Kevin Harvick is frustrated with the NASCAR media using anonymous sources to report on his contract situation.
Kevin Harvick Lectures Media About Anonymous Sources
“If you’re going to quote a source, quote their name,” Harvick said Friday. “Otherwise, if they’re too chicken to give you their name, don’t put their quote in the paper. It’s that simple.
“Anonymous sources are crap. If you want real sources go talk to real people.”
Unfortunately for Harvick, he fails to understand how journalism works. Many stories can be reported “on the record,” but in order for reporters to obtain information, some sources must be promised confidentiality.
If reporters weren’t able to use anonymous sources, Richard Nixon may have never been connected to Watergate.
Not that NASCAR is on the same category as sensitive government information or national security, but in order to bring news to fans, the principle still applies.
Reporters bristled at Harvick’s comments, with one asking where Harvick earned his journalism degree.
“I don’t have a journalism degree. I have a common-sense degree,” Harvick said with a smile on his face.
In regard to the story that upset Harvick in the first place – that Harvick had “burned bridges” with current team owner Richard Childress, Harvick said that was untrue.
“Richard Childress and myself have a great relationship, and we’ve been talking about a lot of things for several months,” he said. “…Richard and I have had many, many, many conversations over the last several months. Where all that leads? Right now, I’m driving the 29 car and we’ll see. I don’t see where anything is going or this and that.”
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