Sports journalist Rebecca Wilson passed away three Fridays ago, aged just 54. Apparently she had been diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago and looked like she had beaten in. However it was discovered just five weeks before she passed away that it had returned. Imagine how painful it must have been for her and her family (a partner and twochildren) that in all likelihood she only had a few weeks to live.
When I haven't liked somebody who has passed away, I don't like to comment on them until after their funeral. The family of the deceased person should be able to grieve without seeing their loved one being attacked. I think it is possible to have a discussion about the deceased person's legacy that doesn't get personal, but I don't think I'm a good enough wordsmith to be able to do that, so I just leave any commentary until after the funeral.
The passing of Margaret Thatcher provided an interesting insight into how people deal with the death of a person who was disliked by a lot of people. For many in the UK her death was almost a celebration. Indeed there was a campaign by some of her opponents to buy 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead', which made it to #2 on the UK music charts. How disgusting. I understand why people didn't like Margaret Thatcher (because I'm one of them). However to call somebody a witch is unacceptable (in Australia many of us were rightly offended when Julia Gillard was derided as being a witch) . In part it's such an offensive term because there is no comparable insult for a man.
Obituaries in newspapers are should not be written as fan club pieces. I'm sure obituaries of Bob Hawke will not only mention his many achievements but also his problems with alcohol and his womanising, as well as criticism of his time as President of the ACTU and as Prime Minister.
Tributes have flown for Ms Wilson. Virtually all obituaries/tributes for her have included the words 'award winning', 'legendary', 'ground breaking', 'courageous' & 'brave'. What there wasn't in any of these pieces was any reflection of any of Wilson's failures as a person or as a journalist. There was no mention of her struggles with alcohol which led to two drink driving and one driving without a licence convictions, not even as a tale of how she had overcome this problem.
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First things first. To give Ms Wilson credit, she had a very long career (over 30 years) in the media, working for a number of media outlets. She must have done something right and there must have been people who liked her work (although honestly I have never spoken to anybody who has said they did).
Secondly Ms Wilson was one of the early pioneers of women as sports journalists in Australia. I can't imagine how difficult that must have been. Kudos to her and she certainly received praise from a lot of women who in later years have worked in that field.
A common criticism of Ms Wilson by her critics, indeed too common a criticism, was that she had twice been busted for drink driving and once for driving without a licence. Now these are valid points to bring up when Ms Wilson criticised people who had acted like buffoons because of alcohol/drugs or had driven in a reckless manner, such as stories about
Grant Hackett & 
Mitchell Pearce. Not only was the argument irrelevant but let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Also there were so many more relevant things related to her journalistic work with which she could have been shamed. However her driving offences were often brought up when people disagreed with her.
Still it's a good excuse to show this haiku from a Western Sydney Wanderers game (and my friends will know I do love haiku) and it provides a nice segue into another story.
There are two stories from Ms Wilson that infuriated football fans across Australia. The first was from 2014 in a story about violence at Western Sydney Wanderers games, where she blamed the disaster at Hillsborough on football fans.
There is so much wrong with this and it is an example of how little research she did. Hillsborough was not caused by fans not sitting in their own seats. The fans who died, were in a standing area. They died because an antiquated unsafe ground was used and because of police incompetence in getting fans safely into the ground in a timely manner, and then not directing fans into the less crowded areas but instead herding them into an area that was already dangerously crowded.
That Ms Wilson was still peddling these outrageous lies almost 25 years later was just disgraceful. The offending comment was removed from the article, although there is no note about
article, although there is no note about
the deletion.
Then in 2015 Ms Wilson wrote an article about violence at A League games and how 198 fans had been banned from A League games. Any merit the story might have had was undermined by a whole range of issues related to the story. Unfortunately the story is behind a paywall. Here
is a copy (without the photos) from Reddit.
Reddit.
The article caused outrage. For some the article confirmed what they thought about violence at football games. For a lot of football fans the outrage was directed at Ms Wilson, the Daily Telegraph, the FFA and whoever leaked the document that the story was based on.
There was criticism that the FFA had stated that the details of those banned would be kept confidential; that details were published of people who were under 18; that incorrect photos wereused in some instances; and that details of some offences were incorrect.
A friend of a friend of mine was fired from his job after the story broke. As he pointed out he was 16 at the time that the alleged incident occurred, he was never charged and there was no appeal process with the FFA.
fired from his job after the story broke. As he pointed out he was 16 at the time that the alleged incident occurred, he was never charged and there was no appeal process with the FFA.
The lack of an appeal process re the bans had been a sore point for football fans for years: the FFA acted as judge, jury and executioner - and then gave those banned no appeal rights.
The following is an interview between Mark Bosnich and the then head of the A-League Damien De Bohun. That weekend a lot of fans walked out of games (I walked out at the game where this interview took place) at the lack of an adequate response and at the continued lack of an appeal
process.
interview between Mark Bosnich and the then head of the A-League Damien De Bohun. That weekend a lot of fans walked out of games (I walked out at the game where this interview took place) at the lack of an adequate response and at the continued lack of an appealprocess.
The irony is that it was outrage at Ms Wilson that forced the FFA to cave in and finally implement an appeal process.
The issue of who leaked the document is also an important story that has never been properly answered. The main suspects are the NSW Police and the SCG Trust. Ms Wilson quotes 2 NSW policemen in the article, including Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione (more on him in a
moment). On the board of the SCG Trust are Ms Wilson's partner John Hartigan (more on him later) and Alan Jones (more on him later) on whose radio show Ms Wilson was a regular.
moment). On the board of the SCG Trust are Ms Wilson's partner John Hartigan (more on him later) and Alan Jones (more on him later) on whose radio show Ms Wilson was a regular.
If the NSW Police leaked the story this almost certainly has criminal implications. If it was the SCG Trust, it is totally unacceptable that the body the people responsible for running one ground used by an A League team and who trying to gain control of the ground used by the team who became the main focus of this story another ground used by another team who are the main focus of the story (the SCG Trust are apparently trying to get control of Parramatta Stadium).
In the article NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione is quoted as saying “The last thing we want to get to in Australia is putting rival fans in cages like the UK model”. It's simply amazing that the man responsible for running the police in NSW thinks that British football still uses cages.
The man is literally 20 years behind the time. Cages played a massive part in the Hillsborough tragedy and subsequently they were banished from British grounds.
You would have thought a quality journalist would have picked up on this and made a
comment. But as we saw from her article of the year before Ms Wilson seemed to know little
about English football.
comment. But as we saw from her article of the year before Ms Wilson seemed to know little
about English football.
Following the article Ms Wilson appeared on Alan Jones’s radio show. Mr Jones was very
supportive of Ms Wilson. During the interview Mr Jones said "Is this like terrorism in Paris? The
leaders have no guts?"
supportive of Ms Wilson. During the interview Mr Jones said "Is this like terrorism in Paris? The
leaders have no guts?"
Now if it was me I might have answered something like "Well Alan, I think it's a ridiculous analogy to compare what is happening with terrorism in Paris to what is happening in football grounds in Australia. I think that people who are already outraged by the story, might
consider that you are implying that football fans are like terrorists. Also it's odd that on one hand we are arguing that 198 fans is a lot to be banned and on the other hand that the FFA is doing nothing. So, no, Alan I don't consider this to be anything like the situation in Paris".
consider that you are implying that football fans are like terrorists. Also it's odd that on one hand we are arguing that 198 fans is a lot to be banned and on the other hand that the FFA is doing nothing. So, no, Alan I don't consider this to be anything like the situation in Paris".
Instead Ms Wilson said "That's exactly right, Alan."
One of the really illogical arguments that Ms Wilson made during this story is that the 198 fans banned by the FFA was a lot more than other sports and it showed that football was unsafe. Also
the FFA leadership had no guts and was doing nothing about the situation. Clearly only one of these statements can be true.
Besides the Wanderers the other sporting team that was often in Ms Wilson's cross hairs is the other team I'm a season ticket holder for, the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Mr Noad also stated, "Rebecca also makes mention of the Club not calling her to discuss any issues from her page. That is at the very heart of this decision. Why are we constantly trying to contact her after she has written a story with factual errors. Shouldn’t she be contacting the Bulldogs anytime she receives unsubstantiated information about the club or its players? Isn’t it the very cornerstone of good journalism that you check your facts?"
He also stated "This is a key secondary issue to this whole problem, Rebecca has a personal issue
with me and with the Bulldogs Club. The issue with me extends back to the Sydney Olympics when she used to work for me at News Limited. She was suspended by News Limited for the period of the Games at the request of Lachlan Murdoch for several indiscretions. She felt I should have stood up for her."
with me and with the Bulldogs Club. The issue with me extends back to the Sydney Olympics when she used to work for me at News Limited. She was suspended by News Limited for the period of the Games at the request of Lachlan Murdoch for several indiscretions. She felt I should have stood up for her."
Some very interesting points were raised by Mr Noad: The constant errors from Ms Wilson; the lack of fact checking from Ms Wilson; the lack of response from Ms Wilson; and that News Limited banned Ms Wilson from covering the Sydney Olympics. I haven't been able to find another source to confirm that Ms Wilson was banned from covering the Sydney Olympics.
However, Mr Noad would be in a position to know and would have opened himself to a lawsuit if the story wasn't true. I also could not find any denial from Wilson about this point.
However, Mr Noad would be in a position to know and would have opened himself to a lawsuit if the story wasn't true. I also could not find any denial from Wilson about this point.
An interesting point in the claim was “Among Mr Noad’s reasons for claiming aggravated damages in his suit is [Wilson’s] act in exploiting her personal relationship with a senior executive of [News Ltd] in order to revenge herself upon [Mr Noad].”
The relationship being referred to was with John Hartigan, the former chairman & CEO of News Limited in Australia.
In November of that year Ms Wilson apologised to Mr Noad: "On Saturday May 14 2005,
I wrote a report that Malcolm Noad had posted a letter on the (Canterbury) Bulldogs website about me. I also commented on that letter on 2MMM on May 7, 2005. I suggested that Mr Noad’s letter had incited Bulldogs fans to send me obscene messages and death threats. I withdraw that suggestion unreservedly and sincerely apologise to Malcolm Noad and his family for the hurt and distress my comments have caused them".
Back to fact checking. As Mr Noad stated, Ms Wilson was not contacting the Bulldogs before publishing unsubstantiated rumours and then did not return phone calls when contacted by the Bulldogs.
One of my favourite mistakes that Rebecca Wilson made was claiming that the Boston Red Sox were coming to play a spring training (pre season) game in Sydney (the article was under her and Phil Rothfield's byline. Unfortunately I can't find a copy of this article). The story was published one day after all major league baseball teams published their spring training schedules. The Red Sox had no games scheduled in Australia and only had two days with no games scheduled during this period. Even the most basic of checks would have shown this story was rubbish.
In 2004 Ms Wilson published the following: "The NRL has copped a bucketing over player behaviour but the Swans aren't all angels. One player abused CityRail staff at Circular Quay last week. "I told you I haven't got a ticket," he shouted. He was politely told he would face a fine if he
didn't pay his fare. "You can go and ---- yourselves," he said."
didn't pay his fare. "You can go and ---- yourselves," he said."
The problem was the story was completely fabricated and was emailed to her from somebody called Choppies from the League Unlimited Forum.
Even when Rebecca is on the right side of an argument, like she was with the continual booing of Adam Goodes, she lets herself down with her lack of fact checking. Singling out Dermott Brereton, in a radio interview she said "And the fact that Dermott Brereton can come out today and says
‘I actively encourage it’ [the booing], have a look at what he’s done.”
Mr Brereton didn't take kindly to this and called in. Quite clearly Dermott Brereton hadn't said what Ms Wilson alleged. Again some really sloppy journalism undermined her argument. Also it was interesting that she singled out Dermott Brereton rather than her friend Alan Jones, who was also critical of Adam Goodes.
hadn't said what Ms Wilson alleged. Again some really sloppy journalism undermined her argument. Also it was interesting that she singled out Dermott Brereton rather than her friend Alan Jones, who was also critical of Adam Goodes.
Wilson took a big dip at Weidler and fellow Fairfax writer, Sydney and NSW rugby league coach Phil
Gould. She pointed out, quite fairly in her column that both Gould [sic] and Weidler had mentioned the UK betting exchange, Betfair, without declared [sic] their allegiances with Kerry Packer’s PBL, which plans to take a half interest in Betfair".
Gould. She pointed out, quite fairly in her column that both Gould [sic] and Weidler had mentioned the UK betting exchange, Betfair, without declared [sic] their allegiances with Kerry Packer’s PBL, which plans to take a half interest in Betfair".
As the article mentioned Mr Weidler returned serve: “In another paper, columnist Rebecca Wilson took aim at Last Word and said we should declare that I am moving to Channel Nine and ACP in two months. Wilson, who has appeared in this column because of two drink-driving charges and a charge of driving without a licence, should take a look at herself. I will not be an employee of Channel Nine until November and have not been paid a cent by the network. For those who would have missed it Wilson is an employee of Channel Seven. She doesn’t declare her vested interest".
"Since February she has plugged Channel Seven at least 14 times in her column. She has also given numerous favourable mentions to individuals connected to the program on which she appears. She has bagged Channel Nine programs about their ratings and attacked Nine’s sports personalities. She has used her column to beg people to watch her show on five occasions. She should have used it more, as it was axed last week.”
With so many journalists working for more than one media company and media companies owning some football teams and broadcasting rights, journalists should point out when they have conflicting interests. I once complained about an article that Mr Weidler wrote for the Sun-Herald about a story that had appeared on Channel 9. One of my complaints was the article didn't
point out that Mr Weidler was an employee of Channel 9. The Press Council agreed with this and I note that Mr Weidler's article now carries a footnote about him being an employee of Channel 9.
The big sport of 2010 was the Melbourne Storm's long-term cheating of the NRL salary cap. It took some time before Brian Waldron, the CEO of the Melbourne Storm, spoke to the media. When he did, this is what Ms Wilson had to say: "Waldron should not have been given the oxygen to say one word by anyone in the media".
Hmmm, Ms Wilson didn't think the media should speak to the CEO of the team involved. The Melbourne Storm were owned by News Limited (Ms Wilson's employer) which also owned half of the NRL.
News Limited appointed Mr Hartigan to investigate what happened. Early on Mr Hartigan called Mr Waldron "the chief rat" of the operation. It was clear that News Limited wanted to paint the salary cap rorting as being perpetrated by Mr Waldron and a few other employees at the Melbourne Storm, without the knowledge of News Limited. This is the standard News Limited modus operandi when they are caught doing something naughty, like when the world found out that News Limited
newspapers had been hacking people's phones in the UK.
newspapers had been hacking people's phones in the UK.
I'll attach an article from Phil Rothfield, the sports editor of the Daily Telegraph who runs the News Limited line and takes pot shots at Brian Waldron. Of course as we now know the man who takes money from the disgraced punter Eddie Hayson (not that that was money for favourable articles about Mr Hayson; the favourable articles were just coincidental).
Phil Rothfield, the sports editor of the Daily Telegraph who runs the News Limited line and takes pot shots at Brian Waldron. Of course as we now know the man who takes money from the disgraced punter Eddie Hayson (not that that was money for favourable articles about Mr Hayson; the favourable articles were just coincidental).
This is typical News Limited fare. Brian Waldron is called a rat; there is some outrage that John Hartigan and NRL CEO "were at times questioned as though they were the guilty parties"; Also Mr
Rothfield was outraged that when he called Brian Waldron, that Mr Waldron hadn't returned his call and that Mr Waldron wasn't there to face the music. It seems that Mr Rothfield was happy to give Mr Waldron oxygen, if he wanted.
Rothfield was outraged that when he called Brian Waldron, that Mr Waldron hadn't returned his call and that Mr Waldron wasn't there to face the music. It seems that Mr Rothfield was happy to give Mr Waldron oxygen, if he wanted.
Back to Ms Wilson. The person who was outraged that Phil Gould and Danny Weidler didn't declare their connections, was reporting on a story where her partner was one of the major
participants (she did acknowledge this). And surprise, surprise she was rock solid behind her partner (and her employer) and didn't even want to hear from the person who her partner was putting all the blame onto.
Ms Wilson was rightly pilloried for this. Here she is absolutely skewered by Gerard Whateley, Caroline Wilson & Gideon Haigh. And Greg Baum rightly took her to tasks in this Sydney Morning Herald article.
absolutely skewered by Gerard Whateley, Caroline Wilson & Gideon Haigh. And Greg Baum rightly took her to taskarticle.
We really hate hypocrites, although as Norm McDonald pointed out, often the hypocrisy should be way down the list of when we judge a person's sins. However it would be nice if a person who had a problem with drink, maybe recognised that when they criticised others.
Norm McDonald pointed out, often the hypocrisy should be way down the list of when we judge a person's sins. However it would be nice if a person who had a problem with drink
Ms Wilson wasn't shy at criticising others when they caused problems due to a problem with
alcohol despite twice being prosecuted for drink driving and once for driving without a licence. She criticised others for not revealing any conflicts of interest, yet used her Daily Telegraph column to plug her other work and to run stories beneficial to the interests of her employer and partner.
alcohol despite twice being prosecuted for drink driving and once for driving without a licence. She criticised others for not revealing any conflicts of interest, yet used her Daily Telegraph column to plug her other work and to run stories beneficial to the interests of her employer and partner.
The following is from a Danny Weidler article when the Matthew Johns and the Cronulla Sharks group sex story with a teenage girl in Wellington broke (as an aside I think there is an interesting story to be written about why it took 7 years for that story to get widespread media coverage whilst the allegations against Bulldogs players dominated the front and back pages for months in 2004).
"She thinks she stands on a mound of morality but, if you ask me, News LTD columnist
Rebecca Wilson delivers her sermons from hypocrisy hill. Turning up the volume during the week to swipe at men in particular, myself included. Wilson denounced Matthew Johns' infidelity in her online blog, saying "It is a breach of trust that really annoys me with each of these blokes because there is no doubt most of them were in existing relationships. I just can't cop that."
Rebecca Wilson delivers her sermons from hypocrisy hill. Turning up the volume during the week to swipe at men in particular, myself included. Wilson denounced Matthew Johns' infidelity in her online blog, saying "It is a breach of trust that really annoys me with each of these blokes because there is no doubt most of them were in existing relationships. I just can't cop that."
"I do wonder what her former husband thinks of her new moral clarity. Asked about this yesterday, Wilson said: What I have done in my personal life does not make it right or wrong. I'm in a happy relationship now. I have never had sex with 10 men so it is not fair to draw a comparison. If you want to write about that, I feel sorry for you. You will not stop until you destroy me. You want a quote? You don't deserve me discussing my life with you."
The reference to not sleeping with 10 men is interesting. There was no allegation that Mr Johns slept with 10 people. The person who slept with 10 men was the young lady who Ms Wilson claimed she was defending.
Ms Wilson wasn't a great journalist. She wasn't even a good journalist or an average one. She was a poor journalist who too often wrote articles that included ridiculous assertions, were riddled
with errors and were driven by personal agendas; her fact checking was either lacking or non-existent; she took a laissez faire approach to conflicts of interests; and she was a shocking hypocrite.
with errors and were driven by personal agendas; her fact checking was either lacking or non-existent; she took a laissez faire approach to conflicts of interests; and she was a shocking hypocrite.
And the media in publishing obituaries that did not contain any negative comments about her personal life or mention any of the criticism that directed at Ms Wilson's journalistic work, seriously let down their readers.
