And legitimate journalists use underhanded tactics.
1) This is twitter. 99.99% of people will not read this.
2) Read this sentence and tell me whether it implies Urban is the scam artist:
Three Ohio State football players, Urban Meyer and Kirk Herbstreit (and his dog) headlined a Life Surge event in Columbus:"I was stunned that it really wasn't a bigger story... These guys are literally funneling well-intentioned, financially illiterate Christians into a meat
You shouldn't need to re-read other things it to realize what's actually being said. But that was his intention, because he knew:
- Trolling OSU
- attaching it to these characters the face of CFB in Kirk, the 2nd best coach of the previous 20 years and a highly controversial dog
would generate massive ratings:
Quoting DJ Byrnes is certainly a choice by Pablo.
There's an actual story here full of ugly details. It doesn't require idiotic tactics to get people to read about it (or maybe it does, which is sadder)
This was my take away as well. Is there a legitimate story, yes.
Are there tactics that journalists use to make it more sensationalized, to stir the pot for clicks, subscriptions and awards? Yes
The "I was stunned it wasn't a bigger story" is a tell.
I didn't know who DJ Byrnes is, and looked him up. Interesting choice of source for the story as it relates to OSU. Apparently he has been arrested for harassing people, and is some sort of controversial progressive firebrand. It looks like he has separation of church and state concerns with the university, and the religiosity of the players.
I am not saying that the story is illegitimate, but journalists definitely use sensationalizing tactics, and gaslighting to drive buzz, then innocent parties end up have to explain it away.
