Investigative integrity
Alan Trexler
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Sports
As journalists we have certain rules and standards to adhere to. Obvious examples include being fair, being accurate and being impartial.
Another unwritten, or perhaps written, rule of journalism is not to deceive the people you are reporting on. I have only been doing this for two years and even I know that.
Apparently Tom Farrey, a reporter on ESPN's new investigative show E:60, has forgotten what he learned when he was in school. Or maybe he didn't go to class that day.
Last week Farrey discovered that Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada may have lied about his age and name when he signed his first major-league contract. Farrey obtained a copy of Tejada's birth certificate from officials in the Dominican Republic that supported his claim.
Sounds to me like Farrey is a good investigative reporter. This is a big story that deserves to be reported, and he was the one who broke it.
There are, however, always at least two sides to every story. Tejada should have a right to either refute or defend his side.
But rather than inform Tejada of his story and give him the opportunity to do this, Farrey decided to ambush him. Farrey brought Tejada in for an interview under false pretenses and then pulled out the birth certificate.
Shame on you, Mr. Farrey. Your journalism professors would be so disappointed.
Upon seeing where the interview was going, Tejada removed his microphone and left the room.
Good for you, Mr. Tejada.
Whether your opinion of Miguel Tejada changes upon learning that he lied to get a major-league deal is not the issue here. Personally I do not blame a 19-year-old kid for saying he was 17 to give himself a chance to escape the life of poverty he was born into.
Your opinion of Tom Farrey, however, should be greatly affected.
The slogan for a local news program is: We Report. You Decide. A straight-forward take on the journalistic principle of being unbiased.
In feeling he needed to trick Tejada into an interview about his story, Farrey showed that he had already decided that Tejada was in the wrong. As the aforementioned slogan points out: That, sir, is for us to decide.
Forming an opinion is not part of investigative reporting. Journalist's opinions should be saved for columns and opinion articles. Like this one.
But as disgusted as I was by Farrey's approach to the story, my opinion will have little effect compared to the opinions of Tejada's peers. Because of his backdoor tactics, he has betrayed the trust that must exist between athletes and reporters.
Farrey will have a hard time getting elite athletes to come in for an interview after they see how he approaches his craft.
Since Farrey has forgotten his journalistic principles, and in the spirit of the end of the semester, I have prepared his semester grades.
Investigative Reporting: A+
Story Idea: A
Integrity: F-
Tact: F-
Career Preservation: F-
I think Farrey should retake a couple classes. But then again what do I know? I'm just a college kid.
Another unwritten, or perhaps written, rule of journalism is not to deceive the people you are reporting on. I have only been doing this for two years and even I know that.
Apparently Tom Farrey, a reporter on ESPN's new investigative show E:60, has forgotten what he learned when he was in school. Or maybe he didn't go to class that day.
Last week Farrey discovered that Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada may have lied about his age and name when he signed his first major-league contract. Farrey obtained a copy of Tejada's birth certificate from officials in the Dominican Republic that supported his claim.
Sounds to me like Farrey is a good investigative reporter. This is a big story that deserves to be reported, and he was the one who broke it.
There are, however, always at least two sides to every story. Tejada should have a right to either refute or defend his side.
But rather than inform Tejada of his story and give him the opportunity to do this, Farrey decided to ambush him. Farrey brought Tejada in for an interview under false pretenses and then pulled out the birth certificate.
Shame on you, Mr. Farrey. Your journalism professors would be so disappointed.
Upon seeing where the interview was going, Tejada removed his microphone and left the room.
Good for you, Mr. Tejada.
Whether your opinion of Miguel Tejada changes upon learning that he lied to get a major-league deal is not the issue here. Personally I do not blame a 19-year-old kid for saying he was 17 to give himself a chance to escape the life of poverty he was born into.
Your opinion of Tom Farrey, however, should be greatly affected.
The slogan for a local news program is: We Report. You Decide. A straight-forward take on the journalistic principle of being unbiased.
In feeling he needed to trick Tejada into an interview about his story, Farrey showed that he had already decided that Tejada was in the wrong. As the aforementioned slogan points out: That, sir, is for us to decide.
Forming an opinion is not part of investigative reporting. Journalist's opinions should be saved for columns and opinion articles. Like this one.
But as disgusted as I was by Farrey's approach to the story, my opinion will have little effect compared to the opinions of Tejada's peers. Because of his backdoor tactics, he has betrayed the trust that must exist between athletes and reporters.
Farrey will have a hard time getting elite athletes to come in for an interview after they see how he approaches his craft.
Since Farrey has forgotten his journalistic principles, and in the spirit of the end of the semester, I have prepared his semester grades.
Investigative Reporting: A+
Story Idea: A
Integrity: F-
Tact: F-
Career Preservation: F-
I think Farrey should retake a couple classes. But then again what do I know? I'm just a college kid.
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