ESPN drops ban on staff posting pics in hoodies

By: Jeff Sonderman

March 26, 2012

Journal-isms
Richard Prince reports that ESPN has reversed its initial stand against staffers posting pictures of themselves in hoodies to show solidarity with Trayvon Martin. After Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera suggested that the 17-year-old’s choice to wear a hooded sweatshirt was partly to blame for him being killed, many pro athletes began to post photos of themselves wearing hooded sweatshirts. ESPN staff were at first warned not to join them. Now the network has decided “to allow this particular expression of human sympathy.”

I wear hoodies. I’ve also written for the LA Times, NY Times and ESPN. What would Trayvon have been if he were allowed to live as long?

— Jonathan Abrams (@Jpdabrams) March 25, 2012

: ESPN NFL reporter Michael Smith changed his Twitter image to a hoodie photo.

Earlier: Trayvon Martin story reveals new tools of media power, justice (Poynter) | Internet finds Geraldo Rivera in hoodie, becomes suspicious (Poynter)

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Tags: Conflicts of interest, ESPN, MediaWire, Top Stories

Jeff Sonderman

Jeff Sonderman (jsonderman@poynter.org) is the Digital Media Fellow at The Poynter Institute. He focuses on innovations and strategies for mobile platforms and social media in…

Jeff Sonderman

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