Perhaps it's fear as well as pride that has kept me studying. A. Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire have done more this past year to restore sportsmanship in this country than anything else I can remember. When Sammy went out on the field and hugged his competitor Mark after Mark broke a record, people rediscovered that you can compete and still show respect for one's opponent. The degeneration has even spread to Little Leagues. The opportunities and the stations keep multiplying for young people entering the field.
Modern technology is so superior to the past that it has given broadcasting a brand new look.
However, journalistic standards continue to erode as entertainment becomes vital in building an audience. Stations contend that their obligation is to put on what people want to see or hear, and with that strictly business philosophy, the bottom's the limit. The programs with the greatest appeal bring in the most viewers or listeners. Sports life, just like all life, demands reporting of the negative along with the positive. But the public's obsession with the negative, dwelled upon by TV, radio, and print, has made fighting for higher standards increasingly difficult.