ESPN is gambling with its credibility
Nicole Noren spent 24 years at ESPN, much of that time producing award-winning investigative journalism on difficult topics, including human trafficking, sexual abuse, and concussions. But as ESPN embraced sports betting, Noren, in a new interview with Columbia Journalism Review, says the network repeatedly rejected her proposals to investigate gambling companies and addiction. The issue was…
For 24 years, Nicole Noren worked at ESPN, contributing to the network's award-winning investigative journalism on pressing issues such as human trafficking, sexual abuse, and concussions. However, as ESPN began embracing sports betting, Noren, in an interview with Columbia Journalism Review, revealed that the network consistently dismissed her suggestions to examine gambling companies and addiction related to the issue.
The matter was deeply personal for her, as her grandfather, father, and brother all faced gambling addiction. When ESPN signed a deal to include its name on a sports betting app in 2023, Noren's patience had finally been exhausted. She left the company in 2024.
Sports enthusiasts should take notice. As leagues, broadcasters, and gambling entities become increasingly interconnected, sports reporting is morphing into a tool for drawing in audiences through betting. The same outlets that should be scrutinizing the gambling industry now have financial interests in turning fans into its customers. The conversion of major sports media into gambling partners has occurred rapidly. As recently as 2019, then-Disney CEO Bob Iger told investors that he did not foresee such a development.
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- ESPN is gambling with its credibility koreatimes.co.kr
