Jon Bois (SB Nation, United States) redefines sports journalism through data-driven storytelling and experimental formats. His work spans three core areas:
Current Focus: Developing interactive documentaries exploring sports infrastructure’s societal impact through Secret Base (SB Nation’s experimental vertical).
"Efficiency is meant to save time, but their time is infinite. Why tell them to save something they have in infinite supply?" – 17776
This multimedia speculative fiction project reimagines American football in the year 17,776 through interactive maps, embedded videos, and nonlinear storytelling. Combining Google Earth visuals with existential philosophy, Bois examines humanity’s relationship with competition in a post-scarcity society. The work’s experimental format earned a National Magazine Award and influenced a generation of digital storytellers.
Through 3+ hours of documentary filmmaking, Bois deconstructs the statistical oddities and human stories behind baseball’s most chronically underperforming franchise. His analysis of Ken Griffey Jr.’s career trajectory combines advanced metrics with poetic reflection on athletic mortality.
This two-part documentary investigates the disappearance of athletes named "Bob" from professional sports. Blending census data analysis with cultural commentary, Bois uses this quirky premise to explore larger trends in youth sports specialization and naming conventions.
Bois thrives on finding the extraordinary within ordinary statistics. Successful pitches should identify numerical anomalies (e.g., "The 0.0001% of football games that produce new scorigami") paired with compelling human elements. His Chart Party episode analyzing Barry Bonds’ hypothetical batless season demonstrates this approach, transforming sabermetrics into existential inquiry.
Pitches should consider non-traditional formats – interactive timelines, alternative reality scenarios, or data visualization projects. Bois’ recent Secret Base documentary on banana peel slips combines historical research with slapstick physics simulations, showing his appetite for unconventional narrative structures.
Bois frequently examines athletics through existential lenses. Successful pitches might explore questions like "What does cricket scoring reveal about human cognition?" or "How do arena designs reflect societal values?" His Patreon-exclusive series on the transatlantic telegraph cable demonstrates this interdisciplinary approach.
Awarded by the American Society of Magazine Editors for 17776, recognizing its groundbreaking integration of text, video, and interactive elements. The ASME noted it "redefined magazine storytelling for the digital age."
Nominated in Best Graphic Story category for 20020, marking rare mainstream recognition of sports-related speculative fiction. The Hugo committee praised its "visionary reimagining of athletic competition."
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