McCarthy's criticism of Jason Wilde 'unprofessional'

[RashanGary]

God this is a boring time of year. We're down to sitting and arguing about Wilde's intent in his story.

At this point nobody knows. I tend to think the way the article as composed that it was misleading. Sure, most of us packerrats or freaks unearth enough info in a short amount of time to know the truth. I think most readers just read it and believe it. I think a reporter knows that when he writes.

[Patler]

Yes, of course. This is what the unnamed source suggested. You're right, perhaps some read the story quickly and accept it as verified, gospel fact. And the rumor mill might repeat the story incorrectly. Wilde is just putting the information out there, not trying to mislead people.

You could set a standard where papers only report information from named sources, verified independently. I don't think that is necessary in sports journalism, and it would be dry and uninteresting.

I don't have any trouble keeping these "unnamed source" stories in perspective.

Harlan, you seem content if sports reporters are nothing more than the sports equivalent of the old Hollywood gossip columnists. There probably is a place for that, but for the ones who are the "beat reporters" the standard should be higher. Same with the need for verification. As I mentioned before, newsreporters in the past required verification from a second source before reporting anything they didn't witness themselves. That was a basic element of their job. It shouildn't be any different just because the subject is a sports team. News is news, gossip is gossip. News reporteers shouldn't confuse their readers with gossip.

So I guess the question is, do we consider Wilde a sports newsreporter, or a sports gossip columnist?

[Harlan Huckleby]

As I mentioned before, newsreporters in the past required verification from a second source before reporting anything they didn't witness themselves. That was a basic element of their job. It shouildn't be any different just because the subject is a sports team. News is news, gossip is gossip. News reporteers shouldn't confuse their readers with gossip.

There is a middle ground between verified reports and gossip.

I don't mind that John Clayton reports from an unnamed source that the Packers are going to hire Jim Bates as head coach. I knew it might be wrong, but I also trusted it was more than just a rumor floating through a sports bar. I can weigh-up the value of these sorts of reports, they are not presented as verified, hard news. I like reading these stories.

I think it is true that journalistic standards have loosened. All you can do is adjust to it, or continue to gripe with your buddies in the nursing home.

[Patler]

I think it is true that journalistic standards have loosened. All you can do is adjust to it, or continue to gripe with your buddies in the nursing home.

I don't gripe about it. But I also don't think we automatically have to accept the standard reporters give us. We can demand a higher standard from them when we have the chance, just as MM did when given the chance.

If we demand a higher standard, eventually we will get it. Or we can follow your path and meekly accept whatever the industry decides we should have.

[Tarlam!]

...I think it is true that journalistic standards have loosened. All you can do is adjust to it, or continue to gripe with your buddies in the nursing home.

Bullshit. I will not accept mediocrity from professionals. Why should I? If your tax accountant had the same attitude, or your hooker, what would you say?

Pathetic statement. Are you ill? IÄve never seen you this shitty....

[Harlan Huckleby]

Ummm, Tarlam,

A sports columnist reporting a story from a single, unnamed source is not the same as your hooker forgeting to moan, or your accountant fudging numbers.

Single-sourced stories are not mediocrity, or unprofessional. They are information that must be taken with a grain of salt, but often prove correct.

When a columnist reports a lead that later proves correct, nobody remembers it. I'll bet the vast majority of unnamed source stories proves correct.

And Sham, you say that the typical sports fan can't weigh the evidence properly and will be mislead. You don't over-react to these stories - why do you assume other readers are too dumb to keep a proper perspective?

[Patler]

And Sham, you say that the typical sports fan can't weigh the evidence properly and will be mislead. You don't over-react to these stories - why do you assume other readers are too dumb to keep a proper perspective?

Wow, you sure do know how to exagerate HH. I never said anything close to that. Why do you insist on making things up (some would call it prevarication) just because your argument is weak?

One of the real problems with unsubstantiated stories that tend toward the sensational, is that others, including national media pick up on them, often without the background information. Soon the story becomes, "Wilde reports Harris boycotting due to contract dissatisfaction." That summary is just as "truthful" as Wilde's story, but you can see where it goes.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

I think the Pack should give McCarthy the "Director of Public Relationship" title and bring back Mike Sherman as head coach.

[RashanGary]

I think the Pack should give McCarthy the "Director of Public Relationship" title and bring back Mike Sherman as head coach.

LOL...

McCarthy as PR director. That would be awfull.

[neil38133]

"Packer fans on the internet always side with The Team against players & journalists."

So, what's your point, that we love our team and will defend it?

[MJZiggy]

I think the whole discussion boils down to the fact that there was a time, even in sports journalism, when you published a story, not when you believed it to be true, but when you knew it to be true. You sat on the story until you could prove it. Now, reporters are so interested in getting the story first, they seem to have lost interest in getting the story right first. If Wilde had gotten the story right first, M3 would have had nothing to get upset about. If a source from the team tells you something sensational about a player, the responsible journalist checks with the plyers agent to find out how much truth there might be to the story first.

[swede]

There are lots of facts that we collectively don't know.

Buuut... weighing in on shit I know nothing about is what I do best.

What if Harris was quietly trying to get a little contract attention without making a stink? If Wilde hears from another player/coach/towel boy that Harris wants a new deal should he report it? Absolutely. He is a journalist and he has a job to do even when doing that job hurts the team and makes him a prick.

[Fritz]

By the by, for all of you who seem to be so down on reporters...John Jones and Bob Harlan were journalism majors.

Hmm. And mad, I wasn't calling you out specifically. There just seems to be a frenzy against reporters. Like every other profession, some are good, some not so good.

[Deputy Nutz]

There are lots of facts that we collectively don't know.

Buuut... weighing in on shit I know nothing about is what I do best.

What if Harris was quietly trying to get a little contract attention without making a stink? If Wilde hears from another player/coach/towel boy that Harris wants a new deal should he report it? Absolutely. He is a journalist and he has a job to do even when doing that job hurts the team and makes him a prick.

Then he should name his source. If he is getting it from a Towel boy, then he should make that clear to the reader. Hidden sources are bullshit when they are the only one that gives the story any information. Use it as a back up source, but going after Al Harris's third cousin that it is thrilled to be interviewed by a reporter and will say anything a reporter is hinting at. He wants to write a creditable article then he should get a creditable source that is willing to allow the reporter to use his name or position in the article.

[gureski]

I listen to Wilde on Homers show going all the way back to when Homer was on 1130 and working for WISN. (Now he's on 1510 WAUK).

What I find most amusing about this whole thing is the pretense that Wilde is so insulted or hurt that he was called out and even disrespected with some possible curse words?

Give me a break.

Wilde is a guy who, on a weekly basis, refers to Brett Favre as 'Lord Favre' and constantly berates Favre over normal schedule confinements and other misc things. He is an arrogant guy himself and nobody should be running to wipe his tears IF McCarthy really did take him to task. I say good for McCarthy for setting Wilde straight on the fact that he's just a reporter and not some integral part of the team. In addition to his newspaper column, Wilde is on the air every day, twice a day. He needs news. He needs stories. That's all this was about. Wilde comes off as a pompous jerk at times so much so that I have to turn the dial. Think about that statement because it means something. The guy is so arrogant at times and disrespectful that I feel the need to turn the dial rather then hear news on the team that I love most in pro-sports.

Again, don't rush to wipe this guys tears. In life you give some and you take some. Wilde got a little to big for his bridges and McCarthy came along and reminded him of his place. It will all pass and maybe Wilde will be better as a reporter because of it.