries of the official press releases and scripted press conferences!

[Harlan Huckleby]

The way it was written, it was just spreading rumors.

By rumor, you mean something untrue? What was spread that was untrue? There is no hard evidence. I find the report credible.

[Patler]

The way it was written, it was just spreading rumors.

By rumor, you mean something untrue? What was spread that was untrue? There is no hard evidence. I find the report credible.

That's where you and I differ. I don't find anything inherently credible in it at all. A "team source" could be a comment from a player overheard in the locker room, who has no inside information at all. Wilde may have chosen to pass on the rumor, thinking he had a big scoop. The "information" might have come from somone who knew Harris wasn't going to be at camp, heard he wanted to discuss his contract, and then assumed the first was based on the second, when there may have been no correlation at all.

[Bretsky]

So does the responsibility go on the writer to show a credible source, or can he make what he wants up and then force the others to prove his story is not true ?

Of course a writer can't make stuff up - are you alleging that's what happened here?

It is not a writer's responsibility to identify his sources.

The difference between spreading a rumor, and reporting information from a credible source should be obvious. That's not to say that the info will always prove true in either case.

Are you saying he has a credible source ?

Honestly how would we know. Maybe there is just as much of a chance that he has a terrible source or no source than a good one. And if that's the case MM should confront him

[MadtownPacker]

When lowlifes like harlan take someones side it make it very obvious who is wrong.

[MJZiggy]

Last I checked, these were all big boys. If Wilde can't handle hearing an angry coach's opinion, expressed the way an angry coach would, perhaps he should switch to reporting on gardening? I would be really interested in finding out why last year's hibiscus plant is failing to bloom this season...

[RashanGary]

Obviously HH is correct here. Only him and the reporters who are all buddys can see this objectively.

It's quite obvious that Wilde was just reporting an investigated fact that he had good reason to believe was true.

Just disregard the fact that Harris, MM and Thompson all said it was untrue. The fact of the matter is that Wildes unnamed source is more credible than Harris and Thompson. He has every right to report these unbiased, non-headline searching facts to all of his anxious readers without confirming it with the people involved. In fact, he is perfectly in line by reporting it even after all people involved deny it even exists.

It's just good journalism and McCarthy has no right to complain when someone is spreading rumors that he knows to be untrue.

I think everyone should stop disagreeing with HH right now because its quite clear that he acctually knows everything and McCarthy was just bitching because he was reporting the hard truth.

And what is HH's brilliant stand? Do you have proof.

Well, if you don't count the words of Harris, TT and MM you could argue that there is no proof that he is spreading rumors. You could make a case that just reporting every source you hear is responsible. Of course we have to disregard the FACT that no other reporter in the world has before, during or since reported anything similar but Wilde and HH and those who think it was rude are all the objective thinkers here. No proof otherwise. YEAH RIGHT.

I and most people here choose to think it was irresponsible to quote one source without investigating further but who are we to argue with the all knowing, all objective HH. We're just emotionally involved fans who can't think outside our own wishes.

[Fritz]

I'm sorry, but I'm with PBMax and Harlan on this one. Even if MM had every right to complain about the article, doing it in front of other reporters is no way to handle it. Put it into the perspective of your own job: your boss rips into you in front of your co-workers. Even if you deserved it, you're going to be p.o.'d that the boss didn't pull you behind closed doors. It makes you look like an idiot - unnecessarily. And even if you were wrong, there was no need to make an example out of you in order to make others cower and fall in line. It doesn't work for anybody for very long. People just get angry and resentful.

And those of you who say make generalizations - and they are generalizations - about all reporters being pansies, reporting without facts, and so on - let's just say you're right. So...does that make it okay for coaches to be classless, too?

It's just bad, bad human relations.

[Bretsky]

I'm sorry, but I'm with PBMax and Harlan on this one. Even if MM had every right to complain about the article, doing it in front of other reporters is no way to handle it. Put it into the perspective of your own job: your boss rips into you in front of your co-workers. Even if you deserved it, you're going to be p.o.'d that the boss didn't pull you behind closed doors. It makes you look like an idiot - unnecessarily. And even if you were wrong, there was no need to make an example out of you in order to make others cower and fall in line. It doesn't work for anybody for very long. People just get angry and resentful.

And those of you who say make generalizations - and they are generalizations - about all reporters being pansies, reporting without facts, and so on - let's just say you're right. So...does that make it okay for coaches to be classless, too?


It's just bad, bad human relations.

FRITZ,

I'm also of the view that MM didn't need to call the reporter out in front of others. You do that behind the scenes, and if Wilde was irresponsible as a coach you can choose to eliminate him from your trusted group.

I'm not even sure what I'm arguing with Harlan. My only point is that it's entirely possible Wilde had a crap source and didn't follow up, and if that's the case it was poor reporting. It's also possible that it's true and all involved are denying it.

Either way the route MM took could have been handled better.

[Fritz]

Hey Bretsky -

I'm not knowledgable about the validity of the article, so I'm simply commenting on how it was handled - it seems you and I are in agreement on this one.

MM, I hope, will learn from this.

[MadtownPacker]

I'm sorry, but I'm with PBMax and Harlan on this one. Even if MM had every right to complain about the article, doing it in front of other reporters is no way to handle it. Put it into the perspective of your own job: your boss rips into you in front of your co-workers. Even if you deserved it, you're going to be p.o.'d that the boss didn't pull you behind closed doors. It makes you look like an idiot - unnecessarily. And even if you were wrong, there was no need to make an example out of you in order to make others cower and fall in line. It doesn't work for anybody for very long. People just get angry and resentful.

And those of you who say make generalizations - and they are generalizations - about all reporters being pansies, reporting without facts, and so on - let's just say you're right. So...does that make it okay for coaches to be classless, too?

It's just bad, bad human relations.

You sure you aint a newsreporter also? Cuz you just twisted up what I said. I called harlan a pansy, not "all reporters". We all know Harlan is a wimp, no one can deny that.

M3 doesnt employ the reporters, he doesnt owe them anything. Did Wilde pull M3 aside and ask if the story was true? Nope, he didnt.

These reporters are given major juice card access by the Packers and the NFL, the least they can do is get it right.

As for M3 being classless, well I will leave that up to those who are always concerned about "offending" others. I like to call it like I see it instead concerning myself with hurting someones lil feelings.

[Tarlam!]

Why do you do that behind the scenes, exactly? He did it in front of the clique of reporters, not on a national press conference - that's behind the scenes enough. In fact, if some repoter hadn't reported it, we fans wouldn't even have this 3 page thread.

Kiper Jr reported the Pack had done the deal to trade up and get Bush. A source must've told him.

In an effort to be the first out with a "story", there is as much pressure on these reporters to compare with the sports heros they are covering.

Just as when Brett tosses a hail Mary and gets scorched, so do the press guys.

And, rightly so.

[Patler]

There is no boss/employee relationship between MM and Wilde. None at all. These guys should be at arms length, and if MM felt he and the team were wronged by Wilde, there is nothing wrong with making an example of him in front of a few other reporters.

Now if Wilde's editor was displeased, that converstation should take place away from other coworkers.