Mark Thompson finds himself in a difficult and dangerous position right now.
He has been arrested and charged with drug trafficking and possession.
It was revealed that ecstasy, methylamphetamine, an LSD tab, ephedrine and multiple Xanax tablets were found in a locked bedroom and loft study area inside the house.
Of course on the surface this is not a good look, and Bomber said on April 30 that he is hoping to fight the charges.
But it is not what Bomber has done that I want to highlight, it is what the media collectively are doing as they all battle and scrap for an exclusive.
Who can be first to interview the 54-year-old, which organisation can get the best shot, which reporter can secure an interview with his former wife or children?
I have been a part of the media, working in newsrooms for many years as a sports reporter.
And while for most I enjoyed my role, there were times I felt extremely uncomfortable doing my job.
During the early days of Port Adelaide’s journey into the AFL, then-coach John Cahill did an extraordinary thing: he failed to turn up for training. He was having a major blue with officialdom, and made a choice.
It turned into one of the big football stories.
He went missing.
Interestingly his son, Darren – who is now a wonder tennis coach to the stars, including Andre Agassi – was a sports reporter at the time. He had to report on the whereabouts of his dad, and even he was clueless to his location.
The day after this all blew up, my then-boss made it clear that when I went out with my camera crew that day, I was not to come back to the station without an interview on tape of the SANFL legend.
It didn’t matter what I did, I had to secure the job.
I can remember harassing John’s partner at their home in Alberton, clearly she was extremely distressed. It was suggested that I contact his ageing mother for a comment, and I was even told to stay overnight out front of his home in case he came back.
Perhaps I’m putting an abrupt end to ever working as a journalist in a newsroom again by saying this, but I felt extremely uncomfortable doing my job to that level. All in the name of a story for that night’s television news service.
Now, John and Bomber’s stories are very different, but the end game for reporters is the same: get the story at any cost.
(AAP Image/James Ross)
And this leads me to my key point. I honestly feel that we in the media need to consider the wellbeing of those that we pursue for our exclusive.
Be aware of the fact that there is a lot going on in the heads of all of us, that none of us will ever understand or appreciate.
The Sam Powell-Pepper issue is another example of ruthless media. The way his nightclub incident was reported can tarnish a person’s reputation forever.
Again, I understand this case is different to what Bomber is facing, but the principle is the same. It is irresponsible to have no regard for those you are reporting on.
If Bomber doesn’t fight the charges and ends up in jail, my view on how the media operates in this country will not change.
We need to consider how we go about our business. We need to tidy things up.
If there was a Royal Commission into how much of the media conducts itself, I fear we could end up in the same room as the big banks.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Kane, your post is intriguing. Why do you think "...the media have a duty to come down hard on Thompson"?? I find that a bizarre thing to say, I'd love to know your rationale. When it comes to drug education and Thompson not being a victim, there's a lot of research that states that Australia's criminalisation of drug use is both ineffectual and ill-targeted, and that people are frequently driven to drug use by some sort of victimisation. Here is a link to a short video that contains a few explanations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9DcIMGxMs
Don Freo
Guest
I wonder if those kinds journos ever read these sites to get a sense of what their audience thinks. If they do, they might get some sense about how their targets might feel. You would think some might set themselves a professional standard that is in keeping with their expectations of others. There are some good examples of that in The Roars regular journalistic contributors. I'm a great fan of the work of WA travel journalist, Ronan O'Connell when he writes about cricket on The Roar.
Penster
Roar Guru
"That’s true but it doesn’t mean gossip journalists have carte blanche. Some almost celebrate human frailty." Don - that's the job description for that level of journo, although "muck raker" is a better description. They're bottom feeders and they exist in every industry from used cars to dodgy doctors, unethical swamp rats lurking on the edge of legality hoping to line their pockets from some poor sod's misery - politicians and CEO's mostly.
Joe B
Guest
Is SEN claiming Sumich is about to take over from Ross Lyon? It really does reek of a media outlet just wildly speculating, presumably from a "source", just for click bait reward.
Davico
Roar Pro
You think accreditation will stop someone reporting something? Just because you can't go to a press conference or media day does not mean you can't report when a high profile sportsperson does something wrong! If anything taking away the accreditation is more likely to see them go after you even more and look for bad stories. How about they sit these kids down and let them know that if you carry on like a pork chop or a criminal your name is going to be splashed all across the news media so don't be an idiot! I dislike modern media as much as the next person but blaming them for individuals making poor decisions??? People need to start taking responsibility for their own actions
Johnno
Guest
I think if we can afford to lose a few aussie rules media guys!
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
When people say "WorkCover" they often use it like a generic term for a workplace/injury/stress incident and may not mean it's in the system. The pre-system stuff to that can head it off going into WorkCover itself, Freo should be more specific though. It's surprising if WorkCover are commenting on it, given they really should be playing a straight bat on it re confidetiality etc. What exit plan are you talking about? The Sumich thing that was reported on SEN?
Don Freo
Guest
Is that why it is a viscous cycle? There would need to be some lubrication for that to happen. Oh, wait, vicious?
Don Freo
Guest
You're not characterizing Hird as a drug user, are you?
Reservoir Animal
Guest
I can see why Essendon offered Hird a coaching job in spite of any drug record he had. Less obvious is why North (as an assistant, at a time when the North-Essendon rivalry was bitter and spiteful) and Geelong (as a senior coach, when there were plenty of other candidates for the job), and Hawthorn (as a senior coach, not knowing that he'd taken the Geelong job the previous day) offered him jobs if they knew what he was doing. Unless- even back then- drug use was so prevalent that you simply couldn't discount a candidate on the basis of it? Wayne Carey has said that in 1993, 'one of the league's leading players' (from another club) offered him drugs in a public venue. Hird was in his second year, Cousins wasn't around yet, Bomber captained a flag that year. Any thoughts on this claim?
Kangajets
Guest
Visciois cycle of wanting to be paid to play or coach a game . Their pay packets come mainly from tv money. choose a different career or don't break the law
Don Freo
Guest
It is inaccurate. There are no charges. It was just ill-judged behaviour for which no one, bar a sportsperson, would be held accountable. It was atrocious reporting.
Don Freo
Guest
That's the point of the article, AD. I agree with Mark's sentiments in the context of these players even though he was using Bomber as his focus. Any sporting journalist who prefers to judge others and decry others, instead of reporting sport is probably indicating a preference for subjects other than sport. Let them leave the sporting pages and join New Idea.
Milo
Roar Rookie
Medical experts more like it from what i recall.
Don Freo
Guest
You seem to be missing the point of the article, Cat.
User
Roar Rookie
What like he was a violent home burgalar?
Don Freo
Guest
You don't think Shane thought about what people were saying in mockery on social media in his quiet moments? That a bit head in the sand, Paul.
TezzaPel
Roar Rookie
It would be interesting to have another look at the interview of Thompson by Mike Sheahan a few years back on "Open Mike". At the time, I felt he was being disingenous with his answers, and I am sure the body language experts would have something to say about his behaviour on that occasion.
User
Roar Rookie
Sponsors wield a huge amount of power, 12 years ago sgio and bank west put huge pressure on wce and in the long run it has been for the better, Magellan recently pulled 20 million over ball tamper situation, if a ultimatum comes from the sponsors they will come first because no club could lose these companies under these circumstances and find appropriated sponsorship for some time.
User
Roar Rookie
The exit plan is underway from what I was told on wed and all reports since then are running parralel to what I was told Thing I find hilarious is work cover has said it wasn't involved but freo were still saying that they were yesterday, the dress statement and initial amount came from freo which has in turn been proved wrong, its not a bad look its fast becoming something big