Mark Madden: Charissa Thompson's actions show that sports journalism is hanging by a thread

Our nation is in freefall for many reasons. The decline of journalism is one of them.

Journalism practiced correctly is about truth. But journalism these days is about entertainment and has become tribal.

Injecting Charissa Thompson and sports into that mix is a bit dramatic.

Sports, in the big picture, are small potatoes. Thompson is, too, within context of her profession.

But it’s disturbing that Thompson admits to committing professional fraud, even more disturbing that so many are accepting of her actions.

Thompson, when working as a sideline reporter for NFL games, wouldn’t always be able to talk to coaches. When that happened, Thompson would fabricate having done so. She put words in a coach’s mouth: He said this, he said that. Innocuous stuff.

Thompson admitted her misdeeds on a podcast, showing zero remorse. It’s easy to understand her lack of contrition. (Thompson issued a non-apology Friday, saying she did nothing wrong.)

Statement from Charissa Thompson: pic.twitter.com/Ij4VsvYjzM

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 17, 2023

Thompson thinks she’s in showbiz, not journalism.

Thompson got hired for her looks, not because she’s Edward R. Murrow. (Murrow never did cheesecake photos.)

Thompson, who works primarily for Fox Sports, will get zero blowback from her employers for this. There’s no need to be sorry. She was at her post Thursday night, hosting Amazon’s broadcast of the game between Baltimore and Cincinnati.

Thompson’s peers are upset by her actions. As per ex-sideline reporter Michelle Tafoya: “If a coach won’t talk to you at halftime, you say that. And if there is no report, then you just don’t file a report at halftime. … Journalistic integrity is paramount.”

But the citizens don’t seem bothered. They’re used to fake news.

I’ve seen it said that “it’s only sports.”

But if “it’s only sports,” we take it way too seriously, and at overwhelming volume. (That’s meant in both senses of the word.)

Sideline reporters are useless. If they do talk to a coach or player, everything said is canned. If they don’t talk to a coach or player, what’s the point? But that doesn’t excuse Thompson’s misinformation, however harmless.

Should Thompson be fired?

Probably. But she won’t be, and that’s reflective of the prevailing attitude that nobody has a boss and should do whatever they want.

Thompson’s admission has made the sideline reporter’s job impossible. Everything said will be perceived as fiction. Every sideline reporter will be the butt of jokes. So will Thompson, but she won’t care.

Here’s X’s leader in the clubhouse: After Cincinnati’s quarterback got injured Thursday night, somebody quoted the Bengals coach thusly: “Zac Taylor says that Joe Burrow’s right thumb is an amputation candidate, per Charissa Thompson.”

Zac Taylor says that Joe Burrow's right thumb is an amputation candidate, per Charissa Thompson

— Eric Eager ???????? (@ericeager_) November 17, 2023

Sports journalism has gone the way of mainstream journalism. It’s hanging on by a thread.

ESPN was once about Bob Ley and Jeremy Schaap. Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann were journalists first, showbiz second.

Now the Worldwide Leader (gag) is anchored weekdays by the 8 a.m.-2 p.m. six-hour block of nonstop yelling and mugging. It’s not debate. It’s unfunny comedy and unabashed fanboying. Fox is no better.

That’s what Mike Tomlin told me on his way to the locker room, anyway.