New essay: News as a sporting event.
One of the most subtle shifts in news reporting in my lifetime was a drift from the basic facts of a story to one wherein blame was assigned as a part of the lead.

“Two Nashville men were killed today in a fiery car accident on highway 431.” This is a factual lead for a news event.

“Police say alcohol played a role in a fiery car accident that killed two Nashville men today on highway 431.”

This is what I call “sporting event” news, where the writer or anchor plays the role of color commentator to interject understanding into the story. It completely alters the focus of the story and elevates “how” and “how come” over the basic who, what, why, where and when of elementary reporting.

ESSAY — News As A Sporting Event

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