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10/10/2018

Column: Sex-toy detail crossed ethical lines in Urban Meyer story

By Nicole Kraft

It was the emails that got me.

In a story entitled, “Zach Smith Ordered Sex Toys to Ohio State Offices, Had Sex With Staffer, Took Nude Photos at White House,” sports writer Brett McMurphy chronicled how former Ohio State assistant football coach Zach Smith did, well, what the headline indicated.

It was the Aug. 17 edition of an ongoing story McMurphy broke about domestic violence allegations against Smith by his ex-wife, Courtney. The series launched in early August and tore through Ohio State with every publishing.

Football coach Urban Meyer was put on leave. The athletic department was in turmoil. The national media was barking  daily at the administration for who knew what and when, and why they did what they did—or didn’t do anything.
I am not here to defend or bury Ohio State. The Smiths’ story and how it was handled will continue to reverberate through our dorms and classrooms, and around our athletics department, for years to come.

But those emails.

When does the pursuit of a story cross the line from journalism to salacious gossip. When does objectivity reporting become subjective persecution.

I argue the Aug. 17 article crossed the line.

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