'Former journalist' Dianna Russini kept knowledge of Mike Vrabel photos from bosses
As executives at the New York Times and The Athletic scrambled to respond to the bombshell New York Post report that included photos of ex-NFL insider Dianna Russini and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, what they didn’t know initially was that the Post had contacted Russini two days earlier, according to a new report from the Times published June 24.
The Times reported, citing a company spokeswoman, that Russini was contacted in person by the Post on Easter Sunday. She waited two days to alert her bosses, who initially stood by her. That changed once the Times, which owns the Athletic, opened an investigation into her pervious reporting. Russini resigned a week after the initial photos were published, with more by other outlets released over the coming weeks.
Russini’s first call was to the New York Times Company president and chief executive officer Meredith Popit Levien and not her bosses at The Athletic, a NYT spokeswoman said. Eventually, Steven Ginsbery, The Athletic’s executive editor, released a statement of support saying the photos lacked essential context.
“More photos were included in the story than Steven was originally shown or was made aware of,” the Times spokeswoman, Danielle Roades Ha, told the Times in an email. “The photos that ultimately ran raised new questions about Dianna’s conduct.”
Dianna Russini salary
Russini – who made about $800,000 per year, according to the article – described herself as a “former journalist” in a text exchange with a reporter for the piece and asked part of her response not be included.
“This has had a significant impact on my life, both professionally and personally,” Russini wrote.
Both Russini and Vrabel are married to other people.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dianna Russini knew of Mike Vrabel photos days before she informed NYT bosses
