<p>“I wasn't just doing what was right. I was doing what was journalistically correct.”</p> <p>Veteran sports reporter Jim Trotter was doing a live cross for ESPN when the host began describing American footballer Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem as “disrespectful to the flag”. Jim had a choice — to let the host’s opinions go unchecked or to report the facts.</p> <p>As sports arenas more frequently become platforms for cultural debate, reporters like Jim have expanded their old beats from player drafts and starting positions to include athlete activism and political commentary.</p> <p>From the taking the knee to boycotting the Olympics, it’s become increasingly common for off-field controversies and cultural shifts to make their way onto those hallowed grounds.</p> <p>But as the clubs and codes grow richer, while many media outlets become poorer, is there now a power imbalance that’s impacting our coverage?</p> <p>In the latest episode of <em>Journo</em> Nick Bryant asks the NBC’s <a href="https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/rebecca-lowe/">Rebecca Lowe</a>, NFL Network’s <a href="https://twitter.com/JimTrotter_NFL?s=20&amp;t=XOJutQd8FWM1WNSGoGQzAg">Jim Trotter</a> and cricket writer <a href="https://www.gideonhaigh.com/">Gideon Haigh</a>: when back page stories are increasingly front-page affairs, can sports journalism still primarily be about sport?  </p> <p><em>Journo</em> is a production of <a href="https://www.deadsetstudios.com/">Deadset Studios</a>. This episode was made with support from the <a href="https://jninstitute.org/">Judith Neilson Institute</a>.</p> <p>Host: Nick Bryant<br>Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain<br>Producers: Grace Pashley and Britta Jorgensen<br>Sound Design: Krissy Miltiadou<br>Managing Editor: Kellie Riordan<br>Commissioning Editor: Andrea Ho </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>