KARK issues apology for mentioning Conley’s name
KARK-TV issued an apology for reporting that former Arkansas track star Mike Conley was involved in the purchase of a car for Razorbacks running back Darren McFadden:
Yesterday KARK Channel 4 and the Razorback Nation reported that the University of Arkansas is looking into a compliance issue involving Darren McFadden. The story centers around a new Cadillac Escalade that McFadden has been reportedly driving. We will continue to follow this story and how it may or may not affect Darren’s role in the Cotton Bowl on new years day. But at this time we would like to apologize for our station’s poor standards of reporting. While we had multiple sources providing information on this story — just reporting sources does not equate to proper journalism. In our story we cited sources that claimed sports agent Mike Conley assisted Darren McFadden and/or members of his family to acquire the Escalade. Shortly after reporting this story we were able to reach Mike Conley who made it very clear he was in no way involved in the McFadden/Escalade story. Mr. Conley also made it clear that he is not representing McFadden and that at this time he is not yet a certified football agent. We provided Conley’s response in all of our 6 p.m., 10 p.m. and morning newscasts. And had we talked to Mike Conley before our 5 p.m. newscast we would not have reported this story. We have already personally apologized to Mike Conley for our poor standards of reporting. And we want to publicly apologize to Mr. Conley for any distress he has experienced. And we also want to apologize to Darren McFadden and his family for reporting details of this story that were not accurate. Again we will follow the investigation into any compliance issues McFadden may be dealing with. But it is our job to report the news with accuracy and fairness. And in this case we did not do our job. And we will do better. –Rob Heverling, News Director, KARK-TV Channel 4
21 Responses to “KARK issues apology for mentioning Conley’s name”
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Anything to grab a headline. Arkansas media has turned into Days of Our Lives instead of respectable journalism.
They may have dropped the ball on the initial story, but they have certainly bent over backwards to apologize for it.
Accurate and fair journalism appears to be a thing of the past. In todays papers, it seems all one needs is a “source” , and everything is suddenly fact and true.
It seems journalist need to double- check their “sources”.
Retraction or not the thing people remember and talk about is the initial story and the retraction largely gets ignored.
Just saw a report on ESPN, who apparently haven’t checked their “sources” either.
Purely typical in today’s sensationalist “Gottcha” so-called journalism state. This is just another example of how TV, radio, hard print and electronic jounalism has lost its professional legitimacy in simply reporting the news. These days to stay competitive media outlets MUST shape or in some cases invent news to keep up with each other. Whether it’s salivating over lurid stories of Britney Spears (and her sister), Coach Nutt, Roger Clemens, Charles Thomas or whom ever, it all falls into the same category of Junk Journalism. I’m amazed at why folks cannot wake up and see this for themselves and understand that today’s journalism and main stream media are in fact also just entertainment and serve no purpose other than that.
Big thumbs down to KARK for first reporting this rumor and giving it wings. Seems everyone is trying so hard to ’scoop’ each other, journalism has taken a nose dive as far as being true and accurate. Course maybe that’s been going on a long time— “Dewey beats Truman”—but the internet and electronic media has brought a lot more exposure to it.
Huge thumbs UP for taking accountability, admitting their error and attempting to be sure their apology had just as much exposure. Be nice if all media would cease from following the first example and make more effort to follow the second in all areas of news.
[…] Update, courtesy of The Slophouse blog: KARK issues apology to Mike Conley for mentioning his name in the above report. Filed under: Darren McFadden, Football — Stephen at 9:11 pm on Thursday, December 27, […]
Ohiohawg, I would argue that print and online journalism shouldn’t be lumped among those who’ve lost their professional legitimacy.
In my 13 years at newspapers, I’ve seen many stories sat on because sources could not be verified, yet those same stories led the 5 p.m. television news broadcast.
There is a world of difference between television journalism and print journalism.
Of course I’m biased, but I do know that journalistic ethics and responsibilities are preached almost daily in newspaper newsrooms - at least the ones I’ve been in.
This type of reporting really upsets me because it gives the entire industry a black eye, yet many of us on the print side of things have been screaming for years at the lack of responsibility displayed by many of our counterparts in more competitive mediums.
I can’t believe that D Mac would even play in this game. He is not coming back to Arkansas next year, why risk the injury. In the grand scheme of things for him…this game doesn’t matter.
Robyn,
You obviously have not worked for Cox Newspapers in Dayton,OH, for the Atlanta Journal Constitution or Chicago Tribune. I seen my share of hatchet jobs over the years where negative stabs were wielded first followed by admisson of error only to be published on Page 9 next to Lost and Found. I will say that the big money obviously exists in electronic media versus print but the state of Arkansas cannot insulate itself from this phenomena as well. Don’t even get me started on the political bias which is for another day. Bottomline, if it smells of potential scandal, might generate water cooler gossip or sells product, print it and retract only if possible legal ramifications warrant (but make it as inconspicuous as possible).
[…] KARK issues apology for mentioning Conley’s name […]
g1ward
Sometimes people put their TEAM and UNIVERSITY ahead of themselves. D-mac could easily sit out and many people would understand, however the kid loves his team, his school and his state. He also could solidify his #1 pick by putting up a couple hundred on Mizzou. GO HOGS
As far as this b.s. retraction by KARK, maybe they should notify ESPN.
CONT>
This story was just reported on the 11:00 p.m. ESPN Sportscenter
Wow…where do I go to get my good name back? Our current crop of “journalist” should be ashamed…but they’re on to the next life they can ruin…I mean, next story.
Sorry, but if Dmac is not returning for his senior year, then he is putting himself first and no reason for him to play in this game and risk injury. If he was returning to Arkansas next year…then play. If he is indeed driving a new car around Dallas, then he is not coming back. Don’t jeopardize the University and your TEAM by flaunting your good fortunes. I’m not gonna pass judgement until it all comes out, but why take a chance on getting hurt in a meaningless bowl game?
I wrote off pro sports a long time ago after a MLB strike/walkout and, given the kind of garbage that seems to be the norm in college sports these days, I may be close to doing the same with college sports. I’m a little amazed at those of you who ask, “Why would McFadden even want to play?” He could have asked the same question a few games ago. Get real. I’m sure the kid has a huge insurance policy with Lloyds of London. If he doesn’t, he is a fool. This is exactly what is wrong with college sports today. They have become nothing more than a farm league for pro sports and as long as people continue to pay the ridiculous prices to attend pro games and place these guys on a pedestal equal with God, it is only going to get worse.
I wonder where this kind of behavior is learned with those who enter journalism and sports in particular. I cannot imagine that a single professor in the Communications building on the Fayetteville campus condones or teaches such a lack of ethics. What’s troubling is that it was initiated right in the middle of Hog nation. And, ESPN fed on it like a buzzard does in the desert.
KARK has done the city of Little Rock a great disservice and feeds the fire of placing all the football games in Fayetteville sometime down the road (which I fully support, a home game should be a HOME game, period!). But, that’s something to discuss in a different blog.
One thing positive could come out of all this. When Darren McFadden is mad, he’s at his best on the field. Tick him off, and he’ll gladly carry the ball 80 yards for a score. That’s exactly what he did against South Carolina when he miffed a shutgun snap to cause a safety. We’ve all seen him more than make up for it after other game situations that didn’t go so well set him off.
Missou better watch out. This guy could be on a real mission now more than ever to put the icing on his career cake as an Arkansas Razorback.
Llike almost everyone I deplore this type of “gossip journalism” it makes you wonder about the rest of their “news.”
As for D Mac playing in a “meaningless bowl game?”
Couldn’t you also classify non conference games as “meaningless?”
What is the message he would be sending to his future Employers in the NFL - that you can only count on me when it’s in my best interest?
From what I’ve seen and read about D Mac he has to much heart and respect for the game and his teammates to not play
I look for him to put up some impressive numbers in the Cotton Bowl and then at the bank after the NFL draft. I then hope he buys the biggest car he can find and then gives the one finger salute to ESPN, KARK and all the other little jerks that seem bound and determined to denigrate him and the Razorbacks.
Go Hogs!!!!!
I tried to post to this column earlier.
Your (KARK) author of this article and the sports news management that approved its’ print have done great damage. Your retraction means nothing except that you take responsibility for it, but continue to say that it MAY have merit (thereby restating your efforts to prove it true.)
ESPN and other vicious sports news outlets have made great use of your source article to further ridicule and demean U.of Arkansas Football, players, the program, and fans.
Your article besmerches the name of one of U.of Arkansas’ greatest RB’s ever! This without PROOF, beforehand.
Your article may have effected the psyce and preparation of some of our Arkansas players as they get ready for the Cotton Bowl (An honor bestowed upon the Razorbacks).
What additional damage could you possibly do?
Have you done this as a favor for ESPN? Or, do you wish to help ESPN continue their U.of Arkansas bashing? Did you owe ESPN a favor?
Otherwise, what you did could not be considered anything but being a traitor to U.of Arkansas football, the state of Arkansas, and the Fans.
That’s about it.
I agree with Robyn that print media tends to set a higher benchmark, but they get things wrong, too. A classic example is the New York Times’ Jason Blair scandal, where a reporter simply fabricated numerous stories.
Where sports reporting and media are concerned in Arkansas, you have a microscopic viewpoint, where the slightest burp among Arkansas players is reported by the media as top news. The focus is entirely out of proportion, and it damages players and peoples’ lives. There is a lawsuit in the future, and it will be interesting to see whether it will be the newspaper or the television media as the culprit in the all-out race to get the story first and in some cases welcome any controversy regardless of its merit in order to sell news.
Question to KARK! What was the motive behind this storyline? Was it to discredit the UofA? McFadden? Saved the UofA a latter embarrassment by a rogue player? Be the first to report possible (unconfirmed) news? Here is the really big question that needs to be answered. Who was your source(s) and why would they come forward with false or at best inaccurate information just before the bowl game? If the information turns out to be untrue or not an NCAA violation, then the perpetrator(s) should be made public. We wouldn’t want these kinds of people trying to make news for KARK or any other news source. The people that reported this possible violation needs to be held accountable for their intent (good or bad). If they got it right then how did they find out? Was it a team member? Was it a disgruntled fan still bitter about events over the past year? The person(s) that called in this allegation should be the story as this investigation goes forward. Did McFadden make some enemies during last year’s player called meetings to slam certain players? Was this a payback for harsh words? We don’t want to go there, but it seems the drama has not quite ended and won’t until next spring or fall.
New headline coming out:
“Sources confirm KARK management will terminate sports broadcast staff”
Hey, why not??