Did Graham Bensinger Cross a Line With His Mike Macdonald Interview Release

Graham Bensinger has interviewed some of the highest-profile people in sports and sports media. From Stephen A. Smith to Shaquille O'Neal, Bensinger's work offers rare, long-form interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at some of the biggest names in sports. His latest sit-down is getting plenty of attention, but not exactly for all the right reasons.

In his exclusive, nearly two-hour sit-down with Super Bowl-winning head coach Mike Macdonald, there was a portion of the conversation that didn't make the final edit for YouTube. However, it did make its way to social media, causing a firestorm of reaction online about the ethics of journalism. There are many ways to look at the moment. But mostly, it serves as a reminder that everything is on the record unless both sides agree otherwise.

While I've never worked in television, I have been in radio for nearly two decades. I've had the pleasure of spending time with thousands of personalities, talent and executives. Every time there's a conversation, I state when the recording has started and when it has ended.

It's not the law, but it's a courtesy. Informing the interview subject that everything said is now being recorded and is on the record unless otherwise stated establishes clear expectations. I've always honored that principle. Not because I learned it in school, but because I've learned through experience that it's always best to develop trust and relationships when you're as transparent as you hope the subject will be.

That's why those judging Bensinger's ethics based solely on the release of the clip are misguided.

In the clip , there's no indication that the conversation was being recorded. There's also no indication that it wasn't. There's also no disclaimer from either Macdonald or Bensinger indicating that the story he shared was off the record. In my short time working in television, one thing I do know is that once you sit in the chair, the cameras are rolling.

If the cameras are rolling, it's at the editor's discretion what gets included in the final product. If there are no disclaimers about what is on or off the record, the editor has a full canvas to paint.

According to reporting , the clip of Macdonald discussing his use of videos from Twitter was not included in the final YouTube product . That's the bigger question to be asked.

Not whether the content was meant for public consumption, but if it was important enough to post after the release of the full-length final product, why wasn't it included in the original interview?

The other question that needs to be asked is whether someone from the Seattle Seahawks' communications team was present in the room. If so, why didn't they speak up when the discussion was taking place?

If the interview with Bensinger was arranged solely through the head coach or his agent, then the Seahawks don't have much ground to stand on. They can't say the commentary wasn't meant for public consumption if no one representing the organization was present to establish that boundary.

The Seattle Seahawks likely won't grant Bensinger any additional access. Then again, does he need it? Probably not. But will other NFL teams and personnel follow suit? You can assume some will because of the attention this clip received.

Will it affect the guest roster Bensinger gets in other aspects of media and entertainment? It depends. His sit-downs are designed around storytelling and sharing the journey of the subject. Not everyone will shy away from Bensinger's digital following or the distribution he has with networks around the country.

You can also bet that Mike Macdonald will look inward at this situation as well. So will every athlete, coach and executive who sees what happened. Words have consequences. It doesn't matter if it's public or not.

Yes, off-the-record portions of conversations happen all the time. They will continue to happen every day. But unless something is explicitly stated to be off the record, everyone involved should assume the conversation is on the record. Especially in the setting Macdonald and Bensinger were in.

The lesson here isn't that everything said in an interview should automatically become content. It's that everyone involved needs to understand the rules before the first question is asked.

If something is off the record, say it. If something is not meant for public consumption, make that clear. And if you're the person being interviewed, don't assume a camera that's rolling suddenly stops recording because the conversation feels informal.

Trust is the foundation of any good interview. That trust doesn't come from assuming what the other person meant. It comes from establishing expectations, communicating clearly and respecting the boundaries that were agreed upon.

The Bensinger-Macdonald situation will eventually fade from the social media cycle. The larger lesson shouldn't. In an era when every conversation can become content, there should be no gray area when it comes to what is and isn't on the record.

If you want something to remain private, say so. Otherwise, once the microphones are on and the cameras are rolling, everyone should understand the rules.

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