CJR Article: Reporters Accepted PIO and Other Controls While Gymnasts Were Abused

A recent Columbia Journalism Review story looks at the controls on the press and the lack of media skepticism during the many years Larry Nassar abused young gymnasts.

It may be one of the best pieces to raise issues about what reporters enable—in many arenas of coverage—when they accept limitations put on them by people in power, including the mandates to go through public information offices for access.

According to the article by Alexandria Neason, a communications official for USA Gymnastics literally stood between a reporter and the athletes with outstretched arms when the journalist asked an unwelcome question.

Joan Ryan, a former sports columnist, who wrote a book about the toxic culture, is quoted as saying there was zero access to the athletes.

According to the article, “…for the most part, close examinations of training regimens were limited and curated.” And “officials sought to steer coverage toward the positive.”

The piece talks about warnings that reporters could lose their credentials and their fear of that.

Will Graves, an Associated Press sports writer, is quoted as saying, “We would ask questions but sort of in a polite way….”

The article reminds this journalist of polite questioning at many federal briefings. However, things we don’t know about federal agencies could have far wider impact.