Wilkes and Wilson to be ISU technical specialists

[Artemis]

According to this Globe & Mail article (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20041015/SKATE15/TPSports/Other), Debbi Wilkes and Tracy Wilson are playing dual roles this season: commentators and "technical specialists" for the ISU judging panel.

My first reaction was great to have such knowledgable people acting as specialists, esp. Tracy.

Is it a conflict that they'll still be commentating? No, I don't think so. Commentators may have their biases, but then so do judges and referees. And if they're allowed to share their knowledge of the ins and outs of the technial side of CoP, so much the better as far as I'm concerned.

Besides, they're both CTV/TSN commentators, and that network is only doing Skate Canada and Nationals.

[LTM]

I imagine the ISU had to increase the number of technical
specialists with this new judging system and who better than people who've stayed connected with the sport for as long as Wilson and Wilkes.
Is it a conflict?
Only in the minds of those who disagree with their opinions.
Commentators do not give the marks and the specialists
identifies and gives the degree of difficulty
The mark is still given by the judge.

[terisalyn]

Sounds to me like a move by the ISU to influence media commentary on COP. If they're working for the ISU, they can't be very critical of COP or of the ISU in their commentary, can they? Let's just hope no "situations" come up which require any journalistic impartiality... :roll:

[the old gurl]

Given that neither woman has ever claimed to be a 'journalist' as such -- they are both 'commentators,' which allows them a certain editorial license not granted true journalists (in the same vein as Hersh in the US; columnist, not 'journalist') -- I can't see how impartiality has anything to do with it.

Certainly, Wilkes has already publicly stated her approval of CoP; I can't remember what Wilson has said about it.

We have technical specialists have have been coaches, judges, and now media people -- all have been former skaters and all come with their own set of biases. I'm more concerned about their former/concurrent jobs influencing their work as tech. specialists than the other way around.

I think both women will do just fine.