Don't blame blogs for ESPN's Erin Andrews episode

Today the New York Post reports on a story that's been blowing up on sports blogs for the past few days -- the Peeping Tom video of ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews in a hotel room and the video's inevitable online leak.

The incident, and Andrews' widespread online popularity, has prompted some sports bloggers to examine their role in celebrating Andrews. Did they encourage people to see her as more of a sex symbol than a journalist? Did that help create a demand for such a video? As former Deadspin editor Will Leitch said in a reaction post today, the real fault over the video lies with the creep who shot it. In terms of building demand, there's a big difference between good-natured appreciation and Peeping Tom Perv.

Attractive women on sports television, no matter their journalistic skill, are always going to get attention for their looks. Blogs didn't name Andrews "America's Sexiest Sportscaster", Playboy did. Sports are a predominantly male world, so female reporters are obviously more susceptible to the frattier side of male sports fan scrutiny. And this isn't a uniquely American issue, one just has to Google Jennifer Hedger to see Canadian sports fans can engage in borderline locker room banter, too.

Here's hoping they catch the pervert who shot the video and he is prosecuted. But let's also hope there isn't a rush to blame bloggers as part of the root cause. If there's any fault in how female sports reporters are treated, it lies with all fans and media, not just those online.

Comments

[Bob's Blitz]

Not one legit 'blog' posted the pictures the NY Post stooped to today.

[Monroe65]

Maybe she planted the video camera herself..... Could she have wanted to be more in the spot-light?

[Shav]

I totally think she planted the webcame or had a friend do it in order to increase her spot-light...I am a big NHL hockey fan and never heard of her before this...so my point being her little stunt worked...now I know how she is.......its just a marketing ploy...and now she can be the victim and people will feel sorry for her and some will even want to see if they can get a hold of the pics...either way she increases her spotlight......

[Dale Steenas]

If you've never heard of Erin Andrews before this, you must be living in a cave. But I guess if you're just a fan on the NHL, Alex Ovechkin must be your style.