ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer Jim Cohen, speaking
at a symposium on sports journalism at Tufts University on
Friday, said that he is "appalled at the so-called
television journalists at his network cozying up in
commercials with the very people they are assigned to
cover," according to Howard Manly of the BOSTON GLOBE.
Cohen, noting the appearance of Keyshawn Johnson and Ricky
Watters in ads "hyping" ESPN's "SportsCenter," said, "It's
unacceptable." Frank Deford said that he was "equally
astounded" by the promos: "Sports has always had a touchy
relationship with journalism and we all accept the
tremendous symbiotic relationship. And while I am quite
amused at the 'SportsCenter' promotions, I'm also appalled."
But ESPN Exec Editor John Walsh said "it's a very difficult
issue, because at CNN or NBC News people don't do these
kinds of things." Walsh: "We don't want our people to be
salesmen. If it's a sports product or relates to something
that touches sports, we don't let our people do it. We
don't let any of our people do Nike or any of the sneaker
companies" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/13).
