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- NFL reporter Deanna Russini has resigned from The Athletic amid controversy over a photo with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
- The Athletic, which initially supported Mr. Russini, began investigating the matter days after the photos surfaced.
Dianna Russini, a former NFL reporter and insider for The Athletic and The New York Times, resigned on April 14 amid controversy after a photo of her with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel taken at an Arizona resort last month was published in the New York Post on April 7.
In her resignation letter to The Athletic’s editor-in-chief, Stephen Ginsburg, she wrote in an often defiant tone: “Various media commentators are simply moving away from the facts and making self-serving speculations. Moreover, this media frenzy is proceeding at breakneck speed, ignoring the vetting process The Athletic is attempting to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no intention of responding to a public investigation that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.
“Rather than continue with this, I have decided to step aside before my current contract expires on June 30th. I do so not because I accept the narrative built around this episode, but because I refuse to give it any more oxygen or let it define me or my career.”
But in a letter to The Athletic staff, Ms. Ginsburg not only acknowledged Ms. Russini’s sudden resignation, but also said that the investigation into her conduct had “raised new questions.”
Ginsburg initially expressed support for Russini after photos surfaced showing her and Vrabel in swimsuits poolside and hugging on the rooftop of Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona. It was just days before both were scheduled to attend the NFL’s annual league meeting in Phoenix. Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, are both married to other people and have children together.
“These photos are misleading and lack important context,” Ginsburg said in an April 8 statement. “These were public interactions in front of many people. Deanna is a premier journalist covering the NFL, and we are proud to welcome her to The Athletic.”
But days later, The Athletic, a New York Times affiliate, began investigating the matter, effectively banning Russini from future NFL coverage.
In a letter to staff on Tuesday, Ginsburg wrote in part: “While I cannot share the details of the investigation into Ms. Deanna’s conduct, I would like to emphasize that The Athletic’s management has taken this matter seriously from the moment we learned of it…last week. When this situation was brought to our attention, there were obvious concerns, but we were briefed in detail and our instinct was to support and defend our colleagues as we continued to consider the matter.As additional information came to light, new questions were raised, which became part of our investigation. ”
According to the Times’ Editorial Standards Handbook, “Relationships with sources require sound judgment and self-discipline to avoid unfair facts or the appearance of them.”
The handbook also states that “clearly, romantic involvement with a news source may foster an impression of favoritism.” “Accordingly, staff who have a close relationship with someone who appears in the reporting they provide, edit, package or supervise must disclose that relationship to the Standards editor.”
The handbook goes on to say, “To avoid such conflicts, staff should not write, edit, or supervise reporting about people who are related by blood, marriage, or have a close personal relationship.”
Vrabel addressed the photo the day after it was released.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” he told the Post in a statement last week.
“I don’t deserve any further response.”
He hasn’t said anything since then, and the Patriots haven’t made any further offers. New England vice president of player personnel Elliott Wolff was asked on April 13 about Vrabel’s role as the team prepares for the upcoming NFL Draft, and said the coach was “very involved. Same as usual. He was a little more involved with us than he was last year.”
Vrabel is expected to speak to reporters at some point during next week’s draft period, which runs from April 23-25.
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