The Downside of a Transparent 24/7 News Cycle
By Mike Silva ~ October 22nd, 2009. Filed under: Sports Media Commentary.
We are in the era of technology and it becomes easier to communicate across various mediums of exchange. With that power comes the challenge of privacy which is something that is becoming dicey in the world of Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms. All this has changed the newsroom, certainly not earth shattering news to the audience, as NYBD is the first to admit that transparency has helped us develop a niche. There is a price to pay and I think the situation with former Mets GM Steve Phillips is prime example of the dark side of celebrity in the world of modern media and the transparent 24/7 news cycle.
I actually feel bad for Steve Phillips and his family. This isn’t about trading for Mo Vaughn, dumping Jason Bay, or making anti-Mets statements on ESPN. Those are reasons to dislike Steve Phillips in baseball, but not reason for justifying his life playing out as a Lifetime movie in the papers. Phillips has hurt his wife and kids, but the worst part is the public scorn that will probably come from all this. Even more injustice is that Phillips will probably lose his job while the perpetrator of all this will simply get reassigned.
By no means am I insinuating that Phillips is the victim. Anyone that knows even a little about the guy can’t be shocked about the news that came out yesterday. I do believe that Phillips family is the victim of how our society sensationalizes the fall of any type of celebrity figure. I now know details about his marriage, kids, and workplace behavior that should have always been a mystery. For those that are parents, think about how angry you would be if an adult manipulated your children through Facebook. This isn’t an indictment on social media, but how we dummy down the “daily mental candy” that the internet, radio, and newspapers provide. I am not trying to be judgmental, but somehow I would have trouble sleeping if NYBD published private information about the Phillips family.
I understand its news, but shouldn’t we think about the impact on his family? Could you imagine what Phillips kids are going to deal with going forward? This will follow them for years and probably lead to some difficult days in their social settings. That I don’t feel good about. I wonder if anyone in the mainstream media feels the same. Again, it’s the price of fame, but sometimes, to quote Howard Cosell, “what is right isn’t always popular and what is popular isn’t always right.” I always have felt criticism on baseball is fair game, but family is off limits. My contributors can attest to that as it’s the first conversation we have when they come on board.
Just like stories about Paul LoDuca, Marv Albert, and Alex Rodriguez faded away so will this. I think the big take away from this situation is not an opinion on Steve Phillips, but how media has changed our news cycle forever. Whether this is for better or worse is up for each of us to decide.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:59 am
The responsibility for the pain felt by the Phillips family is not due to the news cycle, technology or anything else – it’s solely due to the father and husband of the family. Phillips is not a serious, mature adult and his children will pay the price.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:48 am
The problem with a story like this is not too much reporting but no real information. As in all stories about media people no indepth information comes out. So we can only make our assumptions from what is reported in the “news”. Seems Steve has a history of this? How about the women he seems to go after how did his affairs end up so “public”. Twenty-two year old women, even though adults are still pretty young for a 46 yo guy. But hey a famous President ran with a 20 yo and as we all know she “stalked” him so maybe this 22 yo was stalking Steve right?
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Why are so many people outraged at what Phillips did, but seem cool with Letterman and his sexual exploits?
If Phillips deserves to be fired, doesn’t Letterman deserve the same?
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Dan,
Interesting point that you bring up. However, the Letterman situation was a bit different than Phillips. Letterman got in front of his situation and bravely came clean on the air. He used his head as if he paid the money this situation would always hang over his head. It doesn’t seem like it was anything but consenual. Phillips has a reputation for being a womanizer and a philanderer. Point back to his days with the Mets where he needed to be sent for counseling. I don’t believe all the facts of this situation as I believe that it was consentual, however, she was very prepared to get him back if he left her. It’s a tough situation because I believe Phillips is the guy at the end of the bar who makes crass remarks to any woman walking by. I think he’s guility of being an insecure degenerate that obviously has no standards at all. I think Letterman approached it the right way and owned up to his actions. The mainstream media always makes this mistake by trying to hide things, rather than own up to what they do and make an honest effort to do better in the future. The culture described at ESPN is breed from the top. It’s a good example of who your dealing with the honchos at ESPN. Not a good situation, these arrogent proud men are going to be taken down one by one because of their own perversions.