Editorial: Sports media teams need to be held accountable for misinformation

Jayden Conley, Sports Writer|March 21, 2022

A design created on Canva by junior and sports writer Jayden Conley expresses the value of proper use of social media when it comes to sports teams. Conley believes that social media marketing teams have the power to post whatever they want, but the businesses are the ones that say what goes, goes. “Businesses need to hold their social media teams accountable for misinformation,” Conley said. “Let’s stop blaming the players for their own choices, and start holding the businesses who mislead with their information accountable.” (Jayden Conley)

As the offseason begins, players sit patiently with new contracts. Teams figure out their next franchise player. The Dallas Cowboys, on the other hand, have been on a downfall.

Trades and free agency have been quite the opposite of what the Cowboys were hoping, especially with defensive end Randy Gregory, who just recently signed to the Denver Broncos. After speculation that he was going to be coming back to the Cowboys due to a tweet personally made and posted by the Cowboys – indicating that Gregory was signed for a five-year, $70-million contract, with $28 million guaranteed – Gregory had other plans in mind.

Businesses need to hire social media teams who don’t mislead fans with their misinformation.

Ever since day one of the new offseason charter, the rumors and speculation facing players of going to new teams have been flying around like bees. Unfortunately, there’s no way anybody can fix this, because false information is spread everywhere around the world – even in sports-related areas.

Veteran linebacker Von Miller just recently signed with the Buffalo Bills for a six-year, $120-million contract, with at least $51 million guaranteed. The Dallas Morning News claimed that Miller had his eye on Dallas, yet nowhere on social media has the player specifically come out to speak on where he wants to play in his future. Tweets from star linebacker Micah Parsons and retired pro linebacker Demarcus Ware kept on a recruitment spree to get him, but that doesn’t indicate anything about him going to Dallas. 

Understanding that the reporters are paid to write about their specific skill set doesn’t take away from the fact that they can just write whatever they please. They need to stop lying to the fanbases of teams, because then they get their hopes up when the trade or signing doesn’t actually happen — it really irritates people. This doesn’t just happen in the NFL – this happens a lot in the NBA, as well.

Dallas Mavericks franchise star player Luka Doncic was put up for another contract offer this last offseason. After Tweets of not only reporters – even players – speculated that he was going to the New York Knicks, Luca Vildoza actually signed. Doncic claimed he never had a doubt that he would want to maintain his career with the Mavericks.

Let’s stop blaming the players for their own choices, and start holding the businesses who mislead with their information accountable.