The dispute between ESPN and former employee Bruce Feldman has become a he-said, they-said affair.
In an article published Friday by The Poynter Institute, which is currently filling the role of ESPN ombudsman, ESPN executives denied several accusations made by Feldman during his Thursday media tour.
On Thursday, Feldman spoke to the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, the Wall Street Journal and the Dan Patrick Show about the alleged discipline he received from ESPN over his role in a book critical of the company.
Among other things, he said ESPN officials forbade him from speaking to The Poynter Institute for the organization’s account of the controversy, barred him from an SEC media event he was scheduled to attend, and distributed ‘do not book’ memos to ESPN producers to keep him off the air.
ESPN officials denied all three of those charges to The Poynter Institute on Friday.
ESPN EVP, content, John Skipper adamantly denied that he forbade Feldman from speaking to The Poynter Institute, calling the accusation “categorically inaccurate” and expressing displeasure with Feldman.
According to Skipper’s account, Feldman told him that he was going to speak to Poynter and accuse ESPN brass of lying. Skipper said he responded by telling Feldman “that getting into a public fight with your employer and calling them liars was not wise” (espn.com, 9/2). He later told Feldman that he could go on the record with The Poynter Institute if he felt like doing so, though that came with the warning that he would “need to remain careful.”
Meanwhile, ESPN the Magazine editor-in-chief Chad Millman said Feldman had the choice to attend the SEC media event but was “very concerned about showing up … and having other reporters focus on him.” For his part, Feldman strongly denied that assertion to Poynter, calling press coverage the least of his concerns.
Finally, of the ‘do not book’ memo, Millman said ESPN talent bookers were “constantly asking” to use Feldman and that “he told them all yes.” According to Poynter, Feldman made an appearance on ESPNU August 8.
(Information from espn.com)
