Adam Schefter says he’ll approach Dianna Russini’s reporting like anyone else’s. The ESPN insider discussed the situation during a Wednesday appearance on WEEI.
What We Know: Schefter appeared on Rich, Ken, and Ted on WEEI Wednesday afternoon, addressing how he views Russini’s return to sports media. His comments came just hours after Russini made her first appearance in her new show, launched in conjunction with BetUS Casino. Russini’s return marks her latest step back into the sports media landscape, with questions remaining about how her previous reporting relationships could affect her work moving forward. However, Schefter indicated he doesn’t intend to change his approach when evaluating information from her.
What They Said: “I would treat her like everybody else. I have to verify everybody’s information before I report it, so I don’t think of it as anything different. I don’t think of circumstances like that. That’s me. I’m thinking the way I have thought to do my job, the way I need to do my job, whether it’s Dianna Russini or anybody else doing it. I don’t care who’s doing it. Like, I don’t care who it is. I’m not reporting it until I know that it’s true. Period … I’ve got enough to worry about with my own problems and issues. I don’t need to worry about somebody else. So I just try to do my job the right way.” -Adam Schefter
What Remains Unclear: Schefter didn’t elaborate on whether he has any personal or professional concerns about Russini’s return. Additionally, he didn’t address whether the circumstances surrounding her departure from her previous position could affect their working relationship.
What It Means: Schefter’s comments suggest he intends to keep his reporting standards consistent regardless of the source. Meanwhile, Russini’s return puts her back in the sports media conversation, making the industry’s response to her next chapter worth watching.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
