Is ESPN Journalism?

By James Freeman,

Perhaps the network should take itself more seriously.

CBS Chairman and President Les Moonves thinks his new Internet sports video service can pull viewers away from ESPN. The Hollywood Reporter has the story on Mr. Moonves’ appearance at a Goldman Sachs investor conference in New York:

“We think there is a place in the market for straight clips and scores,” he said. “I’m a sports fan, but when I turn on ESPN, I see people yelling at each other.”

Even when ESPN anchors aren’t yelling, they’re often talking about things other than sports, and often in ways that offend millions of potential viewers. ESPN personnel offer controversial non-sports commentary on social media as well. This week ESPN anchor Jemele Hill tweeted, “Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.”

In the sports media equivalent of Hillary Clinton’s infamous “deplorables” comment, Ms. Hill also tweeted, “Trump is the most ignorant, offensive president of my lifetime. His rise is a direct result of white supremacy. Period.”

This column is skeptical that sports television programming can be improved and its audience broadened by featuring earnestly delivered extreme political analysis. This column is particularly skeptical in the case of Ms. Hill because her nonpolitical commentary can be quite compelling. On the other hand, ESPN clearly faces intense challenges in the digital media era. And perhaps the network’s executives are correct in guessing that sports fans don’t just want to hear about Stephen Curry’s competitiveness or Clayton Kershaw’s slider.

But if ESPN feels compelled to address more consequential topics, perhaps they also owe their viewers and the subjects of their reporting a more serious approach to their coverage. After her tweets provoked predictable and justifiably angry criticism, Ms. Hill took to Twitter again to post the following comment:

My comments on Twitter expressed my personal beliefs. My regret is that my comments and the public way I made them painted ESPN in an unfair light. My respect for the company and my colleagues remains unconditional.

ESPN for its part said the comments were “inappropriate” and did not represent the company’s position.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has called Ms. Hill’s comments a “fireable offense.” According to the Associated Press, “Hill was supported by the National Association of Black Journalists, which issued a statement saying it ‘supports Hill’s First Amendment rights on all matters of discussion, within and outside the world of sports, as they do not impinge on her duties as a host and commentator.’” It’s true that Ms. Sanders doesn’t get to tell Ms. Hill what to say, but viewers will ultimately decide about her duties as a host and commentator.

Perhaps at some point the association will also discuss with Ms. Hill her duties as a journalist.

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