Sportswriter Violated The Athletic’s Standards

The Athletic’s internal review found that former NFL reporter Dianna Russini’s relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel “was in clear violation” of the outlet’s ethics standards, though it identified no reporting inaccuracies involving Vrabel or his teams.

The nearly five-month review, published Thursday by editorial director for standards and quality Mike Semel, concluded Russini was “noncompliant” with rules requiring disclosure of “sources or affiliations that may put into question our ability to be credible.”

 “Regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed,” Semel wrote.

CNN reports Page Six photos published April 7 showed Russini and Vrabel holding hands, embracing and spending time in a pool at a Sedona, Arizona, resort on March 28. Those images “indicate a relationship that puts The Athletic’s credibility in jeopardy and gives the appearance of a conflict of interest,” Semel said.

Russini resigned in April, one week after the photos appeared. The Athletic then closed its probe into her personal conduct because she was no longer an employee and did not investigate or draw conclusions about the nature of the relationship. It continued examining her work. Executive editor Steven Ginsberg initially called the photos “misleading” and lacking “essential context” but later told staff that “as additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.”

Russini told The Athletic: “I stand by any and all reporting I’ve ever done in my career.” The Athletic pointed to Semel’s report as its statement.

Semel reviewed 903 stories and 77 videos carrying Russini’s byline, co-byline, contributor credit or a mention of her reporting from her 32 months at the publication. About 46 written stories mentioned Vrabel or the Patriots; three videos related to the coach. Semel recommended Editor’s Notes on two of those videos, citing the photos, even though the clips were “light-hearted.”

The review found Russini was “seldom reliant on Vrabel as a source or subject.”