In the digital space, the integrity of the source usually comes from the site’s recent actions. Back in the glory days of print, it was that way too. Where overall reputation can be based on the long-term trends in how the organization handles itself, in media, it has always been, "What have you done for me lately?"
Last week, BuzzFeed launched an internal investigation to see if any questions or comments were deleted after the new editor-in-chief Ben Smith was hired in the beginning of 2012.
On Friday, BuzzFeed reported at least three threads were removed based on the complaints from the business and advertising departments. One example given was for a negative comment about Monopoly, which is made by Hasbro, one of the site’s advertisers. Another was poking fun at a campaign for Dove soap, which is produced by advertiser Unilever.
These findings took senior management to task and some time for reflection after the investigation. Here is what Smith wrote in an email to employees on Saturday:
"The goal of this was making sure we know why things were deleted before our standards guide was published this January, including whether or not external pressure played a role in any of the decisions to delete a post," his message read.
"This isn’t intended to suggest writers did anything wrong: Back in those days it was common practice to delete posts for a range of reasons. Annie-Rose and her team of seven reporters talked to more than 100 current and former staffers to get to the bottom of as many of those posts as possible."
Out of 1,112, posts dropped, 100 of them were newsroom decisions. Three posts were eliminated because of advertiser complaints, 65 of them had copyright issues and 263 of them had technical issues. Around 122 posts were deleted because the posts were duplicated elsewhere on the site, 140 of the posts were removed by interns and new employees learning the system and 377 of the posts were waiting for further information before being published.
It remains to be seen if an investigation and the transparent release of the results will be helpful or damaging to BuzzFeed’s integrity.
GAME NOTES: As the Bucks play in the NBA playoffs, Fox Sports Wisconsin will locally broadcast the first round. "Bucks Live" pre-game show will air at 6 p.m. tonight before Milwaukee takes on Chicago at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Brewers will face Cincinnati on Fox Sports Wisconsin’s alternate channel with the first pitch around 5:30 p.m. tonight.
On Thursday, the Bulls will be in Milwaukee for a game that will be televised at 7 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Bulls will take on the Bucks. Also on Saturday, the Brewers will play the Cardinals at 5:30 p.m. on the cable outlet’s alternate channel.
PARTNERSHIPS: Richard Coolidge, who spent 20 years at ABC News, will join the PBS NewsHour in a newly created position of Senior Content and Partnerships Producer. In this role, Coolidge will manage, plan and produce news content for broadcast, online and social media as well as coordinate the production of content coming to the NewsHour from PBS stations and NewsHour’s growing list of partners, including The Atlantic, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting and New York Times Video.
"Richard’s decades of experience producing news across platforms will serve as a valuable resource as NewsHour grows and expands online, on broadcast and on social," said Sara Just, NewsHour’s executive producer.
"One of Richard's greatest skills is teaching, training and mentoring, a wonderful asset to bring to the NewsHour team."
Coolidge joins NewsHour and will lean on his experience at ABC, where he produced political, national security and foreign affairs content around the country. In recent years, was the creative force behind the design, execution and production of multi-media content.
"I am honored and excited to join the PBS NewsHour and look forward to working with the team of this distinguished, venerable news program," Collidge said.
CONTEST: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel announced the winners of its "Play of the Year," with a voting contest online. Neenah High School and Indian Trail High School are the 2014-15 school year’s winners. Each school will be awarded $500 for their athletic departments. Neenah won the northeast region contest, and Indian Trail won closer to home in the southeast region.
Time Warner Cable SportsChannel aired around 40 live high school basketball games in Eastern Wisconsin. Viewers watched the best plays from the coverage online and voted for favorite plays between March 17 and April 12.
The winning play from Neenah High School featured an alley-oop from Trevor Entwisle to Adam Pronschinske in a playoff win over Oshkosh North. Meanwhile, Indian Trail High School's winning play featured a pass from Josh Washburn to Andre Brown for a dunk against conference rival Racine Case.
Media is bombarding us everywhere.
Instead of sheltering his brain from the onslaught, Steve embraces the news stories, entertainment, billboards, blogs, talk shows and everything in between.
The former writer, editor and producer in TV, radio, Web and newspapers, will be talking about what media does in our community and how it shapes who we are and what we do.