Fox Sports and Amazon host Charissa Thompson has addressed comments she made about faking sideline reports, saying she has "never lied about anything or been unethical" during her career as a sports broadcaster. Thompson: "In the absence of a coach providing any information that would further my report I would use information that I learned and saw during the first half to create my report. ... I have nothing but respect for sideline reporters and the tireless work they put in" (X, 11/17). THE ATHLETIC's Richard Deitsch notes Thompson's initial comments on the "Pardon My Take" podcast earlier this week were "particularly damaging" because so many sports viewers "still see sideline reporters in 2023 as useless or in dehumanizing terms." What you see from sideline reporters on the air is "a fraction of what they provide the booth announcers before, during and after a game." They are "on the talk-back with the production truck all game long." They "provide eyes on the field." During production meetings with players and coaches, they "often prompt answers that turn into graphics or on-air storylines." That information "almost always isn’t credited to them." Deitsch: "That’s the potential damage from these comments" (THE ATHLETIC, 11/17).
THANKLESS GIG: USA TODAY's Mike Freeman wrote not all sideline reporters "are lame." There are "really good ones," like ESPN reporter Lisa Salters "and others." Freeman: "It's a thankless job, but the smart and resourceful ones always seem to find some interesting piece of information, and work hard at doing so. You can see it." He added the good ones, the "really good ones, work to give you something" (USA TODAY, 11/17). In Chicago, Jeff Agrest wrote sideline reporters "often are the eyes and ears of the broadcast booth and production truck given their proximity to the action." Many times, their contributions "go unnoticed by viewers," but with their access, they "can have a huge impact on the broadcast" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/16).
DIFFERENT TAKE: In L.A., Stephen Battaglio wrote while people "expressed outrage" on social media about Thompson’s admission, such a practice is "not unheard of in sports reporting." WFAN radio co-host Gregg Gionnotti said on his Thursday broadcast that he "did the same thing" when he was a radio sideline reporter covering the Univ. of Pittsburgh (L.A. TIMES, 11/16).
Thompson's comments have drawn criticism from many current and former sideline reportersGetty Images
Media members react on X
CBS Sideline Reporter Tracy Wolfson: “This is absolutely not ok, not the norm and upsetting on so many levels. I take my job very seriously, I hold myself accountable for all I say, I build trust with coaches and never make something up.”
The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner: “A good portion of the public doesn’t trust the media as is. I cannot believe she would proudly admit this. It’s entirely unethical and worthy of never working in the field again.”
Amazon Sideline Reporter Andrea Kremer: “As one of only 3 women in the Pro Football HOF I'm sickened by the insulting mockery being made of sideline reporting, a challenging role primarily manned by women - most of whom understand & respect the values of journalism and are integral, trusted members of a broadcast team.”
NBC Sports’ Charean Williams: “Making up anything in journalism is wrong. It is unethical. It is a fireable offense. No. No. No. This is not OK.”
NY Post’s Andrew Marchand: “Charissa Thompson messed up on many levels. 1) Making up reports. Pretty self evident as to why. 2) I get it PMT is a relaxed environment, but revealing that was an odd choice 3) All the sideline reporters who do the job correctly look bad as a result.”
WIP’s Glen Macnow: “I'm stating the obvious here, but Charissa Thompson almost boasting that she conjures her reports out of thin air does harm to everyone in media who takes his/her job seriously. She should never be allowed to work in the field again.”
The Ringer’s Lindsay Jones: “I thought it was a near universal experience for women in sports media is the feeling of needing to work twice as hard to be taken seriously; that you can't bare to make a mistake. So the cavalier way Charissa Thompson cavalierly admitted to making up quotes is unforgivable.”
