Internal probe finds Dianna Russini’s ties to Patriots coach led to ‘awkward’ and ‘uncomfortable’ coverage

The Athletic found its former NFL reporter Dianna Russini wrote in an “awkward” and “uncomfortable” manner about coach Mike Vrabel — based on a relationship with him that she should’ve disclosed, the New York Times-owned digital sports publication said Thursday.

However, Mike Semel, The Athletic’s editorial director for standards and quality, who led the probe into Russini’s work, said he did not uncover “clear” evidence that the publication’s one-time NFL insider wrongly propped up Vrabel’s professional interests.

Russini resigned from The Athletic in April, less than a week after photos of she and the married Vrabel, 51, at an Arizona hotel drew scrutiny.

“I’ve not found a clear link to conclude that Russini used her platform to help promote Vrabel or help his teams during her time at The Athletic,” Semel wrote in a piece published Thursday.

“That said, there are examples of Russini writing glowingly of Vrabel that in hindsight are awkward or even uncomfortable.”

Semel said he “reviewed 903 stories and 77 videos published on The Athletic site and app that carried Russini’s byline, co-byline, a contributor line or a mention of her reporting” in addition to “204 episodes of the Scoop City podcast, produced by The Athletic…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports