Reporters & Journalists Silenced
What a world of difference 24 hours makes. Media coverage of the NHL CBA negotiations were at a peak yesterday with rampid speculation and rumors that a deal had been struck. Unfortunately, things didn't transpire as reported, bringing to question the very nature in which stories are validated. In a nutshell, media coverage suffered from a lack of credibility and integrity.
It seems to me that reporting something as fact is no longer the priority. Instead, the priority is on making conclusions from supposedly "reliable" sources so the story can be released first. The people who are left to suffer, as a result, are the fans who have been closely monitoring these negotiations. There's no question that fan interest and desire for a conclusion in this saga helped fuel the circus that we witnessed yesterday. However, as journalists, integrity and competence should have been foremost on their minds.
Fast forward 24 hours and it's no wonder why these very same journalists have been quieted. Perhaps it's a combination of embarrassment, frustration, shock or all of the above. Ironically, it was a reporter early Saturday afternoon on the Fan590 from the Hockey News, that mentioned the importance of having sources confirmed in an effort to maintain the credibility and integrity of journalism in sports. It's unfortunate one of his very own colleagues did not follow those words of wisdom and reported that a deal had been made between the NHL and NHLPA on Saturday afternoon.
We must acknowledge that Hockey journalists are in a unique position. They are responsible for making unbias accounts of events that take place despite being fans of the game themselves. Human nature gets the best of all us at some point or another. However, I believe its in moments like the past 24 hours where emotions are at their extreme where great journalists are separated from the "be-first" journalists. To my surprise, I couldn't find a great journalist in sight.
So what are we to take from the series of events that have led us to virtual silence in the hockey world? I would suggest that journalists and reporters alike should go back to the basics. Isn't it telling that the same reporters who have criticized the NHL and NHLPA for the level of negotiations or, lack thereof, are the same reporters who have been silenced by their own lack of judgment? Perhaps the resulting silence is a fitting end to a week where hockey fans have suffered and endured one of the most emotional periods in NHL history. The shame in all of this is that the NHL, NHLPA, and now the media, have forgotten what makes hockey so great, it's fans!
PJStyles
http://hockeyinsight.blogspot.com (Previous Articles On My Blog)