The Redskins' Media Offensive

On "Redskins Game Plan" that same day, Channel 4 sports anchor Lindsay Czarniak interviewed Redskins defensive coach Gregg Williams about the team's victory over the Dallas Cowboys a week earlier. When Williams modestly credited others, Czarniak countered, "I feel like you're not giving yourself enough credit because there are people out there saying that was the best defensive performance in Redskins history."

Redskins spokesman Karl Swanson calls the shows "fan programs." He said: "They are what they are. Are they largely from the team's point of view? Yes. We're presenting a point of view the fans will be comfortable with. Obviously, we're satisfied with the arrangements."

Andy Pollin, WTEM's program director, said he wrestled with the journalistic ethics when he was the host of "Redskins Game Day" on Channel 5 during the 2000 and 2001 seasons (he's no longer associated with the program). "In the back of my mind," Pollin said, "there was always someone saying, 'Don't blast Dan Snyder if you want to keep this nice little paycheck you're getting [from the team] every week.' "

But station executives defend the journalistic integrity of the arrangement, saying the team doesn't dictate show content.

"Yes, our people are working for the team, but they're never required to say anything by them," said Duffy Dyer, general manager of WTTG. He added, "The Redskins have never called to complain" about the program.

Asked whether that reflected the generally positive tone of the program, Dyer repeated, "The Redskins have never complained about it."

Michael Jack, WRC's president and general manager, said Michael hasn't pulled any punches with Gibbs on his interview show, grilling the coach on various player controversies -- such as LaVar Arrington's playing time and the Sean Taylor spitting incident -- throughout the season. Jack said it was not relevant who owned the program because the station has editorial control of the shows. "I see no conflict," he said.

Stations usually precede the presentation of "infomercials" -- program-length commercials -- by stating, "The following is paid programming." But no such disclaimers or explainers appear before, during or after "Redskins Generation." In an interview, WUSA General Manager Darryll Green described "Generation" as "paid programming," but said further disclosure was unnecessary. "It's just their [the Redskins'] show. It's their time. It's very simple," he said.

From an editorial perspective, George Michael drew a distinction between "Redskins Game Plan" and "Redskins Report," the freewheeling panel discussion program that features Michael, ex-Redskins John Riggins and Sonny Jurgensen and Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon. The opinions expressed on "Redskins Report," Michael said, often irritate Redskins officials and players. "They've cringed at all of us from time to time," he said. "We all say what we believe, and it's not always 100 percent nice. It's certainly not the way people at Redskins Park would like it. I know that some of the stuff we say has really upset them"

"Redskins Report" remains one of the few Redskins-themed programs on the air that the team has no financial interest in. "Redskins Game Plan," on the other hand, belongs to the team. Michael said he is free to produce pieces that the team might not like on "Game Plan," but the team has had no objections to anything that has appeared on it.

WTEM's Pollin said he believes that the Redskins' financial ties to local sportscasters do affect how they report. He cites Gibbs's surprise departure as head coach in 1993. Michael was aware of Gibbs's imminent decision, Pollin said, but withheld the news until after another station had reported the story. When Michael told Pollin that he had kept the story quiet, Pollin said, "I wanted to say, 'Well, George, then that's what you get for checkbook journalism.' "

Michael denies that financial considerations played any role in the episode. And he disputes Pollin's characterization, saying that Gibbs disclosed his decision to him in confidence and that Michael promised not to betray Gibbs's trust.

"Joe Gibbs and I have been good friends, and I'm proud of it," Michael said. "Most reporters would have said, 'That's news, and I'm going with it.' But I saw no problem [not reporting the story]. This one didn't bother me at all. Not at all."