Being a sports journalist before phones and cameras was a wild ride

The WEEI Afternoons podcast episode explores the evolving landscape of sports journalism, contrasting the intimate, trust-based relationships of the past with today's hyper-vigilant, camera-obsessed media environment. Hosts Rich, Ken, and Ted Johnson reflect on the Mike Vrabel scandal, discussing how modern technology—especially smartphones and social media—has made private indiscretions impossible to hide, unlike in earlier eras when reporters were insiders embedded with teams. Drawing from a clip with Cedric Maxwell, they reminisce about the '70s and '80s, when journalists were treated as part of the team, invited to dinners, bars, and off-the-record hangouts, building deep bonds that yielded exclusive insights. They idealize that era as a golden age of sports reporting, where trust and camaraderie were central, and suggest that today’s transparency comes at the cost of authenticity and privacy. The conversation ultimately frames the smartphone as both a revolutionary and destructive force—'the greatest invention but the worst invention'—highlighting how it has transformed not just reporting, but the very nature of personal and professional relationships in sports. Key takeaways include the idea that trust between athletes and journalists was once built through shared experiences, not surveillance; that modern media amplifies personal failures far beyond their original context; and that while today’s transparency is valuable, it has eroded the nuanced, human side of sports storytelling. The episode closes with a nostalgic longing for a time when reporters weren’t just observers, but participants in the culture they covered—when a night out at Cosmo’s or Scotch and Sirloin wasn’t just a meal, but a moment of connection.