Terry Foster Getting REAMED FOR RUMOR Fair or Unfair

**TerryFoster** · 08-26-2005, 04:56 AM

Originally Posted by Biff Tannen

I don't want to hear about rumors unless they are from a trusted source - not some anonymous guy who's trying to start something b/c he has way too much time on his hands.

"Just for the sake of discussion"? Well, you can talk about anything just for the sake of discussion. Please only report rumors if they are from a good source, otherwise it wastes time.

Usually if a rumor comes from a good source, it ends up being true. Those are the ones worth spending time on.

That is not true. Lets take the Darko Milicic for Al Harrington trade. That rumor hit the newspapers. That rumor was discussed on sports talk radio. But here is the truth. The Pistons and Atlanta Hawks never talked about that trade.
The New York papers are filled with rumors. Ninety percent of them are bogus.

**TerryFoster** · 08-26-2005, 04:59 AM

Originally Posted by Biff Tannen

I heard it wasn't an NBA source, it was a teenager on the internet.

Once again that is not true. Some of you read it on a web site. I did not. I heard it from one of my writer friends who covers the NBA. Will you guys stop reading other websites about me and come to the source. Hell. According to what you read I want to do talk radio from 1 to 5 in the morning.

**TerryFoster** · 08-26-2005, 05:00 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

I don't think he deserves any criticism.

Here's the dictionary entry for rumor:

1. A piece of unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth.
2. Unverified information received from another; hearsay.

Enough said.

Thank you.

**TerryFoster** · 08-26-2005, 05:03 AM

Originally Posted by strong1069

First: no one would read the blog if he didn't have his day job...or at the very least, readership would be significantly lower.

Secondly, yes, there is a pecking order when it comes to news sources. The point is that having a blog is a difficult thing because it can impact his ability to do his day job. His blog, by and large, is not a series of ramblings about "Little B celebrated his birthday and everyone was there..." or "I got up this morning and had coffee..." as most blogs seem to be. He's doing it to supplement his day job: he misses writing his column. Since that's the reason for the blog, then, yes, he needs to be more careful about what he posts.

My problem is not that he posted something about a rumor. My problem is that he didn't dispel the rumor in the same post. No editor would let him run that post as a column. As noted, a blog is a low rung on the news dissemination ladder so he's not competing with anyone to get news out there. He had the time to do it right...and he didn't. If any of you were the blogger, it would be different...assuming none of you are journalists who were trying to make your blog a column to supplement your career.

Then how do you explain NBA columns across the nation which print trade rumors? How do you explain the success of Peter Vecsey who throws stuff out there just for the heck of it?

**TerryFoster** · 08-26-2005, 05:09 AM

Originally Posted by MIDave

The whole notion that a guy can't mention a rumor he heard on his own blog is what is over the top.

I think it's irresponsible to self-righteously assume the post of judge over all things said on a blog in the name of "journalistic integrity".

Did you guys have the same reaction when The New York Times, ESPN and other media outlets said Larry Brown taking over the Cleveland Cavs front office job was a done deal? No.
That was a rumor that started out of the Palace. They did not double check their sources. Now Brown was interested. And my understanding is it was not a done deal even after Danny Ferry was inserted. It just was not a done deal.
I have not heard any outrage over bad reporting there. Here is the difference. ESPN can report cows are flying over Scotland and you people would believe it.

**TerryFoster** · 08-26-2005, 05:10 AM

Originally Posted by AussieRulez

Gotta say this upheavel seems a bit extreme. Yes Terry is a sports journalist, but if you say RUMOR and add it simply to a personal blog your in the clear.
If you say rumor in the paper and it lands on just about every Metro area neighbourhood the next day, you need strong sorces to back it up.

The only thing he should take away from this is to be careful where he steps, but his integrity hasn't been compromised.

No worries Terry, your still da man

Thank you. I am still waiting for the outrage of the Toronto Sun and Detroit Free Press reporting a trade rumor that was never talked about.

**TerryFoster** · 08-26-2005, 05:14 AM

To be honest. I ain't hating on you.
(Opps. I cannot say ain't cause that is casual journalism and I should be above that.)
I love debates. That is what this is all about. I don't care if you attack me. I simply will fire back.
We still cool.
This is me. I like to banter back and forth.
This is what I miss about the newspaper. I used to get 200 letters a week when I did my column and we used to battle.
This thing took on a life of its own. TerryFoster.blogspot.com usually gets 700 hits a day. This rumor thing drove it to 3,200.
Amazing.
I actually heard another rumor yesterday, but I will keep it under my hat.
I don't want to get in any more trouble.
Hang on. Didn't the headline on this say "We Be Cool" The newspaper would not allow for that. I had better change it.

**Kissel** · 08-26-2005, 05:40 AM

Terry-

Keep doing what you do. These same guys who are *****ing are the same ones who would be *****ing if you didn't report anything you heard. They'd all be saying 'C'mon Terry. Where's the insight? We want to know what's really going on blah blah blah'.

Now, I gotta go have some coffee before I see Mike's bald head on TV.

**billionaire12** · 08-26-2005, 07:39 AM

I will maintain a blog is a blog is a blog. How many blogs spin things there way without regaurd for fact. I never take blogs as gospel even when they claim it's fact unless there a Journalist and other sources back them up. For example TErry reported the Pudge ordeal and he was proven right. Folks Rumors are always espoused on in ESPN ( THat network has gotten a fat Head) IE John Clayton and Stephen A Smith ( His show is excellent) HOw many of those rumours never materialized and how many have retractions have they made.

MIDave · 08-26-2005, 08:31 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by MIDave
The whole notion that a guy can't mention a rumor he heard on his own blog is what is over the top.

I think it's irresponsible to self-righteously assume the post of judge over all things said on a blog in the name of "journalistic integrity".

Originally Posted by TerryFoster

Did you guys have the same reaction when The New York Times, ESPN and other media outlets said Larry Brown taking over the Cleveland Cavs front office job was a done deal? No.
That was a rumor that started out of the Palace. They did not double check their sources. Now Brown was interested. And my understanding is it was not a done deal even after Danny Ferry was inserted. It just was not a done deal.
I have not heard any outrage over bad reporting there. Here is the difference. ESPN can report cows are flying over Scotland and you people would believe it.

Geez T, maybe you're a little over-sensitive now - - or more likely I'm simply a terrible writer. I'll stick with the latter. This is what happens to me when I try to be "clear and concise"...

My (intended) points were:

1) That it was ludicrous for anyone to suggest that you can't use your own blog/website as a place to post the rumors you've heard.

2) Who in the h*** is anyone on this website to determine where the boundaries of "journalistic integrity" are?

I thought I was on your side T; I didn't mean to offend you.