USA Today columnist Christine Brennan is highly regarded in the journalism industry. She is an advocate for women’s sports and a pioneer for women in sports journalism. But more than that, she has a solid reputation as an unbiased reporter and columnist.
However, controversy has arisen after the WNBA Players Association issued a scathing and unfair statement regarding Brennan.
It all started last week when WNBA star Caitlin Clark was poked in the eye by Connecticut Sun guard DeJonai Carrington during a playoff game. Clark ended up with a black eye. I thought Carrington accidentally poked him when he went to get the ball. However, the incident became a hot topic on social media, and Brennan asked Carrington about it. The question wasn’t off-topic.
Brennan even posted the exchange on X.
Brennan asked Carrington, “When you hit Caitlin, did you mean to hit her in the eye?” If so, could you tell us about what happened in that play?
“I don’t even know why anyone would punch someone in the eye. That doesn’t make any sense to me either. But no, I didn’t even know I hit her,” Carrington said. I think I was trying to make a play on the ball and I chased it and hit her. Of course, it was never intentional and I’m not that type of player.”
Brennan went on to ask whether Carrington and one of his teammates later laughed at Clark being hit. Mr. Carrington answered no and said, “I just said I didn’t even know I hit her.”
Fair questions were asked and good answers were received. It could be, and it should have been. However, the controversy only intensified.
Grant Young of Sports Illustrated said, “Brennan was criticized for pushing a story circulating online that Carrington intentionally poked Clark in the eye, which the W.N.B. It was considered disrespectful to many members of the community.”
Ms Carrington was subsequently attacked on social media by people who believed she had intentionally hit Mr Clark. She was subjected to a disgusting array of racist slurs and threats.
The WNBA Players Association then issued a statement criticizing Brennan, writing: The so-called interview, disguised as journalism, was a blatant attempt to co-opt a professional athlete into a false narrative aimed at fueling racist, homophobic, and misogynistic abuse on social media. It was an attempt. You can’t hide your tenure. Instead of demonstrating the cornerstones of journalistic ethics: honesty, objectivity, and a basic commitment to the truth, you chose to be vile and downright dishonest. โ
The statement continued: “You have abused your privilege and are not entitled to any certificate of eligibility issued. And you are certainly entitled to interviews with members of this union and other athletes. No…We call on the USA Today Network to review its news editor principles of ethical conduct and address what we believe are violations of several core principles. include.”
He also said, “USA Today Sports should explain why a reporter with obvious bias and ulterior motives was assigned to cover the league.” We also urge the league to review its policies and take steps to prevent such issues and protect the integrity of the game and its players. โ
The biased accusation may be due to Brennan writing a book about Clark.
USA Today and sports editor Roxana Scott released the following statement in support of Brennan. “Journalists ask questions and seek the truth. We reject the idea that our interviews perpetuate any narrative other than to get the player’s perspective directly. Christine Brennan as an advocate for women and athletes She is highly regarded, but first and foremost she is a journalist.โ
There’s no question Clark is a lightning rod for the WNBA. Everything that happens around her is discussed, both good and bad, on and off the court, and certainly much of it has racial overtones. Clark, who is white, just went out and played, as did his teammates and opponents, both black and white. Additionally, many people come from a bad place and bring race (and racist ideas) into the conversation. I’m mainly talking about the vitriol I see on social media. So it’s understandable why WNBA players are especially sensitive about all of these things.
But the statement about Brennan was beside the point. I don’t always agree with Brennan’s views on things. She is a columnist. I don’t think anyone can agree with her 100%. But Brennan was doing her job, and it was a job she had done well and fairly for decades. In this case, the responsible journalistic thing to do was to go directly to Carrington.
I also think that Carrington Eye’s attack has no meaning. But that doesn’t mean Brennan was irresponsible for asking about it.
The WNBA Players Association is trying to protect its players. I understand that. But in this case, they chose the wrong target and the wrong message.
This article originally appeared in The Poynter Report, a daily newsletter for everyone interested in media. Subscribe to Pointer Reports here.