In an age when clicks often matter more than facts, some mainstream media outlets are increasingly sacrificing journalistic integrity for sensationalism. Once a pillar of balanced reporting, even institutions like The New York Times have occasionally traded accuracy for drama. A recent article targeting Dickey’s Barbecue Pit and Dickey’s franchise opportunities is a case in point.
Let’s call it what it is: a one-sided narrative built to attract outrage—not offer insight, especially in the thriving Dickey’s franchise business.
Dickey’s Franchise is Thriving.
Anderson’s piece hinges almost entirely on the grievances of a small group of former franchisees. It offers minimal scrutiny of their business decisions or operational practices. There’s no mention of whether they followed Dickey’s well-documented systems, standards, or support channels. This context is critical when evaluating claims of franchise performance. Instead, the article omits or glosses over key facts related to the growth of Dickey’s franchise:
Dickey’s is thriving. The brand has expanded internationally, entering markets like Canada, Singapore, and the UAE. It was recently named the fastest-growing restaurant chain by Technomic and placed #100 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list.
The system works. The majority of Dickey’s franchisees report success stories—some even citing 34% increases in sales after taking ownership.
The industry is challenging. According to Restaurant Business Online, 2024 was one of the most painful years in recent memory for the restaurant industry, with mass closures across major chains. Dickey’s not only stayed open but its franchise network grew.
Barbecue Empire Under Fire
The article does not explore any of this. Why? Because “Barbecue Chain Expands Successfully Amid Industry Turmoil” doesn’t generate headlines. “Barbecue Empire Under Fire” does.
What we’re seeing is a broader media pattern: dramatized storytelling at the expense of objective reporting. The strategy is simple—elevate isolated complaints, ignore systemic data related to the Dickey’s franchise, and create a “David vs. Goliath” conflict. This narrative is easy to sell. These tactics aren’t just misleading—they’re damaging. They diminish the hard work of successful franchisees, demoralize teams, and threaten reputations built over generations.
The article missed an opportunity. It could have examined both sides. It could have questioned why some franchisees fail while others thrive. It could have asked how Dickey’s adapted during the pandemic. It could have explored how it leverages proprietary tech to streamline operations, or how The Dickey Foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to first responders across the U.S..
Instead, we got sensationalism. We got storytelling designed to provoke, not inform. The success of Dickey’s franchise remains underrepresented.
True journalism should dig deep—not just into complaints, but into the broader realities of modern franchising. It should explore context, data, and perspective. Unfortunately, when entertainment takes precedence over accuracy, truth becomes collateral damage.
Dickey’s Franchise & the New York Times
The New York Times‘ “A Handbook of Values and Practices for the News and Opinion Departments” states, “we seek a response from anyone criticized in our news report. When the criticism is serious, we have a special obligation to describe the scope of the accusation in detail when seeking a response.” It also claims that “The Times illuminates all sides of a controversy.”
While these guidelines are commendable in theory, their application is questionable. For instance, reports indicate that Dickey’s provided the Times with all requested documents. The company provided written answers to their questions and insisted on an interview to further clarify those answers. It was clear the Times was not interested in interviewing anyone from Dickey’s. Despite Dickey’s extensive cooperation, the information the company provided was not reflected in the Times’ story, particularly concerning the franchise.
Let’s not confuse controversy with courage. And let’s not allow a few clicks to replace a commitment to facts.