I'd say chance is already a factor (is someone digging for dirt against that person? Is the topic currently "hot"?), and in general "does it make a good soundbite?". Disreputable opinions don't get repeated as much when they are phrased in academic jargon, or indirectly implied in a way that can only be understood with a lot of context. There's also the question of incentives, i.e. people are more likely to dig up dirt on the president of a law school than on an average Joe.