On Tuesday, prominent NFL reporter Dianna Russini announced her resignation from The Athletic, citing a 'media frenzy' as the reason. The announcement followed a series of images released by The New York Post showing Russini mingling with New England coach Mike Vrabel just before the NFL meeting last month.
Russini stated that the media frenzy was the reason behind her resignation, saying 'This media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.'
However, Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, has a conflicting reaction. He agreed that no one should lose their job due to rumors but insinuated that Russini's reasoning sounds 'guilty'. 'I don't think anybody should lose their job over alleged canoodling but this statement makes it seem like there was definitely canoodling happening.'
Other prominent journalists have also shared their reactions to the news, with the National president of the Society of Professional Journalists saying that the incident marked a tough day for Russini and her family. He also brought up the issues of media ethics, saying 'Even though this was an allegation that was still under investigation, the appearance of a conflict can erode credibility.'
