The Athletic finally publishes its internal review of Dianna Russini
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The Athletic released an internal review of former NFL Insider Dianna Russini’s reporting after her resignation due to her undisclosed relationship with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, which violated the company’s journalistic standards.
- The review found that Russini breached The Athletic’s conflict of interest policy by not disclosing the relationship and delayed informing her editors for two days after photos surfaced, providing inconsistent explanations that raised trust concerns.
- Despite the conflict, the investigation uncovered few issues requiring editorial corrections, noting minor instances where Vrabel was portrayed favorably, but overall found her reporting on Vrabel to be accurate.
- The report appears to close the matter from The Athletic’s perspective but leaves open the possibility of further developments if Russini chooses to share her side of the story.
- Speculation suggests Russini might reveal more details on September 8, the night before the Patriots-Seahawks season opener, potentially causing significant impact.
