“Insider Dope” and NBA Trade Coverage: A Case Study on Unnamed Sourcing in Sport Journalism

in International Journal of Sport Communication

Click name to view affiliation

Sada Reed Arizona State University, USA

Search for other papers by Sada Reed in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
and
Guy Harrison Youngstown State University, USA

Search for other papers by Guy Harrison in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.2019-0012
Keywords:
attribution; content analysis; National Basketball Association
In Print:
Volume 12: Issue 3
Page Range:
419–430
Restricted access

Past research has examined the use of anonymous sources in news content and its impact on perceived credibility. Studies applying these theories in the context of sport media consumption, however, are scant and outdated. This matters because sport media is consumed for different reasons from news and has a historically symbiotic relationship with the people and events it covers. The current case study explores sources in National Basketball Association (NBA) trade stories in both national news and sport-specific publications. The study found that about 82% of trade speculation was not credited to a source. Unnamed and named sources’ trade predictions were cross-referenced with the NBA transaction log to determine if the trades actually manifested before the trade deadline. Neither sources predicted trades well: Of the 95 unsourced, speculated trades, 14 actually took place. Of the 20 sourced speculations, four took place. There was no statistically significant difference between how well named and unnamed sources predicted trades.

Reed is with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ. Harrison is with the Dept. of Communication, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH.

Reed (Sada.Reed@asu.edu) is corresponding author.
  • Collapse
  • Expand

International Journal of Sport Communication

Cover International Journal of Sport Communication

  • Altheide, D.L. (1978). Newsworkers and newsmakers: A study in news use. Urban Life, 7 ,359–378. doi:10.1177/089124167800700306

  • Associated Press. (2019). News values and principles. Retrieved from https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/

  • Associated Press Sports Editors. (2018). Associated Press sports editors ethics guidelines. Retrieved from https://accountablejournalism.org/ethics-codes/associated-press-sports-editors-apse-ethics-guidelines

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Berghel, H. (2017, February 15). Lies, damn lies, and fake news. Computer, 80–85. Retrieved from https://publications.computer.org/computer-magazine/2017/02/15/lies-damn-lies-and-fake-news/

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bergman, L. (Producer). (2007, February 13). News war: Secrets, sources and spin [Television broadcast]. Boston, MA: PBS.

  • Blankenburg, W.B. (1992). The utility of anonymous attribution. Newspaper Research Journal, 13(1–2), 10–23. doi:10.1177/073953299201300103

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Boeyink, D.E. (1990). Anonymous sources in news stories: Justifying exceptions and limiting abuses. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 5(4), 233–246. doi:10.1207/s15327728jmme0504_2

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Brooks, B., Kennedy, G., Moen, D., & Ranly, D. (2002). News reporting and writing. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

  • Brown, J.D., Bybee, C.R., Wearden, S.T., & Straughan, D.M. (1987). Invisible power: Newspaper news source and the limits of diversity. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 64(1), 45–54.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Carlson, M. (2011). Whither anonymity? Journalism and unnamed sources in a changing media environment. In B. Franklin & M. Carlson (Eds.), Journalists, sources, and credibility: New perspectives. New York, NY: Routledge.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Culbertson, H.M. (1978). Veiled attribution—An element of style? Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 55(3), 456–465.

  • Culbertson, H.M., & Somerick, N. (1977). Variables affect how persons view unnamed news sources. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 54(1), 58–69.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Duffy, M.J., & Freeman, C.P. (2011). Unnamed sources: A utilitarian exploration of their justification and guidelines for limited use. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 26(4), 297–315. doi:10.1080/08900523.2011.606006

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Enriquez, J. (2002). Coverage of sports. In W.D. Sloan & L.M. Parcell (Eds.), American journalism: History, principles, practices (pp. 198–207). Jefferson, NC: McFarland.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fishman, M. (1980). Manufacturing the news. Austin: University of Texas Press.

  • Garrison, B. (1989). The evolution of professionalism in sports reporting. In R. Jackson & T. McPhail (Eds.), The Olympic movement and the mass media: Past, present, and future issues. Calgary, Canada: Hurford Enterprises.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Garrison, B., & Sabljak, M. (1985). Sports reporting. Ames: Iowa State University Press.

  • Garrison, B., & Salwen, M. (1989). Newspaper sports journalists: A profile of the “profession.” Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 13(2), 57–68. doi:10.1177/019372358901300201

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gassaway, B.M. (1988). Are secret sources in the news media really necessary! Newspaper Research Journal, 9(3), 69–77. doi:10.1177/073953298800900307

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hardin, M., Dodd, J., & Lauffer, K. (2006). Passing it on: The reinforcement of male hegemony in sports journalism textbooks. Mass Communication & Society, 9(4), 429–446. doi:10.1207/s15327825mcs0904_3

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hulteng, J.L. (1981). Playing it straight: A practical discussion of ethical principles of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Chester, CT: Globe Pequot Press.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Krippendorff, K. (1980). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

  • Knight, A., Gerlis, A., & George, A. (2008). Who is a journalist?. Journalism Studies, 9(1), 117–131.

  • Lashmar, P. (2017). No more sources? The impact of Snowden’s revelations on journalists and their confidential sources. Journalism Practice, 11(6), 665–688. doi:10.1080/17512786.2016.1179587

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lee, A.M., Lewis, S.C., & Powers, M. (2012). Audience clicks and news placement: A study of time-lagged influence in online journalism. Communication Research, 41(4), 505–530. doi:10.1177/0093650212467031

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Machin, D., & Niblock, S. (2006). News production: Theory and practice. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.

  • Martin-Kratzer, R., & Thorson, E. (2007). Use of anonymous sources declines in U.S. newspapers. Newspaper Research Journal, 28(2), 56–70. doi:10.1177/073953290702800204

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • McChesney, R.W. (1989). Media made sport: A history of sports coverage in the United States. In L. Wenner (Ed.), Media, sports, and society (pp. 49–69). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mitchell, A., Gottfried, J., Barthel, M., & Shearer, E. (2016, July 7). Trust and accuracy. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.journalism.org/2016/07/07/trust-and-accuracy/

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Oates, T.P., & Pauly, J. (2007). Sports journalism as moral and ethical discourse. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 22(4), 332–347.

  • Pjesivac, I., & Rui, R. (2014). Anonymous sources hurt credibility and news stories across cultures: A comparative experiment in America and China. International Communication Gazette, 76(8), 641–660. doi:10.1177/1748048514548534

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Powers, A., & Fico, F. (1994). Influences on use of sources at large U.S. newspapers. Newspaper Research Journal, 15(4), 87–97. doi:10.1177/073953299401500410

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rand, M. (2016, February 15). Every Ricky Rubio trade story seems to lead back to the same source. StarTribune.com. Retrieved from http://www.startribune.com/every-ricky-rubio-trade-story-seems-to-lead-back-to-the-same-source/368860411/

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Reich, Z. (2010). Source credibility as a journalistic work tool. In B. Franklin & M. Carlson (Eds.), Journalists, sources, and credibility: New perspectives (pp. 19–36). New York, NY: Routledge.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Reinardy, S. (2005, October). Journalism’s toy department: The emergence of American sports writing, 1820–1900. Paper presented at the American Journalism Historians Association, San Antonio, TX.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Salwen, M., & Bernstein, J. (1986). Coverage of aftermath of 1984 World Series. Journalism Quarterly, 63 ,385–389. doi:10.1177/107769908606300226

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Salwen, M., & Garrison, B. (1987). Sports and politics: Los Angeles Times’ coverage of the 1984 summer Olympic Games. Los Angeles Times 8(2), 43–52.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Schillinger, E., & Jenswold, J. (1987). Three Olympiads: A comparison of Pravda and The Washington Post. Journalism Quarterly 64 , 826–833. doi:10.1177/107769908706400422

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Society of Professional Journalists. (2014, September 6). SPJ code of ethics. Retrieved from https://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

  • Sola, F. (2016, February 14). Knicks still need point guard and Wolves’ Ricky Rubio is available for trade. New York Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/knicks-pg-wolves-ricky-rubio-trade-article-1.2531542#

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Stephenson, W. (1967). The play theory of mass communication. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

  • Sternadori, M.M., & Thorson, E. (2009). Anonymous sources harm credibility of all stories. Newspaper Research Journal, 30(4), 54–66. doi:10.1177/073953290903000405

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tuchman, G. (1978). Making news: A study in the construction of reality. New York, NY: Free Press.

  • Wulfemeyer, K.T. (1983). Use of anonymous sources in journalism. Newspaper Research Journal, 4(2), 43–50. doi:10.1177/073953298300400205

  • Wulfemeyer, K.T. (1985). Ethics in sports journalism: Tightening up the code. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 1(1), 57–67. doi:10.1080/08900528509358256

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ziller, T. (2018, July 23). Why NBA stars are always changing teams now. SBNation. Retrieved from https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2018/7/23/17594660/nba-trades-all-stars-free-agency-2018

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 2636 384 10
Full Text Views 119 39 1
PDF Downloads 100 19 2