Fake news?

You hear the term “fake news” used a lot these days. And this recent “blockbuster” story from last week, which continues to have legs, probably qualifies.

The Daily News, in constant search of click-bait for their website, reported this dandy.

Headline – “Sloppy and out of shape Mo Wilkerson shocks scouts at Temple.”

The Daily News reported that scouts at Temple’s Pro Day were shocked at how fat Wilkerson looked. Here is a quick excerpt from the story

Wilkerson looked like he had been plucked from the nearest buffet, according to people in attendance.

One scout texted me a picture of a Goodyear blimp with an accompanying: “Sloppy.”

“He looked like a pedestrian with a huge gut,” another scout said. “I was shocked.”

This story got national attention. Mission accomplished.

One long-time talk show host constantly says, “Journalism is dead.” He might be right.

I think the story is BS.

But here is the problem with this nonsense. It gains a lot of traction all over the place, true or untrue. To use a social media expression stories like this “go viral.” We are living in a day and age where reporters and others are quick to repeat people’s fiction. No questions asked.

I don’t want to get into politics, but did you see the other days, Donald Trump referenced a story on a popular sports site, about how an unnamed GM is afraid if they sign Colin Kaepernick, the President will tweet about it. It’s a shame the President referenced this because I think the writer made it up. I think that writer does that a lot. He is the king of unnamed this and unnamed that. I’m not buying what he’s selling. I haven’t been for a long time.

We are living in very desperate times in journalism – newspapers and magazines going out of business or laying people off. ESPN has had massive layoffs with more to come.

Desperate times lead to desperate measures.

Writers are trying to hang on to jobs with white knuckles. If they deliver blockbuster stories that get tons of clicks, they have a better chance of hanging around. And I don’t even think a lot of editors care how the sausage is made by their writers. Clicks now, perhaps ask questions later.

Honestly, think about this, how on earth can you verify a writers unnamed sources and quotes? Obviously there are ways with wiretapping to look into this stuff, but who is going to spend the time and money to wiretap sports writers to check their sources? Nobody.

So some writers are willing to embellish or fudge what they are doing to create internet eye-candy that drives a lot of traffic.

I have been around this business a long time. I’ve never seen more stories that don’t pass the smell test.

Do you really think two different scouts reached out to a writer to tell him how fat Mo Wilkerson looks? Really?

Look I’m not saying there wasn’t somebody there, perhaps a Philly writer, who told the Daily News Wilkerson looked fat. That might have happened.

But two scouts? C’mon man. Spare me.

And a scout takes the time to text a Goodyear blimp to a sportswriter. How about focusing on Haason Reddick?

I will get into Mo’s weight tomorrow, but I’m telling you, we are living in scary times in journalism.

And there isn’t much anybody can do about.

Because nobody is going to have the NSA do an investigation into these writers.

And as long as they are getting a ton of clicks, their bosses are thrilled.

March 22, 2017

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