When ESPN's Stuart Scott gave a fawning interview to Barack Obama last month, I thought it reflected poorly on Scott as a journalist, but I didn't think it reflected any type of institutional bias on the part of ESPN.
However, it is easy to see how someone could think there's a larger pro-Obama bias among ESPN's editorial employees. A database search of donations to the campaigns of Obama and John McCain reveals that at least six ESPN editorial employees -- Desmond Howard, Scoop Jackson, Kelly Naqi, John Saunders, Bill Walton and Stephen A. Smith -- have given to Obama's campaign. No ESPN editorial employees are listed as donors to McCain's campaign in the records at OpenSecrets.org.
I asked ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz what ESPN's policy is on political donations, and he told me:
For ESPN in general, decisions on political donations are made by employees entirely on their own. For specifically folks with editorial roles, we discourage public participation in matters of political advocacy or controversy.Discouraging people with editorial roles from engaging in political advocacy is sound policy, and it's surprising that Howard, Jackson, Naqi, Saunders, Walton and Smith decided to ignore that discouragement.
Even more surprising is that ESPN allows editorial employees to comment on campaigns even after they've made donations: Scoop Jackson was just on ESPN's Outside the Lines this afternoon talking about Obama's campaign, and neither he nor Outside the Lines host Bob Ley disclosed that Jackson is an Obama campaign contributor.
I'm not convinced that ESPN, as an organization, is biased in favor of Obama, and in fact ESPN President George Bodenheimer donated to the McCain campaign. But I am convinced that ESPN should strive for an appearance of neutrality in this year's presidential campaign, and so far ESPN is missing the mark.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
You're absolutely right MDS. These people should be fired for exercising freedom of speech in their private lives. How dare they? We can't let people in editorial roles have opinions, can we?
Ummm....even if they did have a bias, am I alone in saying, "So?" They're a sports network that has nothing to do with politics. Now if a commentator who was supposed to be neutral began rooting for a team during a game it would be annoying, but does anyone care if Brian Williams openly roots for the Giants?
If you had to ban everyone on TV from having ANY political leanings or shows that made fun of an issue more than another you'd may as well throw away TV. Education channels would have a natural left leaning bias as religious channels would have a right leaning bias.
Stop your bitching and whining and join us in the real world.
why would you expect ESPN to be any different than the rest of the liberal media?
I say they can express their opinion all they want, but disclose your biases BEFORE you open your mouth because most people (incorrectly) assume the media to be unbiased. Former ESPN guy Keith Olbermann (sp?) hates Republicans so much a blood vessel is ready to burst in his forehead every time he talks about them.
Plus they are based in liberal New England. Of course they are going to be liberal/socialist leaning.
All the black commentators back Obama too because we all know how racist blacks are (90% support Obama AND supported OJ Simpson on skin color alone also)
JOHN IN VEGAS! I JUST COULDNT LET YOUR COMMENT PASS. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE 95% VOTE AGAINST OBAMA BY WHITE PEOPLE IN WVA,KENTUCKY, AND TENNESSEE?
Funny that you phrase it that way. I didnt realize they were voting "against Obama". Maybe they were just voting for the other person.
Um... its called Obama is better than McLame.
By tomorrow, I expect a complete list of everyone FanHouse contributor and full-time employee, along with any political contributions they made over the last four years.
Outstanding. Nice work shoals.
if the network were evenly balanced "behind the scenes" politically..
wouldn't it make sense that both parties would be supported somewhat evenly by private donations..
rather than have 6 democrats donating.....and yet 0 editorial employees supporting conservatives...
What do you expect.... It is all about race, the black man backing the black man... Stuart cares more about race than he does America....
Its hardly a secret that most of the media elites employed at ESPN would support Obama as he is one of them. A rich, millionaire level entertainment spokesperson who talks well and a lot. Salesman rather enjoy the slickness Obama represents. But to be truthful, it is hardly credible for such persons who insinuate that they are in touch with tha lifestyles, attitudes or general politics of the working class which makes up 90% of this country. The rich on Wall Street are all panicking because thay themsleves may soon feel the heat of unemployment as the banking and financial crisis comes home to roost upon all the greedy bastards who perpetrated it in the first place. Why the average joe is expected to come to the aid of these failing mismanaged companies now that the big money has been safely siphoned off by the big investors who got the subtle heads ups prior to these collapses thus leaving the rotting debt and financial chaos for the taxpayer to pick up the tab on is mind boggling to me as a taxpayer. I had nothing to do with any of it yet am expected to pony up without a peep. Obama himself, as a result of huge campaign donations by these folks, is exceedingly mixed up in the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debacle which was pushed and abbetted by a host of big Democrats as a way to " spead the American dream of home ownership" around to more of the poorer Americans out there in the hinterlands and now its costing us all and is the straw that finally broke the bank according to most reports. Unfortunately, the Democrats in Congress are pushing the same old blame it all on Bush agenda we have witnessed since 2002 after the Iraq War began. It won't end even after this next election which is indeed a very sad fact.
I guess you are apart of the top 2%tile of the economy which is why it sounds like you'll be voting for JM. Anyone voting for JM must have $5 million sitting in the deregulated banks and is waiting for that good old change that he wants to bring.If Obama is so "pro-black" then why are white people voting for him? Why did I see a little old white lady from Florida on CNN saying that Obama is the "lesser of the two evils" and that she will rather put him in office than JM. It looks bleak for the Republicans who happen to own ESPN.
CHECK YOUR FACTS, MR OBAMA IS NOT A MILLIONAIRE. MCCAIN IS, MR OBAMA DID NOT DEREGULATE THE MORTGAGE MCCAIN DID. I DONT CARE WHO YOU VOTE FOR, BUT CHECK YOUR, FACTS, MCCAIN IS THE CHAMPION OF DEREGULATION. MR OBAMA WANTS TO LOWER THE TAXES OF 95 PERCENT OF AMERICA, INCLUDING YOU,
Why are you only picking out certain people on ESPN. I watch that channel everyday and everyday I hear someone speaking lovingly about John McCain. You should start watching Mike and Mike in the morning. They LOVE McShame.
You were just complaining before McCain's interview that you thought it'd be a hard-hitting interview with Bob Ley, because he was a "real" journalist, no softballs. But it was another fluff piece, just like Obama's. THEY ARE A SPORTS NETWORK. All they talk about is sports with the candidates.
Is that a rhetorical question? Very naive. ALL Media is liberal. Watch them try to rewrite history on November 5th.
>>Plus they are based in liberal New England. Of course they are going to be liberal/socialist leaning.
The Republicans today nationalized an insurance company!
And New Englanders are socialist-leaning?
>>Plus they are based in liberal New England. Of course they are going to be liberal/socialist leaning.
The Republicans today nationalized an insurance company!
And New Englanders are socialist-leaning?