THE SAM MORSHEAD COLUMN: Speed over accuracy is the curse of modern journalism (From Swindon Advertiser)
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THE SAM MORSHEAD COLUMN: Speed over accuracy is the curse of modern journalism
6:00am Saturday 26th January 2013 in Sport
Adver sports reporter Sam Morshead, left
AS IS the case in any walk of life, journalism has had to adapt to its ever-changing environment.
But instead of evolving over time, has our industry slipped into devolution?
Whereas in years gone by journalistic Darwinism meant the fittest was generally considered most reliable and most accurate, in the modern world speed gets you to the top of the food chain.
Strangely, being first is now better than being best. The industry drags itself into this endless cycle voluntarily. Rolling 24-hour news channels and the incessant online demand for information mean newspapers, radio stations and TV channels are happy to serve up morsels of information sporadically rather than a much more satisfying dollop at a scheduled time.
It’s the diet we, both in this country and globally, have got used to but it’s not the healthiest option. Forget the Paleo lifestyle, this is more “Supersize Me”.
Of course, getting the scoop on a colleague is the badge of honour in the written and broadcast media communities. If your contacts are better than anyone else’s and you’re willing to dig that little bit deeper, then more often than not you’ll end up with the story before the rest of the chasing press pack. But there’s a flip side.
There are social responsibilities and etiquette which can easily be forgotten in the pursuit of a tale that can have ‘exclusive’ stamped in embossed red letters at the top of the page.
I hasten to add that I’m not distancing myself from this practice, it is unfortunately what a large part of journalism has become, but that does not mean that I agree with it.
In the past seven days we’ve seen how inaccuracies in our digital age carry all the characteristics of a blazing wildfire. They spread aggressively and unforgivingly across the savannahs of cyberspace, burning the truth and leaving behind an ungodly mess.
When established media outlets abandon all sense of responsibility and dive in with wild accusations it only gives the foolish and the devious a platform from which to spit their unfounded and incendiary bile.
Last week it was reported that the Swindon Town board had considered administration as an option as they look to sell the club.
Every aspect of that sentence was correct. It has been mentioned in board meetings as a worst-case scenario. Even if the eventuality isn’t being actively contemplated right now, it had previously been considered.
So how on earth did that one line last Thursday morning end with charges of financial doping and unpaid bills levelled against the club in a national paper?
How on earth did a radio DJ with an audience of many, many thousands feel it right to brand Town cheats on Twitter?
We all get things wrong from time to time, we all make mistakes. I have, you have, your mother’s brother’s dog has. But there are times and places where those errors are understandable, and these instances were neither.
I don’t think journalism will ever revert back to its old self and the media in general, though it does untold good, will always be stuck with a demonic reputation.
Moments like the aforementioned are the ones the public remember. It’s where the reckless few tarnish the name of the responsible masses.
But maybe, just maybe, if being the best really meant being the best once more, MAYBE opinions could change.
SYMPATHY FOR HAZARD
UNTIL Tuesday night, I never thought Eden Hazard and I were likely to have anything in common.
How refreshing it was to discover our shared hatred of ball boys. I can’t stand the little b*****s.
They get into grounds for free, wander around the edge of the pitch as if they own the place and then when it’s actually time for them to do their job they trip over advertising hoardings, search five rows above where the ball actually landed and intercept the damn thing when it’s thrown neatly from the crowd back onto the pitch.
So, when one of these half-pinters took it upon himself to prevent Hazard from collecting the ball in the dying stages of the Capital One Cup semi-final on Tuesday night, I was fully on the Belgian’s side.
It’s not like Hazard was deliberately aiming a strong right foot to the kid’s ribs, was it?
Only the unbelievably thick would try to assault a minor in front of 25,000 witnesses and Chris Foy.
In fact, the “kid” whose delaying tactics caused the bizarre incident at the Liberty Stadium wasn’t even a “kid” - if his Twitter profile picture, which has him gleefully holding a can of grog, is anything to go by.
He didn’t need a magic sponge to the tummy before he felt right as rain either. What has the game come to when teenage ball boys are faking injury to get a player sent off?
Once again we’ve let ourselves get carried away. I’m inclined to blame Luis Suarez.
Comments(23)
mancrobin
says...
9:12am Sat 26 Jan 13
In terms of the Hazard incident, I haven't seen it but if he did kick the boy with any form of recklessness or intent then he deserves to be punished.
What has shocked me is the blasé way that some people seem to think its ok for ball boys to hold on to the ball. I thought that was called cheating? On that basis, there should also be a punishment for the ball boy in this incident and if his action were condoned by the club, they should be punished too.
I thought sport was about fair play. Good role models etc.
mancrobin
says...
9:15am Sat 26 Jan 13
In terms of the Hazard incident, I haven't seen it but if he did kick the boy with any form of recklessness or intent then he deserves to be punished.
What has shocked me is the blasé way that some people seem to think its ok for ball boys to hold on to the ball. I thought that was called cheating? On that basis, there should also be a punishment for the ball boy in this incident and if his action were condoned by the club, they should be punished too.
I thought sport was about fair play. Good role models etc.
Stickshaker
says...
9:21am Sat 26 Jan 13
Lambourn Red wrote:In fact the shameful idiot defended his article on last saturdays radio!....I say again, hang your head Chris Wise!
Well said Sam, the idiot from The bbc who was so quick to break the story has still not apologised for the whole episode
Lossie Red
says...
9:24am Sat 26 Jan 13
Lambourn Red wrote:What utter nonsence , why should he apologise for reporting the facts? The story reported on the BBC was balanced entirely accurate and came from the club itself.
Well said Sam, the idiot from The bbc who was so quick to break the story has still not apologised for the whole episode
Lambourn Red
says...
9:30am Sat 26 Jan 13
Lossie Red wrote:Great headline "Swindon to enter Administration" that 2 hours later was changed to "Swindon up for Sale" after the club had managed to respond .
Lambourn Red wrote:What utter nonsence , why should he apologise for reporting the facts? The story reported on the BBC was balanced entirely accurate and came from the club itself.
Well said Sam, the idiot from The bbc who was so quick to break the story has still not apologised for the whole episode
You are either Chris Wise or work for the BBC as everyone can see they are the culprits behind the whole affair. There was no need to even mention administration in any of their articles but they knew it would get the publicity it did.
RobinsTalk
says...
9:34am Sat 26 Jan 13
Ball boys have been part of the game for as long as I remember and in the main do a good job. Without them who else would retrieve the ball from an empty Stratton Bank (or whatever it's called these days), perhaps Wes could climb over the advertising hoardings and slip and slide all over the concrete steps in his bladed boots to recover the ball before taking a goal kick after seeing a rare shot at his goal go sailing over the crossbar?
I don't care what managers say in their press conferences, if their team is winning you would hope the ball boys take their time getting the ball back in play and if their chasing the game you want it back on the pitch before it's even fully crossed the white line.
The lad at Swansea took it too far but Hazard shouldn't have acted the way he did either. What would he have done if the ball had gone into the home fans and they were reluctant to throw it back straight away, go ploughing in to retrieve it? Now that would have made good TV.
smirg kcab
says...
9:37am Sat 26 Jan 13
Ball boys are put in the ground for a purpose, this was unique with hazard, I wish it was you reporting at Bournemouth behind the goal sat on the seat, freezing,absolutely soacked like those poor lads was, yes they get in for free,which I presume you do,
Yes one ball boy got in wrong, also the player got it wrong. But I've seen more wind ups poor headlines from you, than any other writer.
Onwards and upwards.
Will the headline Luke McCormick be signing on transfer deadline day?
I will never forget this utter tripe that was published and how you tried to divide all great town fans against each other,and you call yourself a town fan.
Lossie Red
says...
10:04am Sat 26 Jan 13
Lambourn Red wrote:Wrong in your first post,and wrong again in your second.
Lossie Red wrote:Great headline "Swindon to enter Administration" that 2 hours later was changed to "Swindon up for Sale" after the club had managed to respond .
Lambourn Red wrote:What utter nonsence , why should he apologise for reporting the facts? The story reported on the BBC was balanced entirely accurate and came from the club itself.
Well said Sam, the idiot from The bbc who was so quick to break the story has still not apologised for the whole episode
You are either Chris Wise or work for the BBC as everyone can see they are the culprits behind the whole affair. There was no need to even mention administration in any of their articles but they knew it would get the publicity it did.
I am a Swindon Town fan who doesn't see everything through red tinted spectacles!
RamsburyRed
says...
10:16am Sat 26 Jan 13
*
Surely the ball boys are there to retrieve the ball, get it back into play and help the flow of the game. OK, we all know they might be a bit less eager when the home side is winning with a few minutes to go, but this guy was positively obstructing the retrieval of the ball. For someone who has an official role - however minor - that is unacceptable.
*
Someone has mentioned the crowd hanging on to the ball, and there's nothing you can do about that, but it's not the same thing at all. They are not there to return the ball.
*
Personally I feel that, although Hazard deserves sanction, so does the home club (or ball boy) in this instance. The FA could actually send out a message that it is not acceptable for a ball boy - or anyone else (tea lady, doorman or whoever) at the home club to sabotage the efforts of the away team.
Oi Den!
says...
10:19am Sat 26 Jan 13
.
Pewsham Red
says...
1:06pm Sat 26 Jan 13
Oi Den! wrote:Fair point Den, there are no half measures on his forum and claims of 'scouse cheats' were out of order in as much as the language used.
We were all quite rightly angered by the Football League Paper's accusations of financial doping last week. I've every confidence that we'll get a full and genuine apology in tomorrow's paper. I wonder if we'll ever see any apologies from people who managed to express self-righteous indignation over this, while accusing our fellow Football League clubs of fixture manipulation? The way Colchester, Orient and Tranmere have been labelled cheats on here in the last few weeks is just as disgusting as Dunlavy's piece on us. There could not be a more blatant example of double standards. It seems it's OK to call any club cheats as long as it's not us. And are we really so far up our own arses that we think all clubs are scared of us when they might have a couple of players missing?
.
Now, I am no conspiracy theorist, but I have to admit that these postponements are a little fishy.
The fact that Colchester and Orient had playable pitches days from our fixture is a little odd.
I am not necessarily suggesting anything untoward has happened but I am not entirely sure hat there has been a great desire to get these matches on.
mancrobin
says...
1:21pm Sat 26 Jan 13
Pewsham Red wrote:It just goes to prove how infamous the Town has become.
Oi Den! wrote:Fair point Den, there are no half measures on his forum and claims of 'scouse cheats' were out of order in as much as the language used.
We were all quite rightly angered by the Football League Paper's accusations of financial doping last week. I've every confidence that we'll get a full and genuine apology in tomorrow's paper. I wonder if we'll ever see any apologies from people who managed to express self-righteous indignation over this, while accusing our fellow Football League clubs of fixture manipulation? The way Colchester, Orient and Tranmere have been labelled cheats on here in the last few weeks is just as disgusting as Dunlavy's piece on us. There could not be a more blatant example of double standards. It seems it's OK to call any club cheats as long as it's not us. And are we really so far up our own arses that we think all clubs are scared of us when they might have a couple of players missing?
.
Now, I am no conspiracy theorist, but I have to admit that these postponements are a little fishy.
The fact that Colchester and Orient had playable pitches days from our fixture is a little odd.
I am not necessarily suggesting anything untoward has happened but I am not entirely sure hat there has been a great desire to get these matches on.
Infamy, Infamy, they've all got it infamy!
mallorca
says...
1:41pm Sat 26 Jan 13
All about scare mongering however what do you expect with certain standards of today
KojaktheWarg
says...
2:10pm Sat 26 Jan 13
ghten up.
However, was anyone at the OUFC v STFC game last year where a similar event occurred? I think Ritchie got booked If I remember rightly.
Some clubs seem to promote discipline from top to bottom and other wannabes don't. Very disappointed in Swansea. There is an attitude problem that pre-exists this incident hence the twitter nonsense before the game about time wasting.
DarrenSTFCRomain
says...
2:36pm Sat 26 Jan 13
RamsburyRed wrote:It dont matter if hes obstructing the retrieval of the ball as there are things called the 4th official who puts on time for Time wasting....
Wrong to have a general pop at ball boys but that lad at Swansea was well out of order - in fact, cheating, I'd say. * Surely the ball boys are there to retrieve the ball, get it back into play and help the flow of the game. OK, we all know they might be a bit less eager when the home side is winning with a few minutes to go, but this guy was positively obstructing the retrieval of the ball. For someone who has an official role - however minor - that is unacceptable. * Someone has mentioned the crowd hanging on to the ball, and there's nothing you can do about that, but it's not the same thing at all. They are not there to return the ball. * Personally I feel that, although Hazard deserves sanction, so does the home club (or ball boy) in this instance. The FA could actually send out a message that it is not acceptable for a ball boy - or anyone else (tea lady, doorman or whoever) at the home club to sabotage the efforts of the away team.
I have seen it and Hazard was a smug arragent little shat and deserved to get sent off as thats the rules..and was also very lucky that he never caused loads of trouble with the fans...
So he put it on a bit...
WHAT PLAYERS NOW A DAYS DONT PUT IT ON..AND CHEAT BY GETTING OTHERS PLAYERS SENT OFF..
I would ban the twatt for 10 games with a massive fine
Scoop McScooperson
says...
3:21pm Sat 26 Jan 13
Lambourn Red wrote:
Well said Sam, the idiot from The bbc who was so quick to break the story has still not apologised for the whole episode
What utter nonsence , why should he apologise for reporting the facts? The story reported on the BBC was balanced entirely accurate and came from the club itself.
Great headline "Swindon to enter Administration" that 2 hours later was changed to "Swindon up for Sale" after the club had managed to respond .
You are either Chris Wise or work for the BBC as everyone can see they are the culprits behind the whole affair. There was no need to even mention administration in any of their articles but they knew it would get the publicity it did."
The headline the BBC used was "Swindon consider administration" - you can still find it on google. And that is factually accurate - the club have said so themselves. If there's a story to be told then they should be reporting it. If it was wrong, the club would have demanded a retraction like they did with the Football League Paper.
Jightymoe
says...
3:38pm Sat 26 Jan 13
TheBlackHand
says...
4:45pm Sat 26 Jan 13
The Jockster
says...
5:22pm Sat 26 Jan 13
smirg kcab wrote:well said grim
STUPID MAN
Ball boys are put in the ground for a purpose, this was unique with hazard, I wish it was you reporting at Bournemouth behind the goal sat on the seat, freezing,absolutely soacked like those poor lads was, yes they get in for free,which I presume you do,
Yes one ball boy got in wrong, also the player got it wrong. But I've seen more wind ups poor headlines from you, than any other writer.
Onwards and upwards.
Will the headline Luke McCormick be signing on transfer deadline day?
I will never forget this utter tripe that was published and how you tried to divide all great town fans against each other,and you call yourself a town fan.
The Jockster
says...
5:27pm Sat 26 Jan 13
Pewsham Red wrote:Agree up to a point Pewham - particularly with Tranmere - the forecast was improving all the time yesterday and they could esily had a 9.00 am pitch inspection today - made a decision and still been in time to call it off before the coaches started out if the pitch was iffy .
Oi Den! wrote:Fair point Den, there are no half measures on his forum and claims of 'scouse cheats' were out of order in as much as the language used.
We were all quite rightly angered by the Football League Paper's accusations of financial doping last week. I've every confidence that we'll get a full and genuine apology in tomorrow's paper. I wonder if we'll ever see any apologies from people who managed to express self-righteous indignation over this, while accusing our fellow Football League clubs of fixture manipulation? The way Colchester, Orient and Tranmere have been labelled cheats on here in the last few weeks is just as disgusting as Dunlavy's piece on us. There could not be a more blatant example of double standards. It seems it's OK to call any club cheats as long as it's not us. And are we really so far up our own arses that we think all clubs are scared of us when they might have a couple of players missing?
.
Now, I am no conspiracy theorist, but I have to admit that these postponements are a little fishy.
The fact that Colchester and Orient had playable pitches days from our fixture is a little odd.
I am not necessarily suggesting anything untoward has happened but I am not entirely sure hat there has been a great desire to get these matches on.
Steve. Brentford
says...
2:24pm Sun 27 Jan 13
Scoop McScooperson wrote:I think a couple of people have opened a account under anonymous names to defend themselves!
Lossie Red wrote:
Lambourn Red wrote:
Well said Sam, the idiot from The bbc who was so quick to break the story has still not apologised for the whole episode
What utter nonsence , why should he apologise for reporting the facts? The story reported on the BBC was balanced entirely accurate and came from the club itself.
Great headline "Swindon to enter Administration" that 2 hours later was changed to "Swindon up for Sale" after the club had managed to respond .
You are either Chris Wise or work for the BBC as everyone can see they are the culprits behind the whole affair. There was no need to even mention administration in any of their articles but they knew it would get the publicity it did."
The headline the BBC used was "Swindon consider administration" - you can still find it on google. And that is factually accurate - the club have said so themselves. If there's a story to be told then they should be reporting it. If it was wrong, the club would have demanded a retraction like they did with the Football League Paper.
Grim, i have never seen you post with this sort of passion in all the years Ive known you to post on here,fair play to you.
Den,you know that everyone has got it in for us,no one likes us,everybody conspires against us,the world is our enemy,
Dazza, they are going to rearrange the MK Dons game let me know if you will be making it?
joey butler
says...
6:33pm Sun 27 Jan 13
Jightymoe wrote:Or ball boys without balls........
Is it time for neutral ball boys?!
Which are called ball girls!!
Lambourn Red says...
8:17am Sat 26 Jan 13