The Athletic's Editor Addresses Dianna Russini Controversy in Staff Meeting

When photos of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini first surfaced on March 11, 2020, they were met with three immediate denials of any impropriety. The denials came from Vrabel, Russini herself, and The Athletic, her employer.

Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, issued a statement to the New York Post regarding the photos:

“These photos are misleading and lack essential context. These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”

Since then, subsequent events have cast doubt on the initial statements, making Ginsberg’s remarks appear premature in hindsight.

Ginsberg Addresses the Situation in All-Hands Meeting

On Wednesday, Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported that Ginsberg addressed the controversy in an all-hands meeting with The Athletic staff. According to unnamed sources, Ginsberg read from a prepared statement for 10 minutes. The statement acknowledged that “communications could have been more clear.”

Ginsberg also confirmed that the internal investigation into the matter “is ongoing and expected to be lengthy.” Notably, he did not take questions during the meeting.

Ongoing Concerns Over Journalistic Standards

The incident has intensified existing tensions between The Athletic and its parent company, the New York Times. Both organizations uphold high standards of journalism, and the handling of the Russini situation has raised questions about whether The Athletic is meeting those expectations since its acquisition in 2022.

Some employees within both organizations are also questioning what The Athletic knew—or should have known—when Russini was hired in 2023. The controversy stems from images showing Vrabel and Russini together at a New York City bar on March 11, 2020.

Though Russini resigned on April 14, The Athletic continues to address the fallout. Employees at both The Athletic and the New York Times are closely monitoring the investigation’s conclusions.