Earlier this week, Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy wrote a piece about bias among sportswriters. To paraphrase, (the column in question requires a subscription), Shaughnessy states that he does not care whether the New England Patriots, (one of the teams that he covers), wins or loses. This article caused a stir among sportswriters.
On the other hand, there are writers who write from the heart, and their passion goes into their writing. One of the most well-known examples is Bill Simmons. Simmons is the editor-in-chief of grantland.com, which is an ESPN owned website. He is very passionate about sports and his sports teams, and some of his pieces reflect that. This is the other end of the spectrum.
I grew up reading both of these journalists, and they both have inspired me to become an amateur sportswriter. However, the question is apparent when comparing these two. Where should people in this industry draw the line between passion and professionalism?
I’ll preface my opinion by stating that I am a huge sports fan, and I am extremely passionate about my four favorite teams. In fact, there is a very short list of things that I feel more passionately about than my favorite sports and teams. However, where does fandom end and reporting take over? As stated earlier, there are precedents from opposite ends of the spectrum.
I fully agree with journalists who root for their favorite teams. That’s fair. If a reporter grew up rooting for a certain sports team, and got the opportunity to watch and write about them for a living, they have every right to root for their favorite teams. However, when that passion comes in the way of professionalism, that’s where the credibility of the writer sometimes disappears.
For example, if a certain beat writer is covering a team in the championship round, it’s important for him/her to maintain equity when covering the game/series. The game recaps shouldn’t show bias, and neither should any other column. However, it is completely alright for the writer to root for his/her favorite team during the series. After all, if you can love sports without any bias at all, your impartiality is impeccable.
In short, if I were writing about this past season’s World Series, I would have written as fairly as I possibly could, even though my rooting interests would change depending on the team that plays. When fandom and one’s career come to a crossroads, professionalism should trump passion, and it is the journalist’s responsibility to keep his/her emotions in check.
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