Journalist Verses the News Blogger – An MMA Perspective

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Information is powerful. So powerful in fact that in the past we had to rely on television, newspapers, and radio to make sure what was going on in our world. Our information streams were relatively clean, with some mistakes and editorial editions added to make the masses want more. 

Enter the age of the internet. With social networks and blogging, there is a lot of information out there. Governments have toppled because what was once restricted speech is now open for the world to hear. We read and hear opinions and news from half way across the world, and see global change as fast as your computer can buffer.

However, with information comes interpretation.

I come from a seven year journalistic background working with who I consider some of the best reporters out there. I have worked with some great news directors who have taught me journalistic ethics, and how to tell a story. A lot of news blogger don't have this kind of training.

Everyone wants to report something they are passionate about. This is the main reason I write for women’s MMA. I believe in the sport as a whole and want to cover it. A lot of fans out there are in the same boat and have blogs that are dedicated to covering MMA. I like that they want to cover it, but what kind of journalistic boundaries do they have?

The reason why I am writing this is because of an inaccurrate report of a certain blogger, who will remain nameless, leaking a story which has not been sourced, or for that matter, isn’t exactly true. In this case, a fighter’s chances of getting a match could be hindered because of one blogger’s actions; which is disheartening.

There is information that we as journalist are privy to, but when to report the information has less to do about how fast we get it out as much as how factual and how helpful it will be when we release it.

Strikeforce MMA Fighter Gina Carano Courtesy Ester Lin

Roxanne Modafferi gave a great example of this on twitter this past week. To prove a point, she tweeted a false piece of information.

"According to http://www.killyouallfighter.com, Gina Carano will be facing Megumi Hayashibara in Strikeforce."

Some did retweet this, thinking that it was legitimate. However, several people knew it was a prank, or had asked about its legitimacy. (For the record Megumi Hayashibara is a singer, not a fighter.) Don’t believe everything you read, especially on twitter. (I got burned by Roxy and Zoila Gurgel on April Fool’s Day – so another tip – make doubly sure its true on April 1.)

Besides being correct in our information, we also need to know when exactly to report something. Always confirm with a source when is it’s a good time to leak information. If negotiations are still going on, if the ink isn’t dry on the contract, or simply waiting for the organization to announce it first, it’s crucial that you listen to the source to make sure it’s okay to release that info. Since the Zuffa crackdown on media, they have been on a mole hunt and someone’s career could be at stake.

In closing, I love the coverage that MMA has going for it. The idea of thinking outside the box and speaking your mind is a wonderful and entertaining thing. Some of my favorite MMA sites are blogs with great editorial writing and fun stories. Conversely, as MMA journalists, we must know if the information we are feeding is accurate and when it is most beneficial to all to post it.

It’s not always about being first, it’s about being right.

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