In gagging its journalists, the nation’s biggest sporting organisation has shone a light on an inherent conflict of interest
One of journalism’s guiding principles – to report on the story, not become part of it – has been given a thorough workout in the past week, during which AFL Media stood down one of its reporters, and then reinstated him, for what can only be described as doing his job. In the process, the AFL has attracted unwanted attention and exposed the inescapable flaws of a major organisation that reports on itself.
Mitch Cleary’s offence was to tweet a photo of Brooke Cotchin, wife of Richmond captain Trent, visiting a Gold Coast spa, an outing in violation of the AFL’s return-to-play protocols that drew a $20,000 fine. Last Friday, the AFL and its media arm had made the curious decision not to name individuals from four clubs in breach of the code’s Covid-19 restrictions. Cotchin, however, had posted the incriminating image to her Instagram followers and had days earlier been identified on Melbourne radio.
Continue reading...from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3frBZfR
via
0 Comments