Newspaper Blasts KSAT's Sports Dept.

[first on fox 18]

The San Antonio Express-News’ sports editor says he’s had it with KSAT’s sports guys. The newspaper’s website broke news that Spurs coach P.J. Carlesimo had landed the head coach job at the Seattle Sonics, and editor Douglas Pils said KSAT ripped it off and ran it on the air without any attribution. “The Associated Press gave us credit. Heck, even ESPN.com, the self-proclaimed worldwide leader in what we do, gave us credit. But not KSAT,” Pils writes. “The Carlesimo ‘exclusive’ is just the latest in a long list of stories that KSAT’s sports guys have stolen from the Express-News. They dance around the ethical issues surrounding this practice by using terms like ‘KSAT 12 has learned’ and ‘KSAT 12 has confirmed.’” He’s just getting warmed up. “(KSAT’s) Larry, Greggy and Davey have set a whole new standard for laziness, thievery and ineptness. And until the three stooges at KSAT man up and admit they are incapable of doing their own reporting, we’ll recognize them as journalism miscreants, a species that some day, hopefully, will become extinct.”

 

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA070807.02C.COLpils.page2.367bcd1.html

 

Discussion: http://www.lostremote.com/2007/07/10/newspaper-rips-tv-station-for-stealing-stories/

[trey 0]

Obviously, there were many, many discussions regarding this news story in our newsroom today. Personally, I believe this story is completely uncalled for.

 

The EN claims that KSAT 12 lifted this story from its website and claimed it was our exclusive. While all of the details surrounding the event are being reviewed, we determined very quickly that Larry Ramirez did give EN credit for the details they provided, BUT the majority of the information used in his story came direct from several sources within the Spurs organization. The story in question was pretty cut and dry. Nothing ground breaking. The details the EN had were the same details every other station in town had. Guy got a new job.

 

KSAT 12's sports director Greg Simmons is arguably the most trusted sports anchor in the area. In fact, he was recently chosen as the readers choice for favorite television sports caster. He has assembled a crack team of sports anchors, reporters, producers, and photographers. Professionals dedicated to covering sports accurately and professionally.

 

The practice claimed by the EN is done by every television station and news paper in the country. We are all competing for the same audience now, as the Internet becomes the primary source for breaking news information. It happens all the time. Look at AP. How many local stations do you know that credit them for every story idea they provide?????????? Also, at the majority of small market stations across the country, the first thing news producers and reporters do are flip open the daily news papers. They are scattered all over the assignment desk.

 

If we had enough time, I'm sure we could dig through the EN pages and find story ideas as seen first on the local broadcast stations. I'm sure we could also flag all of the other location stations for taking story ideas from the EN. It happens, and it has been happening for a while now. The industry is too competitive to let a good story slip by without reporting on it.

 

Fortunately, we have more important things to do -- like covering the news, weather, and sports our viewers depend on us for -- instead of wasting time making cheap shots to make ourselves feel high and mighty. After all, while their subscription numbers keep falling -- our ratings keep getting better and better.

 

The accusations made by the EN are unfounded and were done hastily without very much research. The editor obviously did not watch our 10:00 newscast very closely.

 

EN better pay close attention to its editorial choices. We'll be watching...and waiting.