Tough times for the big-sports scoop economy! First they came for Shams ...
https://twitter.com/IChotiner/status/1448070693019693061?s=20
And now it's Schefter's turn ...
https://twitter.com/kevinmdraper/status/1448139296859299841?s=20
None of this is particularly ethical nor is it at all surprising, and at its core, being a high-level reporter who breaks personnel news in these leagues is not actually reporting at all. It is about "relationships" which is a euphemism for asking for and calling in favors.
At its core, breaking news in the NFL or NBA requires someone in a position to know telling you something before they tell other people who want to know that piece of information just as badly as you do. Maybe moreso.
At that point, are you really an independent, unbiased reporter? You're asking someone to do something for your benefit or -- perhaps more troubling -- that source is doing something for you because they know they will benefit from it either directly (by release of the info) ...
Or indirectly because you will provide favorable coverage or the benefit of the doubt or maybe pull your punches a little bit.
Cornering the market on pro-sports personnel moves is incredibly hard, it has become very lucrative and creates an exceptional high profile. No one should confuse it with being journalism, though.
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