Evidentiary standards may explain why mainstreamers waited at Favre’s Thursday news conference, but it’s also worth remembering that they lack a key tool in Deadspin’s belt: they don’t pay sources who can disgorge the proof needed to confront an alleged perp.
Cash may allow Deadspin to overcome Daulerio’s blatant violation of Sterger’s confidence, even if the rest of the media suffers the drive-by effects. A source should be more interested in his or her relationship with a specific professional, rather than the profession, but my experience is anything toxic pollutes the water table for all of us. Aside from smug finger-pointing, that’s one reason to stand up for ethics even if we sometimes fall short.
Then again, Deadspin’s story has gotten more, not less, credible as the weeks have rolled by. It could turn out to be a fraud, or truly a private misdeed with no broader significance, but a lot more of us are watching now.
Source: minnpost.com
