In Florida, “Bubba The Love Sponge” Beats TV News On Big Story. Um, Is That OK?

by Mark Joyella | 11:16 am, January 25th, 2011

» 9 comments

As Mediaite readers know perhaps better than anyone, it matters where you get your news. What, then, does it say about you if you get your breaking news from Bubba the Love Sponge on The Bone 102.5? That’s the question in Florida’s Tampa Bay area this morning.

As St. Pete Times TV columnist Eric Deggans puts it in a column today, the “rules” of reporting serious–and sensitive–stories don’t seem to apply when “media” means “everybody”:

This seems to be another new wrinkle handed to traditional news reporters in a world where almost anyone can be a media outlet. Professional journalists may have reporting standards, but when an emergency breaks out, are they at a competitive disadvantage if non-journalists get involved?

When two police officers were shot and killed Monday, Bubba the Love Sponge, whose original, pre radio name was Todd Clem, devoted his entire morning radio show to the unfolding story, and in the process beat the mainstream Tampa and St. Pete journalists on the big story:

Before 9 a.m., as some traditional news outlets were still sorting through the situation, Clem was reporting two police officers had been killed, revealing no names. Police would not confirm that officers died until 11 a.m.

Clem also first revealed the identity of the suspect, Hydra Lacy Jr., discussing his extensive criminal record and status as brother to professional boxer Jeff Lacy.

Bubba, who’s known to national radio listeners for his recently-ended turn on Sirius, has a history of ignoring rules–including the FCC’s.

bubba the love sponge, Florida, mainstream media, police shooting

Onesweetworld79

I blame Obama
Harry Flashman

Another example of the media stomping their little foot in anger that someone had the audacity to get information out before they did.

They try to minimize and even discredit bloggers for the same reason, sneering that they’re not the REAL news media.

If this guy beat them to the story good for him and tough to them. They’re being slow to learn the lesson that’s kicking their collective ass – they’re not the only game in town any more.

It’s something they should get used to.
http://www.mediaite.com Mark Joyella

Harry, it’s a very interesting debate. Traditional reporters do things because that’s the way they’ve always been done, like waiting for cues from officials to release information. Others don’t… and it’s probably time to think about whether those “traditions” make any sense.

But I agree, attacking a radio guy for talking about a story…and getting the facts out first, just makes you look full of yourself.
Harry Flashman

Mark,

The risk guys like the radio guy run is getting out stories TOO quickly nefore the facts are in and being wrong. But, that being said, that’s on them.

If they jump and they’re wrong they’ll pay a hefty price in the currency of credibility.

There is an interesting system of checks and balances that is starting now. The public has the ability to sift through much info and get the facts. Tucson proved that.

The MSM should look outside their bubble. There’s a lot going on out there.
Rio

Professional journalists may have reporting standards, but when an emergency breaks out, are they at a competitive disadvantage if non-journalists get involved?

NPR was the first to report the death of Gabrielle Gifffords, major networks mucked up calling the 2000 election, continuous errors in the newspapers requires corrections and ombudsmen, not to forget the Journolisters. Why concern yourself with this guy?
Pablo

Harry Flashman said:
If they jump and they’re wrong they’ll pay a hefty price in the currency of credibility.

The traditional media doesn’t much seem to care about credibility anymore. It seems that at least new media is held accountable, both by traditional media and new media peers. How long did it take CBS to deal with Dan Rather, and did they ever come out and issue a full correction and retraction?
cmdrgmh

The problem with Clem telling people the officers were dead at 9:00am was the families were not notified at the time. Now some will say he did not give out the names, but, let me tell ya. If my wife heard that any officers were killed while I was on duty, she would have jumped to the worse case scenario. Some of these family’s know that there was an early morning raid and knew that their loved ones were on it. The terror felt by those families is no doubt inexplicable. The St. Pete PD and the Fed’s asked the News Organizations not to put that info out until the official notice was given by the Chief. That was at 11:00 am. The lesson learned from All News Outlets because of the Tucson Murders was reporting a death that was not true. You can bet that all main stream news media will not report any deaths until officially verified by the agency in charge.
LarryB

What does it say than anyone still listens to this clown? Even TNA wrestling had enough sense to realize what a low-life Bubba is, and they told him to get lost. He’s a Howard Stern want-to-be.
BigLeagues

From everything I know of Bubba and particularly his producer, Brett Hatley, they are LOVED by the Police. Two of their guys were taken out and I am quite sure that Hatley worked his connections to get the scoop. If those Police folks didn’t want Bubba to say anything, they would have told them.

Mark my words, if Bubba hasn’t already announced it, he will almost certainly have at least one fundraiser for the families of these slain Officers. How many journalists or news organizations can say the same?

The game has changed, deal with it.