Misidentification at UFC 302 Sparks Media Fiasco
A mistaken identity at UFC 302 involving Steve Smith Sr. became a viral moment, highlighting the pressures on sports media professionals.
In a new media fiasco, ESPN’s NFL insider Ryan Evans recently came under fire after misidentifying a man that got knocked out during a fight in UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey. The mistaken report certainly became a viral moment but also highlighted some of the pressure and quick judgements that the sports media professionals have to deal with.
One of the most well-known NFL players, Steve Smith Sr., was mistakenly identified, and he rushed to confirm that it was a wrong report. The social media-driven sports journalism became underlined by the actual policy of misinformation and has become less hidden than before.
While the story was developing, Evans tried to adjust his incompetency, showing how sports media and its volatility have to be addressed in the era of global news and social media. It is good to remember incidents like this one and that fact that sports journalism still has its standards and practices.
