In what was a , Amazon Prime Video and Fox Sports anchor Charissa Thompson said on a podcast this week that when she was a TV sideline reporter on football games, she sometimes fabricated a report for the broadcast.
Appearing on Barstool妩媚直播檚 popular 妩媚直播淧ardon My Take,妩媚直播� Thompson said this isn妩媚直播檛 the first time she has admitted this publicly.
She said, 妩媚直播淚, and I妩媚直播檝e said this before, so I haven妩媚直播檛 been fired for saying it, but I妩媚直播檒l say it again: I would make up the report sometimes because, A., the coach wouldn妩媚直播檛 come out at halftime or it was too late and I was like, I didn妩媚直播檛 want to screw up the report, so I was like, 妩媚直播業妩媚直播檓 just gonna make this up.妩媚直播欏闹辈
Thompson continued by saying, 妩媚直播淏ecause, first of all, no coach is gonna get mad if I say, 妩媚直播楬ey, we need to stop hurting ourselves, we need to be better on third down, we need to stop turning the ball over 妩媚直播� and do a better job of getting off the field.妩媚直播� Like, they妩媚直播檙e not gonna correct me on that.妩媚直播�
For the record, in 2022, on a podcast she still does with sideline reporter Erin Andrews, Thompson said, 妩媚直播淚 was like, 妩媚直播極h, coach, what adjustments are you gonna make at halftime?妩媚直播� He goes, 妩媚直播楾hat妩媚直播檚 a great perfume you妩媚直播檙e wearing.妩媚直播� I was like, 妩媚直播極h (expletive), this isn妩媚直播檛 gonna work.妩媚直播� I妩媚直播檓 not kidding, I made up a report.妩媚直播�
Andrews chimed in with, 妩媚直播淚妩媚直播檝e done that too. For a coach that I didn妩媚直播檛 wanna throw under the bus because he was telling me all the wrong stuff!妩媚直播�
Those comments in 2022, for whatever reason, didn妩媚直播檛 get the reaction that Thompson妩媚直播檚 most recent comments have, .
As far as the comments this week, I must say I妩媚直播檓 truly stunned, flabbergasted, whatever the strongest word is for, 妩媚直播淚 can妩媚直播檛 actually believe she said that!妩媚直播�
It isn妩媚直播檛 clear when she might have made up coaches妩媚直播� quotes 妩媚直播� it could have been 15 years ago or so. But her seemingly flippant attitude in the 妩媚直播淧ardon My Take妩媚直播� interview makes you wonder if she even today understands the seriousness of her transgressions.
New York Post sports media columnist : 妩媚直播淐harissa Thompson messed up on many levels. 1) Making up reports. Pretty self evident as to why. 2) I get it PMT is a relaxed environment, but revealing that was an odd choice. 3) All the sideline reporters who do the job correctly look bad as a result.妩媚直播�
Marchand妩媚直播檚 third point is one of my main takeaways: Thompson妩媚直播檚 shocking admission, unfairly but assuredly, brings into question the legitimacy of all sideline reporters in the minds of many in the audience. Fans already predisposed to disliking sideline reports and in-game interviews can now say, 妩媚直播淲ait, not only is this a waste of time, but now you妩媚直播檙e telling me these reports might not even be true?!妩媚直播�
The story spread like wildfire Thursday afternoon into the evening with Thompson being roundly criticized, especially in media circles.
, 妩媚直播淚 usually try to avoid getting grumpy on here but: this really blows! It妩媚直播檚 very discouraging! I can妩媚直播檛 get it out of my head! Please give jobs to people who work hard and want to do them well!妩媚直播�
, 妩媚直播淵oung reporters: This is not normal or ethical. Coaches and players trust us with sensitive information, and if they know that you妩媚直播檙e dishonest and don妩媚直播檛 take your role seriously, you妩媚直播檝e lost all trust and credibility.妩媚直播�
CBS妩媚直播檚 Tracy Wolfson, one of the most prominent football sideline reporters there is, , 妩媚直播淭his is absolutely not ok, not the norm and upsetting on so many levels. I take my job very seriously, I hold myself accountable for all I say, I build trust with coaches and never make something up. I know my fellow reporters do the same.妩媚直播�
Another prominent sideline reporter, Lisa Salters from ESPN妩媚直播檚 妩媚直播淢onday Night Football,妩媚直播� , 妩媚直播淪hocked. Disappointed. Disgusted. What we heard today called all sideline reporters into question. My job is an honor, a privilege and a craft at which I have worked so hard. 妩媚直播� Trust and credibility. They mean everything to a journalist. To violate either one – in any way – not only makes a mockery of the profession, but is a disservice to players, coaches and, most importantly, to fans.妩媚直播�
Chris Kirschner, who covers the New York Yankees for The Athletic, , 妩媚直播淎 good portion of the public doesn妩媚直播檛 trust the media as is. I cannot believe she would proudly admit this. This causes significant harm to the people who actually take the job seriously. It妩媚直播檚 entirely unethical and worthy of never working in the field again.妩媚直播�
I was a sportswriter for more than 30 years 妩媚直播� 15 of which were as a sports columnist. I妩媚直播檝e been a media columnist for the past five years. I cannot remember ever calling for someone妩媚直播檚 job. But that streak might end depending on how Thompson handles this.
She, as well as Fox and Amazon, can妩媚直播檛 sit quiet and hope this story just goes away. It has become too big. She needs to address it sooner rather than later. She needs to show some remorse, offer some sort of explanation and at least show some understanding of what she admitted to. (Thompson did not address it while hosting Thursday night妩媚直播檚 pregame on Amazon Prime Video妩媚直播檚 妩媚直播淭hursday Night Football.妩媚直播�)
, 妩媚直播淭here’s no way Thompson, who has been doing this for more than a decade and knows better, should survive this. This is a firing offense. It’s not even close.妩媚直播�
Yes, this apparently happened a long time ago. But she did the worst thing a journalist could do: She made stuff up. That妩媚直播檚 inexcusable. It doesn妩媚直播檛 matter that it might have been about something as insignificant as what an NFL coach says about his defense. That doesn妩媚直播檛 matter.
This is what matters: SHE MADE STUFF UP!
, 妩媚直播淪he admitted this out loud? Why would anyone trust anything she reports from here on out?妩媚直播�
And that妩媚直播檚 the point. Her credibility has been severely damaged, and she might have damaged the credibility of all sideline reporters.
Former longtime 妩媚直播淪unday Night Football妩媚直播� sideline reporter , 妩媚直播淗onestly, this makes me sad. Charissa is a nice person, but this is professional fraud. If a coach won妩媚直播檛 talk to you at halftime, you say that. And if there is no report, then you just don妩媚直播檛 file a report at halftime. It妩媚直播檚 pretty simple. Journalistic integrity is paramount.妩媚直播�
Perhaps Thompson will keep her job if Amazon and Fox both dismiss this as something that happened years ago in a job she no longer has.
But veteran journalist , 妩媚直播淗onestly, I don’t see how Thompson keeps her job.妩媚直播�
Update
On Friday morning, hours after this story was published, Thompson put out a . She wrote:
Ok, let妩媚直播檚 address the elephant in the room. I have a responsibility to myself and my employers to clarify what is being reported. When on a podcast this week, I said I would make up reports early in my career when I worked as a sideline reporter before I transitioned to my current host role.
Working in media I understand how important words are and I chose the wrong words to describe the situation. I妩媚直播檓 sorry. I have never lied about anything or been unethical during my time as a sports broadcaster.
In the absence of a coach providing any information that could further my report I would use information that I learned and saw during the first half to create my report. For example, if a team was. 0 for 7 on 3rd down, that would clearly be an area they need to improve on in the second half. In these instances, I never attributed anything I said to a player or coach.
I have nothing but respect for sideline reporters and for the tireless work they put in behind the scenes and on the field. I am only appreciative and humbled to work alongside some of the best in the business and call them some of my best friends.
Thompson妩媚直播檚 statement, however, didn妩媚直播檛 satisfy many on social media. For example, Action Network sports business reporter , 妩媚直播淐harissa Thompson said she did not do what she said she did.妩媚直播�
Thompson妩媚直播檚 explanation does sound a little like Rovell suggests. After all, she literally said on the 妩媚直播淧ardon My Take妩媚直播� podcast that she would 妩媚直播渕ake this up妩媚直播� when she couldn妩媚直播檛 get a coach for a halftime interview. And by later saying on the podcast that 妩媚直播渘o coach was gonna get mad妩媚直播� at her certainly suggested that she was attributing quotes to a coach she never talked to at halftime.
Yet in her statement, Thompson wrote that she 妩媚直播渘ever lied about anything or been unethical during my time as a sports broadcaster妩媚直播� and that she 妩媚直播渘ever attributed anything I said to a player or coach.妩媚直播�
Is that true? That妩媚直播檚 not how her podcast comments came off, but her explanation could be enough for her current employers 妩媚直播� Amazon Prime Video and Fox Sports, where she works as a studio host 妩媚直播� to keep her employed. Neither Amazon nor Fox has commented so far.
This update was added Friday, Nov. 17 at 1:05 p.m.
Reaction to the Post story on mass shootings
On Thursday, The Washington Post published a piece about the damage done in mass shootings by AR-15s.
As I wrote in my Thursday newsletter, 妩媚直播淭o have the most impact, the Post told the story through photos, videos and the words of those who have survived these horrific shootings.妩媚直播�
Make no mistake, the photos and videos are extremely graphic, and the words of the survivors are incredibly chilling. This was not an easy project to see. That was the point. It was supposed to be disturbing. As Washington Post executive editor Sally Buzbee told me, 妩媚直播淲e know it妩媚直播檚 very sensitive material and very disturbing and we know it will be disturbing to people. 妩媚直播� News organizations rarely publish extremely graphic content around these things. And we just felt that there was a lack of understanding of what actually happens in these shootings. We妩媚直播檙e really just trying to say what the destructive power is and what these (weapons) actually do. I think our main hope is people just get a more factual, realistic view of what happens in these highly destructive mass shootings.妩媚直播�
So what was the reaction from readers?
As of Thursday evening, just 12 hours after it was published online, there were well over 3,000 reader comments below the story. Most of the comments credited the Post.
Many were some form of this comment: 妩媚直播淢ore of this. Finally. We NEED to see this. The horror. It needs to be real. Our families and communities are experiencing unprecedented trauma, and it has been kept under cover. I have so much gratitude for the groups that gave you access to these images and stories. They need to be heard.妩媚直播�
Another wrote, 妩媚直播淚 kept looking away. I kept coming back. Because we can’t keep looking away.妩媚直播�
Before the story was published, one parent of a child killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, encouraged people to not read or share the piece.
But Brett Cross, whose son was killed in the Uvalde shooting, posted a . It妩媚直播檚 quite lengthy, but I encourage you to read it. He wrote, in part, 妩媚直播淲ith nothing but love and respect to every family out there, from anybody who lost a loved one at our shooting, to the others displayed in this article, I disagree with not showing the public. I disagree with the public turning a blind eye to the reality that is America. I妩媚直播檝e waited nearly two years for information and our city, state, and government still refuse to give us any. While these photos are disturbing and truly shocking, it lets you see just a modicum of the scenes that constantly invade my thoughts and nightmares.妩媚直播�
Again, there is much more to his message. He closed with, 妩媚直播淪o view the article. Breathe it in. Smell the gunfire. See the destruction. See the pain.妩媚直播�
妩媚直播 celebrates Anderson Cooper
CNN妩媚直播檚 Anderson Cooper, shown here in December of 2022. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Anderson Cooper will be honored with the 妩媚直播 Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism at the 2023 Bowtie Ball in Tampa on Saturday evening.
Cooper is one of the most recognized faces in news today. He anchors CNN妩媚直播檚 妩媚直播淎nderson Cooper 360,妩媚直播� which . Cooper妩媚直播檚 work on the program has produced countless memorable moments, including an interview with the stepfather of a girl who was killed in the Uvalde shooting, and an emotional segment in which he read the names of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. Amaris Castillo recapped some of those moments in an article for 妩媚直播 this week.
Cooper also hosts on Sundays. The program has delved deeply into the war between Israel and Hamas in recent weeks.
Cooper妩媚直播檚 podcast, 妩媚直播淎ll There Is,妩媚直播� which focuses on grief, will soon , which will include an . This morning, Angela Fu explored the origins of the podcast 妩媚直播斅燙ooper妩媚直播檚 grief over his mother妩媚直播檚 death and his subsequent need to clean out her apartment 妩媚直播� in an article for 妩媚直播.
Cooper will receive the medal at 妩媚直播妩媚直播檚 annual fundraising gala, the Bowtie Ball. He joins an esteemed roster of 妩媚直播 Medal recipients, including Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Lesley Stahl, Chris Wallace, Katie Couric, Lester Holt, Judy Woodruff, Tom Brokaw and Bob Schieffer.
Staff report
Media tidbits and notable links for your weekend review
- The Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University released its annual State of Local News report Thursday. 妩媚直播妩媚直播檚 Angela Fu has a summary: 妩媚直播淯S lost more than two local newspapers a week this year, new Medill report finds.妩媚直播�
- Though BDG Media sold Gawker to a Singapore-based organization on Wednesday, its archives weren妩媚直播檛 included in the deal. But good news for people who like news: They are now available at .
- Did Apple abruptly cancel comedian Jon Stewart妩媚直播檚 Apple TV show because of segments that focused on China or artificial intelligence? Reuters妩媚直播� Patricia Zengerle and Michael Martina dig in with
- Politico妩媚直播檚 Jack Shafer puts the heat on presidential candidate Nikki Haley妩媚直播檚 call to ban anonymous posting in
- 妩媚直播淐BS Evening News妩媚直播� anchor Norah O妩媚直播橠onnell Thursday night about the hostages held inside Gaza, his assessment of potential war crimes and the viability of a two-state solution.
- Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Anne Boyer explains in her Substack.
- 妩媚直播淣etwork of Lies,妩媚直播� Brian Stelter妩媚直播檚 newest book on Fox News, came out this week. For Salon, here妩媚直播檚 Melanie McFarland with .
- For The New York Times, Alex Vadukul with
More resources for journalists
- Subscribe to 妩媚直播妩媚直播檚 Friday newsletter, Open Tabs with 妩媚直播 managing editor Ren LaForme, and get behind-the-scenes stories only available to subscribers.
- 妩媚直播 ACES Introductory Certificate in Editing (Online) 妩媚直播� Enroll now.
- How to Improve Your Coverage of LGBTQ+ Communities (Webinar) 妩媚直播� Start anytime.
- Got a story you妩媚直播檇 like to write for 妩媚直播? Email pitch@poynter.org with your idea, approximate timeline and word count.
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