Athletic finds Russini-Vrabel ties violated newsroom standards - ESPN

Former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini's relationship with Mike Vrabel violated newsroom standards but showed no clear bias toward the New England Patriots head coach, according to the findings of an internal investigation into her work published on the company's website Thursday.

«Russini's relationship with Vrabel was in clear violation of The Athletic's standards,» Mike Semel, the outlet's editorial director for standards and editorial quality, wrote in the report. «Regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed.»

As for Russini's coverage of Vrabel, Semel wrote: «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. That said, there are examples of Russini writing glowingly of Vrabel that in hindsight are awkward or even uncomfortable.»

The findings are the result of a nearly five-month investigation that began after the New York Post published photographs of Russini with Vrabel together at an adults-only resort, shortly after which Russini resigned from the New York Times-owned Athletic.

The Athletic and New York Times declined to comment beyond the public report. Russini declined to comment.

According to the report, Semel reviewed 903 stories and 77 videos that contained Russini's byline, contributor line or a mention of her reporting. He analyzed 204 episodes of a podcast Russini co-hosted and a number of appearances she made on other outlets while representing the Athletic. He interviewed Athletic staff, as well, though he did not speak to Russini, according to a source with direct knowledge of the investigation.

The person said the Athletic had no access to Russini's