ESPN's use of 'the crawl' displays their actual motives

ESPN ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber recounts the Vince Young 'suicidal thoughts' report, its controversial nature, and defends ESPN's reporting of it. Fine. More important is the manner in which alleged 'news' of this kind (ie controversial) is conveyed. That is what 'defines the daily discourse.' With ESPN's use of the 'crawl,' certain subjects have no chance of being perceived with dignity or equanimity. Near the end of the ombudsman's latest column:

• "I also think ESPN should consider keeping certain uncorroborated content out of crawls at the bottom of the screen. To a great extent, the
• efforts to be accurate and measured in coverage of this story were undermined by the frequent repetition of
• the crawl, "Police Report: Vince Young mentioned suicide to therapist."

Producers and editors routinely say

• that attributing information is not the same as vouching for its accuracy,

• but I think that is a distinction lost on many viewers when

• provocative information is reduced to a crawl."...

• Right and it's nice Ms. Schreiber noted it. But just mentioning it here won't change anything.'Producers and editors' already have 100% control of information as it is.
• Their doubletalk will only impress a lobotomy victim or 'consensus' robot. (sm)

Tweet Stumbleupon StumbleUpon