LOPEZ: Inside the Fourth Estate -- UT Media Bias
By John P. Lopez
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For the record, I do have a pair of those proverbial maroon-colored glasses that complement the burnt-orange glasses most of my colleagues possess.
But like them, I just don't wear them while sitting behind a keyboard.
Behind a barbecue pit while tailgating at Kyle Field? That's a different story.
Behind the two loudmouthed Oklahoma State fans sitting in The Zone a couple of years ago? Of course.
Behind in the fourth-quarter and Jerrod Johnson calling the signals? Just watch.
Nevertheless, whenever someone feels viciously wronged in the world of collegiate sports, a familiar refrain can be heard echoing off stadium rafters from Lubbock to College Station and all points in-between.
Damn media.
When in doubt – even if your quarterback couldn't hit the broad side of Kirstie Alley – blame the media.
There's a Longhorns media bias, say the skeptics.
Because the University of Texas has such a powerful and far-reaching journalism school, the 'Horns consistently get preferential treatment and rarely are critiqued as harshly as others, they say. Meanwhile, programs like the Sooners, Aggies, Red Raiders and, well, EVERY other athletic program, gets ranked lower, critiqued more and hardly receive similar play via airwaves, newsprint or pixels.
For the most part, that's a bunch of bunk. NOTE: I said, for the most part.
I have lived behind the carefully protected walls of the Fourth Estate for nearly 25 years. I covered national college football and basketball almost exclusively for eight of those years and traveled to every major NCAA event for about 20 of those years.
And I'm here to tell you this: All those suspicions you've had about a Longhorns media bias are not totally off-base.
Not every member of the media abides by the unwritten rule of journalism that, while you don't have to like it, you must be fair and objective when covering sports.
There IS a Longhorn media bias in this part of the country. I've seen it. I've cringed at some of the things that have been said and done on Saturdays in press boxes, in newsrooms when game stories are being laid out, early in the week when assignments are being made and late at night when pictures are chosen for the front page of the paper or website.
It is a bias that, yes, has impacted the stories and information the public receives. It happens in news rooms all over the state. It has led to some news tips being ignored while others pursued with much more vigor. Sure, it probably even has helped the Longhorns and assailed others.
Any of my fellow journalists who dispute this fact are either lying or blind.
Just like there is a Missouri and Northwestern media bias in the Midwest and a Syracuse media bias in the East, because of the proximity of those journalism and broadcast schools, there are a great number of journalists who treat UT athletics differently.
They treat it much more kindly than how they treat other programs. I'm breaking the unwritten rule of journalism by telling you these things, especially when I cite specific examples of what I'm talking about below.
The mere notion of anyone in my business suggesting anything but pure objectivity by news outlets is a time-honored no-no. Journalists do nothing better than protect other journalists.
But let me make two points very clear before I share a few examples of some of the things I have seen and know have gone on behind the scenes at major Texas news outlets.
1) As I stated above, this is not a blanket indictment of all UT journalists covering sports in this state. For the most part, personal rooting interests always are set aside when writing the stories and columns. Some of the best, most insightful, critical and objective reporters I have known graduated from UT and live and work in Texas. Some of the harshest, most well-deserved analysis of UT sports has come from UT grads covering the beats and writing the columns. And the vast majority of reporters covering college sports in Texas, in my view, treat the Aggies, Bears, Red Raiders and all others more than fairly, even if it may be reluctantly.
2) But most important, to complain about the lack of objectivity or a real or perceived slight because of the UT bias is still little more than bitter whining. No matter how blatant, unfair or premeditated it may be, just shut up and win and even the most orange-blooded reporter or columnist could not help but give your team its due. If I'm not mistaken, Oklahoma has made a few headlines in recent years. It pains some who write them, but the Sooners do make headlines.
Sure, a good number of reporters, columnists and editors have a bias and aren't afraid to use it. All the instances below involve reporters or columnists who graduated from UT and work at Texas news outlets.
* A writer at a major newspaper in Texas was asked if he wanted to cover a big Texas Tech game last season. He refused. When asked by an editor why, he responded: "Because it's Lubbock. And Tech."
* While talking with an investigative reporter about a piece aimed at exposing irregularities at a major state program, I asked the reporter why he never seemed so eager to investigate UT. He responded with a chuckle, raised a Hook 'em 'Horns sign and said, "You know."
* An editor coordinating NCAA Tournament coverage at a Texas newspaper was asked in a staff meeting why the Longhorns basketball team consistently was played on the front page, while the Aggies – ranked higher – consistently were inside. He responded curtly, "I make those decisions, not you."
* An executive sports editor in Texas was approached with sourced information that indicated Vince Young's Wonderlic test score was well below par prior to the 2006 NFL draft. The editor quashed the story, which ultimately was reported elsewhere.
Those are just a few instances. There are dozens of other instances, large and small, that I have either witnessed at news outlets in Texas or know have occurred. Favorable play for Texas sports, kid-glove treatment of coaching or athletic department troubles at UT, etc., etc.
Honestly, who would expect anything else?
UT has the largest journalism school in the state. Most graduates tend to hang around Texas.
They may tell you until they're blue in the face that bias does not happen, but I can assure you the burnt orange always ultimately shines through for some.
But get over it.
If your head coach, program, facilities, fan base and infrastructure cannot overcome a few writers and editors nudging their audience in UT's direction, you probably need a new coach, overhaul of the program, new facilities, more-involved fans and better administrative infrastructure.
Guess what? You'll never beat it.
But win on the scoreboard and it all takes care of itself.
Want to read John's blog on other sports topics?- Click Here
For the record, I do have a pair of those proverbial maroon-colored glasses that complement the burnt-orange glasses most of my colleagues possess.
But like them, I just don't wear them while sitting behind a keyboard.
|
|
Jerrod Johnson / TexAgs.com
|
Behind the two loudmouthed Oklahoma State fans sitting in The Zone a couple of years ago? Of course.
Behind in the fourth-quarter and Jerrod Johnson calling the signals? Just watch.
Nevertheless, whenever someone feels viciously wronged in the world of collegiate sports, a familiar refrain can be heard echoing off stadium rafters from Lubbock to College Station and all points in-between.
Damn media.
When in doubt – even if your quarterback couldn't hit the broad side of Kirstie Alley – blame the media.
There's a Longhorns media bias, say the skeptics.
Because the University of Texas has such a powerful and far-reaching journalism school, the 'Horns consistently get preferential treatment and rarely are critiqued as harshly as others, they say. Meanwhile, programs like the Sooners, Aggies, Red Raiders and, well, EVERY other athletic program, gets ranked lower, critiqued more and hardly receive similar play via airwaves, newsprint or pixels.
For the most part, that's a bunch of bunk. NOTE: I said, for the most part.
I have lived behind the carefully protected walls of the Fourth Estate for nearly 25 years. I covered national college football and basketball almost exclusively for eight of those years and traveled to every major NCAA event for about 20 of those years.
And I'm here to tell you this: All those suspicions you've had about a Longhorns media bias are not totally off-base.
Not every member of the media abides by the unwritten rule of journalism that, while you don't have to like it, you must be fair and objective when covering sports.
There IS a Longhorn media bias in this part of the country. I've seen it. I've cringed at some of the things that have been said and done on Saturdays in press boxes, in newsrooms when game stories are being laid out, early in the week when assignments are being made and late at night when pictures are chosen for the front page of the paper or website.
It is a bias that, yes, has impacted the stories and information the public receives. It happens in news rooms all over the state. It has led to some news tips being ignored while others pursued with much more vigor. Sure, it probably even has helped the Longhorns and assailed others.
Any of my fellow journalists who dispute this fact are either lying or blind.
Just like there is a Missouri and Northwestern media bias in the Midwest and a Syracuse media bias in the East, because of the proximity of those journalism and broadcast schools, there are a great number of journalists who treat UT athletics differently.
They treat it much more kindly than how they treat other programs. I'm breaking the unwritten rule of journalism by telling you these things, especially when I cite specific examples of what I'm talking about below.
The mere notion of anyone in my business suggesting anything but pure objectivity by news outlets is a time-honored no-no. Journalists do nothing better than protect other journalists.
|
|
Mack Brown / ESPN.com
|
1) As I stated above, this is not a blanket indictment of all UT journalists covering sports in this state. For the most part, personal rooting interests always are set aside when writing the stories and columns. Some of the best, most insightful, critical and objective reporters I have known graduated from UT and live and work in Texas. Some of the harshest, most well-deserved analysis of UT sports has come from UT grads covering the beats and writing the columns. And the vast majority of reporters covering college sports in Texas, in my view, treat the Aggies, Bears, Red Raiders and all others more than fairly, even if it may be reluctantly.
2) But most important, to complain about the lack of objectivity or a real or perceived slight because of the UT bias is still little more than bitter whining. No matter how blatant, unfair or premeditated it may be, just shut up and win and even the most orange-blooded reporter or columnist could not help but give your team its due. If I'm not mistaken, Oklahoma has made a few headlines in recent years. It pains some who write them, but the Sooners do make headlines.
Sure, a good number of reporters, columnists and editors have a bias and aren't afraid to use it. All the instances below involve reporters or columnists who graduated from UT and work at Texas news outlets.
* A writer at a major newspaper in Texas was asked if he wanted to cover a big Texas Tech game last season. He refused. When asked by an editor why, he responded: "Because it's Lubbock. And Tech."
* While talking with an investigative reporter about a piece aimed at exposing irregularities at a major state program, I asked the reporter why he never seemed so eager to investigate UT. He responded with a chuckle, raised a Hook 'em 'Horns sign and said, "You know."
* An editor coordinating NCAA Tournament coverage at a Texas newspaper was asked in a staff meeting why the Longhorns basketball team consistently was played on the front page, while the Aggies – ranked higher – consistently were inside. He responded curtly, "I make those decisions, not you."
* An executive sports editor in Texas was approached with sourced information that indicated Vince Young's Wonderlic test score was well below par prior to the 2006 NFL draft. The editor quashed the story, which ultimately was reported elsewhere.
|
|
Mack Brown & Vince Young / ESPN.com
|
Honestly, who would expect anything else?
UT has the largest journalism school in the state. Most graduates tend to hang around Texas.
They may tell you until they're blue in the face that bias does not happen, but I can assure you the burnt orange always ultimately shines through for some.
But get over it.
If your head coach, program, facilities, fan base and infrastructure cannot overcome a few writers and editors nudging their audience in UT's direction, you probably need a new coach, overhaul of the program, new facilities, more-involved fans and better administrative infrastructure.
Guess what? You'll never beat it.
But win on the scoreboard and it all takes care of itself.
Want to read John's blog on other sports topics?- Click Here
