Before I attach portions of Tuesdays interviews with University of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer, defensive coordinator John Chavis and offensive coordinator Dave Clawson the portions pertaining to this coaching staffs future Id like to take a quick opportunity to explain how Im going to tackle this situation.
I am not deaf, blind or ignorant (at least not totally ignorant). I know there is plenty of speculation about Fulmers future at UT, and Ive heard plenty of it. Ive spoken with several people who could play a part in this process, and Ive attempted to contact most of the others.
But Im not going to write what I cant prove, and I will not run anonymous quotes unless Im confident enough to risk my credibility on their accuracy. Ive relied on anonymous sources only a few times in my journalism career, and I knew who they were and was certain of their reliability. It irks me to see others treat such sources like an entitlement, when they should be viewed as a last (though sometimes necessary) resort.
When people cite reasons for not wanting their names on a story, those reasons should always make us extremely cautious.
I often wonder to myself and speak with industry peers about the ethics of our business, as Im sure most of you do with your jobs.
Every word in our stories has meaning, and accuracy is essential to our credibility as a news source. I worry that new-age demands for immediacy pressure too many journalists into mistakes that often seem malicious, even if theyre not.
The point is that being first on a story is very important to me, but that it will never be higher than my third priority. Being first will never come before being accurate and being fair. I freak out over the smallest typos, so I wont be reporting recklessly on this or any other story.
So I am hearing things? Yes.
But I will report only what I can prove.
I would love to say more dont even get me started on the bleacher blogs but you didnt click on this blog to read my rants.
With that off my chest, here are the quotes.
