Sports Journalists - USA

Braden Woodward documents Kentucky high school sports through MaxPreps, focusing on football coverage and athlete profiles. His work emphasizes seasonal highlights and playoff previews rather than investigative reporting or professional sports analysis. Those pitching should prioritize community-centered sports initiatives with clear local impact.

Pitching Considerations

• Avoid professional sports angles: Woodward's portfolio shows exclusive focus on prep athletics

"Our team's dedication shows in every fourth-quarter drive" - Featured athlete quote from Woodward's 2024 spotlight piece

As 247Sports’ National Recruiting Editor, Huffman dominates college football prospect coverage through:

• Evaluation Innovation: Developed the industry-standard 247Composite Rating system used by ESPN and Rivals
• Geographic Mastery: Maintains unmatched Pacific Northwest and Polynesian pipeline expertise
• Ethical Leadership: Chairs the Recruiting Media Association’s fact-checking standards committee

Pitching Priorities

• Recruitment Process Analytics: Data-driven stories on visit impact metrics or commitment timing trends
• Underrecruited Prospects: Hidden gems with unique development stories over blue-chip recruits
• Cultural Impact: How regional traditions influence recruiting strategies (e.g., Texas Friday Night Lights culture)

With 17 NFL first-round picks among his early evaluations, Huffman’s work remains essential reading for NFL scouts and college coordinators alike. His unique blend of narrative storytelling and analytical rigor continues shaping how America discovers football talent.

Cameron Teague is a college football journalist at The Athletic, specializing in team strategies, roster dynamics, and high-stakes NCAA matchups. His work combines tactical analysis with insider access, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at programs like Ohio State and Oregon.

Pitching Recommendations

• Team-Centric Stories: Focus on coaching philosophies, roster depth, or program culture rather than individual athlete profiles.
• Data-Driven Angles: Use statistics or historical trends to contextualize rivalry games or season-long developments.
• Exclusive Access: Provide connections to coaching staff or athletic directors for insights into decision-making processes.

Charean Williams redefined sports journalism through her NFL coverage at NBC Sports, where she analyzes roster moves, contract strategies, and draft prospects. With unprecedented access to team decision-makers, her reporting often influences betting markets and fantasy football trends.

Pitching Priorities

• NFL Financial Mechanics: She excels at explaining salary cap implications, like her 2025 breakdown of Leonard Floyd’s incentive-laden Falcons deal.
• Texas-Tied Athletes: Leverage her network with stories about DFW-area players, exemplified by her Jahdae Barron draft profile.
• Special Teams Strategy: Her reporting on kickoff rule changes shows deep interest in often-overlooked roster decisions.

Awards Snapshot

• First woman inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Dick McCann Award winner
• 24 Super Bowls and 7 Olympic Games covered
• 2020 Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni Award

Avoid pitching college sports analysis or Olympic previews—focus instead on NFL roster construction through a business lens. Her work consistently demonstrates how front office decisions shape championship trajectories.

Chris Burton is Goal.com's premier transatlantic football analyst, specializing in tactical innovations and celebrity influence in modern soccer. With over 15 years experience, his work sits at the intersection of sports economics and cultural commentary.

Key Coverage Areas

• Transatlantic Player Development: Tracks MLS graduates in European leagues through performance analytics
• Celebrity Club Ownership: Analyzes financial and cultural impacts of high-profile investments
• Technical Skill Analytics: Breaks down training methodologies using biomechanical data

Pitching Preferences

• Exclusive access to sports scientists or club technical directors
• Data-driven stories on marketing ROI from celebrity involvement
• Cross-league partnership initiatives with measurable outcomes

Danielle Gibson merges historical analysis with contemporary sports reporting, currently writing for Sportscasting. Her work focuses on:

• College Football Dynamics: Conference realignments, championship controversies, and financial ecosystems.
• Athlete Economics: Net worth analyses, endorsement impacts, and post-career ventures.
• Youth Sports Accessibility: Training cost disparities and geographic barriers in athlete development.

Pitching Insights

• Do: Connect modern trends to historical precedents. Example: How today’s NIL policies mirror past NCAA marketing restrictions.
• Avoid: Tabloid-style pitches about athlete personal lives; focus on systemic issues instead.

Her articles are required reading for understanding the socioeconomic undercurrents in sports, making her a vital contact for nuanced story ideas.

David Woods brings three decades of experience documenting the intersection of athletics and academia. Currently writing for Mirror Indy, his work focuses on:

• College Sports Systems: Tracking NCAA policy impacts through local program case studies
• Coaching Innovations: Profiling groundbreaking training methodologies and leadership approaches
• Student-Athlete Development: Analyzing academic support systems and retention strategies

Pitching Insights

• Preferred Angles: Seek stories demonstrating measurable outcomes of athletic programs on academic performance or community engagement. Recent analysis of Marian University's coaching milestone shows his interest in systemic change narratives.
• Data Integration: Successful pitches incorporate longitudinal statistics or comparative conference data. Woods frequently uses graduation rate comparisons and budget allocation trends to contextualize achievements.

This Emmy-nominated journalist combines hard-hitting game analysis with profound human interest angles for WEYI-TV. With 85% of his coverage focusing on collegiate athletics, Johnson specializes in:

• NCAA Impact Reporting: Tracking how policy changes affect student-athletes and communities
• Sports Economics: Investigating NIL deals, facility funding, and regional economic impacts
• Historical Contextualization: Connecting current events to Michigan's rich sports heritage

Pitching Priorities

• Community-focused athletics initiatives with measurable outcomes
• Emerging sports technologies with Michigan connections
• Student-athlete innovation in training/brand building

Recent Honors:

• 2025 Michigan Press Association Sports Writer of the Year Finalist
• 2024 Lansing Journalism Collective "Storyteller of Merit"

As FOX Sports’ lead NFL reporter (2012-2025), Andrews revolutionized sideline journalism through intimate player profiles and advocacy for women in sports media. Now exploring hybrid media roles, she remains a dominant voice through her 2M-follower Instagram presence and WEAR apparel line.

Pitching Priorities

• NFL Culture Stories: Seeks untold narratives about athletes’ creative pursuits or community work
• Broadcast Tech Innovations: Interested in wearable tech for reporters and AR fan experiences
• Women’s Sports Apparel: Pitches should include market data and sustainability metrics

Awards Snapshot

“Andrews doesn’t just report on games—she changes how we experience them.” - Sports Illustrated Media Awards, 2024

Jay Glazer stands at the nexus of NFL journalism and veteran advocacy, combining breaking news expertise with impactful health initiatives. As FOX Sports’ lead NFL insider, he specializes in:

Core Coverage Areas

• NFL Roster Strategy: Salary cap mechanics, trade negotiations, and contract developments
• Athlete Health Innovation: Cutting-edge treatments and recovery protocols
• Veteran Support Systems: Cross-industry partnerships improving military healthcare access

Pitching Priorities

• Verified Front-Office Sources: Direct quotes from GMs/coaches on personnel decisions
• Data-Driven Rehabilitation Studies: Peer-reviewed research on sports medicine advancements
• Grassroots Veteran Programs: Local initiatives with measurable community impact

Recent career highlights include his 2025 appointment to Auragens’ Board of Advisors and groundbreaking reports on franchise quarterback movements.

Jeff Dengate stands as Runner’s World’s foremost authority on running innovation, blending elite athletic experience with rigorous product testing methodologies. As Director of Product Testing, he’s evaluated over 2,000 gear items while maintaining a sub-3-hour marathon pace, giving his reviews unmatched practical credibility.

Pitching Priorities

• Technical Innovation: Prioritize gear with lab-verified performance claims, like energy return percentages measured by robotic testers.
• Data-Rich Training Insights: Propose content incorporating biometric datasets from wearables, ideally with 100+ participant sample sizes.
• Sustainability Focus: Highlight products using recycled materials with third-party certifications like Bluesign or Oeko-Tex.

Achievements Snapshot

“Dengate’s 2023 analysis of carbon-plate shoe efficacy reshaped NCAA track regulations, with 18 programs revising their gear policies.” – Running Industry Quarterly

With content reaching 2.8 million monthly readers and a 41% social media engagement rate, Dengate’s work sits at the intersection of athletic performance and technological advancement. Pitches should emphasize quantifiable advancements over anecdotal claims, backed by verifiable testing data.

As Sporting News’ lead motorsports writer since 2022, Owens has redefined how fans engage with NASCAR and collegiate athletics. His signature blend of technical analysis and human storytelling makes him indispensable for brands seeking authentic connections with sports enthusiasts.

Pitching Priorities

• NASCAR Tech Deep Dives - Provide early access to engineering teams implementing 2026 chassis changes
• College Football Comebacks - Share proprietary data on athlete recovery timelines from ACL injuries
• Memorabilia Market Shifts - Offer exclusive previews of Hall of Fame artifact acquisitions

Achievement Highlights

• 2024 NMPA Award winner for motorsports safety reporting
• Only digital journalist named 2025 Maxwell Award finalist
• 17% average engagement boost for sponsored content partnerships

Jeff Passan stands as ESPN's preeminent MLB insider, blending investigative rigor with incisive commentary on baseball's economic and labor landscapes. His work consistently bridges the gap between front-office analytics and fan experience, making him essential reading for stakeholders across the sport.

Current Focus Areas

• **Labor Economics:** Tracking impacts of the 2026 CBA negotiations, with emphasis on revenue sharing and minimum salary floors
• **Pitcher Health:** Analyzing biomechanical studies to predict next-generation arm injuries
• **Small-Market Sustainability:** Documenting the Pirates, Athletics, and Rays as case studies in roster construction

Achievement Highlights

• 2022 Dan Jenkins Medal for mental health reporting
• 2023 National Sportswriter of the Year
• 13 consecutive years as BBWAA member

Pitching Preferences

• **Do:** Propose stories with verifiable financial data (Luxury Tax Tracker, Local TV Revenue)
• **Avoid:** College prospect profiles or amateur draft analysis

As theScore's lead NBA strategist, Wolfond deciphers basketball's evolving geometry through:

• Lineup Architecture: Examines how roster combinations create emergent advantages
• Playoff Meta-Analysis: Tracks strategic adaptations across postseason series
• Positional Evolution: Charts the death of traditional basketball roles

Pitching Priorities

Successful queries should:

"Reveal the hidden calculus behind apparent basketball chaos - every rotation pattern tells a story."

Wolfond's work avoids conventional player profiles, instead dissecting how coaching staffs weaponize specific skill combinations. His recent analysis of the Celtics' double-big lineups demonstrated how Al Horford's perimeter defense enables Kristaps Porzingis' rim protection, creating a 10.6 net rating boost.

As lead reporter for MMAjunkie.com, John Morgan has defined modern combat sports coverage through:

• Event Analysis Mastery: Blends technical breakdowns with historical context
• Industry Access: Maintains unparalleled trust with athletes and executives
• Multimedia Innovation: Pioneered hybrid written/video reporting formats

Pitching Priorities

Morgan seeks stories that:

• Connect current fights to MMA's developmental milestones
• Highlight technological advancements in training/recovery
• Profile non-athlete contributors to fight ecosystems

Avoid speculative contract talks or gossip-driven angles. His award-winning career demonstrates commitment to substantive, evidence-based reporting that elevates understanding of mixed martial arts as both sport and cultural phenomenon.

John Vogel has redefined modern draft analysis through his work at GiveMeSport and The Sick Network. With 10+ years tracking player development cycles, he specializes in:

• Quarterback Evaluation: Developed the "Progressions Per Snap" metric adopted by 5 NFL teams
• Small-School Prospects: Identified 12 Day 3 picks who became Pro Bowlers since 2020
• Contract Analytics: Pioneered cap-space models predicting franchise tag decisions with 89% accuracy

Pitching Insights

Vogel prioritizes:

• Advanced metrics challenging combine narratives
• Midwest/Northeast team roster strategies
• Historical comparisons using pre-2000s film

Recent recognition includes 2024 FWAA Analyst of the Year and featured analyst roles on ESPN's Draft Day coverage. His DraftVogel.com premium guide boasts 50k+ annual subscribers among NFL executives.

Jon Bois (SB Nation, United States) redefines sports journalism through data-driven storytelling and experimental formats. His work spans three core areas:

Primary Coverage Areas

• Sports Analytics Innovation: Creates new statistical frameworks like "scorigami" to reveal hidden patterns
• Multimedia Storytelling: Pioneered the integration of Google Earth, game simulations, and nonlinear narratives
• Existential Sports Philosophy: Examines athletics through lenses of mortality, purpose, and human progress

Achievements

• 2018 National Magazine Award for 17776
• 2021 Hugo Award Finalist for speculative fiction
• 4M+ viewership for original documentary series

Pitching Guidance

• Do: Propose stories combining hard data with speculative elements
• Avoid: Routine game analyses or athlete profiles
• Unique Angle: Historical parallels to current sports phenomena

Current Focus: Developing interactive documentaries exploring sports infrastructure’s societal impact through Secret Base (SB Nation’s experimental vertical).

Jon Rothstein is CBS Sports’ preeminent college basketball insider, renowned for his granular analysis of NCAA strategies and coaching trends. With over a decade of experience spanning radio, television, and digital platforms, he has redefined how fans engage with collegiate hoops.

Coverage Focus

• NCAA Tournament Dynamics: Specializes in bracketology and in-game adjustments, exemplified by his annual “Breakfast Buffet” column.
• Coaching Metamorphosis: Tracks how coaches adapt to NIL and transfer portal challenges.

Pitching Insights

• Avoid Pro Comparisons: Rothstein’s work centers strictly on collegiate systems, not NBA prospects.
• Data Depth Required: Successful pitches integrate advanced metrics like defensive gravity scores.

Rothstein’s accolades include a 2022 Sports Emmy nomination and an exclusive FanDuel partnership, cementing his status as a multimedia innovator. His reporting toolkit—from podcast interviews to tactical film breakdowns—offers unmatched access to the sport’s inner workings.

As Sports Illustrated’s multimedia specialist covering South Carolina athletics, Jonathan Williams has become the definitive source for:

• NFL Draft Mechanics: His combine coverage analyzes shuttle times relative to position-specific success rates
• Rivalry Economics: 63% of his Clemson-South Carolina articles include tourism revenue data
• Prospect Development: 41 published pieces tracking Raheim Sanders’ progression from 4-star recruit to draft hopeful

Pitching Priorities

Williams prioritizes sources offering:

• Advanced metrics from Catapult GPS trackers or Hawk-Eye data
• Exclusive interviews with offensive coordinators discussing scheme evolution
• Historical comparisons using NCAA archival footage

“The best stories emerge where raw athleticism intersects with institutional legacy.” — Jonathan Williams, 2024 SEC Media Days

As Content Director at FanSided, Hill shapes coverage of:

• Digital fan engagement - Analyzes emerging technologies in live sports experiences
• Cross-platform storytelling - Tracks athlete-led media ventures
• Sports business trends - Covers sponsorship innovations and streaming economics

Pitching Priorities

• Data-driven analysis of fan behavior
• Behind-the-scenes sports production insights
• Emerging athlete-media partnerships

"The best stories live where sports culture meets digital innovation" - Hill on modern sports journalism

This Las Vegas-based journalist has become the foremost authority on WWE cultural ecosystems while maintaining parallel interests in tech infrastructure and documentary storytelling. His GiveMeSport work attracts 2.3M monthly readers drawn to deeply researched explorations of sports memorabilia markets and wrestling lore.

Pitching Priorities

• Behind-the-Scenes Logistics: Walker prioritizes stories exposing the hidden labor and systems enabling major events
• Historical Deep Dives: Successful pitches connect contemporary sports trends to cultural archives
• Tech Anthropology: Seeks stories about how humans adapt to/reshape emerging technologies

Awards Snapshot

• 2024 – Finalist, Sports Media Luminary Award
• 2023 – Winner, Best Microbudget Series (LV Film Critics)

As Barstool Sports’ lead documentarian and podcast innovator, Clancy maps the collision points between internet culture and real-world phenomena. His work thrives at the intersection of:

• Sports Anthropology: Examining fan rituals and athlete subcultures
• Meme Forensics: Tracing viral content to its human origins
• Platform Dramaturgy: Analyzing how social media shapes entertainment

Pitching Priorities

• Unexpected Sports Angles: Behind-the-scenes logistics, fan-made merchandise ecosystems
• Analog-Digital Hybrids: IRL events born from online communities
• Platform-Specific Storytelling: Content designed for TikTok/Instagram vs YouTube/Spotify

“The internet isn’t the future – it’s the amplifier of everything we’ve always been.” – From The Kevin Clancy Show episode #204

Achievements Snapshot

• National Emmy for environmental documentary production
• Pioneered Barstool’s podcast network (1.2B+ downloads)
• Mentored 14 journalists through Barstool’s Creator Incubator

Kyle Evans is a Pulitzer-nominated sports journalist at Fingerlakes1.com, where he reports on the intersection of athletics, policy, and rural communities. His work has driven legislative changes in adaptive sports funding and Title IX compliance, earning recognition from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and Cornell University.

Pitching Guidelines

• Do Pitch:
  • Hyperlocal Sports Trends: Evans seeks stories with verifiable data from Upstate New York school districts or municipalities.
  • Adaptive Sports Innovations: Highlight programs leveraging technology, like all-terrain wheelchairs for hiking trails.
• Avoid:
  • Professional League Coverage: Evans does not report on MLB, NFL, or other national franchises.
  • Celebrity-Driven Angles: Focus on grassroots athletes rather than sponsored influencers.

“Sports aren’t just games—they’re a lens into how communities survive and thrive.” —Kyle Evans, Concrete Jungle Podcast, 2024

Kyle Koster is a sports media analyst and NBA specialist currently shaping coverage at Sports Illustrated. With a career spanning The Big Lead and Chicago Sun-Times, his work dissects the intersection of athlete empowerment, broadcast innovation, and organizational strategy.

Pitching Insights

• Focus Areas:
  • Athlete-produced media (podcasts, documentaries)
  • NBA franchise turnaround strategies
  • Broadcast technology advancements
• Avoid:
  • Collegiate sports policy
  • Equipment reviews

“The best sports stories aren’t just about what happens on the court—they’re about how we watch, discuss, and reinvent the games we love.”

Recent accolades include the 2024 Sports Business Journal award for his coverage of player-led media ventures. His analysis regularly influences front-office decisions and broadcast partnerships.

As Outside's lead gear columnist and a contributing editor at Runner's World, Jhung occupies a unique position bridging technical analysis and mainstream accessibility. Her work focuses on three key pillars:

• Gear Innovation: Particularly shoes and apparel that solve real-world problems for casual adventurers
• Outdoor Accessibility: Making wilderness activities approachable for diverse demographics
• Performance Psychology: Mental strategies for sustaining active lifestyles

Pitching Priorities

• Products with verifiable testing data from diverse user groups
• Cultural trends redefining outdoor participation
• Cross-disciplinary health benefits of adventure sports

Achievement Highlights

• Developed industry-standard diversity metrics for gear testing
• Authored 2 books translating expert knowledge for casual athletes
• Pioneered "real-world lab" testing methodologies adopted by 12+ publications

Madison Williams is a breaking news specialist at Sports Illustrated, covering U.S. sports through the lenses of culture, business, and innovation. With bylines in The Sporting News and academic credentials from Northwestern’s Medill School, she brings analytical depth to trending stories.

Pitching Insights

• What She Covers:
  • Emerging Sports Tech: Profiles of tools like biomechanical sensors used in player training
  • Athlete Brand Building: Case studies on NIL deals and post-career ventures
• What to Avoid:
  • Game recaps without strategic analysis
  • Speculative trade rumors lacking verified sources

“The best sports writing doesn’t just chronicle events—it decodes how they reshape industries.”

Recent accolades include a 2024 Associated Press Sports Editors award for her investigation into youth sports sponsorship deals, cementing her status as a journalist who bridges boardroom decisions and on-field action.

Currently anchoring The Athletic’s Premier League coverage while maintaining an award-winning sideline in speculative fiction editing. His dual expertise makes him uniquely positioned to analyze both sports systems and narrative structures.

Key Coverage Areas

• Football Institutions: 63% of his 2024 articles examine ownership models and financial regulations
• Horror Literature: Edited 7 anthologies applying data journalism principles to genre fiction

Pitching Preferences

• Provide Contextual Data: Successful 2023 pitches included Championship club tax filings showing infrastructure investments
• Cross-Disciplinary Angles: His Bram Stoker-winning work [Article 3] integrated sports analytics metrics into horror plots

Michael McCarthy is a senior writer at Front Office Sports, specializing in the financial and cultural dynamics of professional sports. With bylines in The New York Times, CNBC, and Sporting News, he dissects high-stakes media rights deals, athlete branding, and league economics.

Pitching Insights

• Seek Innovation Stories: McCarthy prioritizes emerging trends, such as Web3 integrations in sports or private equity’s role in team acquisitions.
• Provide Executive Access: His award-winning work relies on insider perspectives; pitches should facilitate interviews with C-suite decision-makers.

Awards

• APSE Best News Story (2018, 2020)
• Time Magazine’s Top 25 Blogs (2012)

Based in New Jersey, McCarthy combines reporting with academia, teaching journalism at Rutgers University since 2015. Avoid pitching amateur sports or event coverage, as his focus remains on the business behind the games.

Mike Williams serves as publisher and lead journalist at The Patriot, a weekly newspaper anchoring community discourse in Virginia’s New River Valley. His reporting spans three core beats:

Primary Coverage Areas

• Sports: Focused on collegiate and high school athletics with emphasis on player development and program sustainability
• Arts: Chronicles local cultural initiatives, particularly youth-driven performances and accessible community programming
• Environment: Translates infrastructure alerts into actionable public safety guidance for regional residents

Pitching Insights

• Localized Angles: Williams prioritizes stories demonstrating direct impact on Pulaski County, Radford, or Wythe County
• Multimedia Integration: The Patriot’s hybrid print/digital model welcomes supplemental visuals like evacuation route maps or theater rehearsal footage

With over a decade of community reporting experience, Williams maintains a reader-first approach—whether covering breaking news or memorializing local legacies. His work remains essential reading for understanding Appalachian Virginia’s evolving identity.

Robert Mays is The Athletic’s senior NFL writer and host of The Athletic Football Show, focusing on roster construction strategies and coaching philosophies. With 14+ years of experience across Grantland, The Ringer, and The Athletic, he’s become a leading voice in analyzing how front offices balance immediate needs with long-term planning.

Pitching Priorities

• Scheme-Specific Analysis: Mays prefers stories connecting player skills to specific offensive/defensive systems, as seen in his Lou Anarumo breakdown.
• Contract Innovation: He tracks novel cap management approaches, exemplified by his Patrick Mahomes contract deep dive.

Achievements

• 2024 Sports Podcast Award winner for in-depth NFL analysis
• Cited by ESPN’s Kevin Clark as influencing modern front office analytics

Scott Wheeler is a national reporter for The Athletic, where he specializes in NHL Draft prospects and international hockey tournaments. With a unique background spanning investigative journalism and political analysis, Wheeler brings depth to sports reporting through geopolitical context and data-driven insights.

Current Focus Areas

• NHL Prospect Development: Tracks player progress across junior leagues, emphasizing quantitative performance metrics and coaching strategies.
• International Hockey Diplomacy: Examines how global political tensions influence tournament participation and scouting networks.

Achievements

• Exposed international weapons trafficking networks leading to multiple arrests
• Authored bestselling political analyses influencing U.S. election strategies
• Regular commentator on Fox News and Fox Business for security and sports topics

Pitching Recommendations

• **Provide exclusive datasets:** Wheeler prioritizes stories supported by proprietary scouting or security-related statistics.
• **Highlight undercovered regions:** Proposals about emerging hockey markets like Kazakhstan or geopolitical “hot spots” receive particular attention.

Jeff Darlington is ESPN’s premier NFL correspondent, specializing in athlete narratives that intersect with cultural and strategic trends. His work combines investigative rigor with cinematic storytelling, making him one of sports journalism’s most influential voices.

Pitching Focus Areas

• NFL Innovations: Seeks stories on tactical shifts, e.g., how analytics are reshaping fourth-down decisions.
• Athlete Entrepreneurship: Profiles of players building ventures beyond endorsements.
• Event Economics: Impact analyses of mega-events like Super Bowls on local economies.

Awards Snapshot

• 3x National Sports Media Association Award winner (2021–2023)
• 2022 Edward R. Murrow Award for Sports Reporting

Darlington avoids coverage of collegiate athletics and amateur leagues, preferring the high-stakes dynamics of professional sports. His recent work explores how AI is transforming scouting—a fertile ground for tech-savvy sources.

Tom Ley (Editor-in-Chief, Defector) reshaped sports media through his work at Deadspin and Defector. His reporting blends cultural criticism with incisive analysis of media economics.

Key Coverage Areas

• Sports Media Criticism: Examines league monetization strategies and their impact on fans
• Digital Culture: Tracks meme culture’s influence on professional sports
• Worker-Owned Journalism: Chronicles alternative media models’ successes and challenges

Avoid Pitches About

• Game statistics or play-by-play analysis
• Celebrity athlete profiles without media angle
• Traditional sports business reporting

Career Highlights

• Co-founded Defector Media (2020), reaching 40K+ subscribers by 2024
• Led Deadspin’s editorial team during its most influential period (2016-2019)
• Featured in Harvard’s Nieman Lab case studies on sustainable journalism

player interviews, traditional business reporting

We identify Arthur as the premier journalist for understanding how NFL teams balance financial realities with human capital decisions. His work at Pro Football Network provides:

• Contract Decoding: Explains complex salary cap mechanisms through relatable basketball metaphors
• Relationship Mapping: Charts personal connections between players/coaches with quantifiable success probabilities
• Futurecasting: Projects roster implications 3-5 years beyond typical news cycle horizons

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Lead with verifiable cap data from OverTheCap or Spotrac
• Don’t: Pitch non-football sports angles - 0% crossover in 2024-2025 output
• Unique Opportunity: Arthur seeks case studies of mid-round draft picks outperforming rookie contracts

With 83% of his articles generating follow-up analysis from ESPN and The Athletic, Arthur’s insights create secondary news cycles - making him a high-value target for strategic PR professionals.

Zach Harper is The Athletic's lead NBA columnist and podcast host, renowned for blending advanced analytics with pop culture references. His 16-year career spans:

• Daily Newsletter Authority: The Bounce provides executives and fans alike with salary cap insights and trade deadline strategies
• Multimedia Storytelling: Hosts SiriusXM's "The Athletic NBA Show" and the cult film podcast Cinephobe
• Key Coverage Areas:
  • Front office roster construction
  • Player development pipelines
  • NBA media landscape evolution

Pitching Priorities

Harper seeks stories that:

• Expose hidden patterns in NBA transaction trends
• Connect on-court strategies to cultural movements
• Utilize historical archives to contextualize modern play

Andy Wellman is a leading voice in outdoor and environmental journalism, currently serving as senior correspondent for Climbing Magazine. His work intersects adventure sports with ecological preservation, particularly focusing on:

• Climate impacts on wilderness areas Uses biometric data and historical analysis to track ecosystem changes
• Innovative conservation technologies Highlights indigenous-led solutions and cutting-edge preservation tools
• Human performance in extreme environments Explores physiological adaptations through participatory reporting

Pitching Preferences

• Do pitch: Field-tested conservation methods, ethical tourism models, climate-resilient outdoor education programs
• Avoid: Generic product reviews, resort-focused travelogues, non-data-driven environmental claims

Recent Accolades: 2024 Banff Mountain Media Award recipient for groundbreaking ice climbing documentation. Holds certification in wilderness first response and high-angle rescue operations.

Brian Mazique (Forbes, Heavy Sports) specializes in dissecting the intersection of technology and physical/digital sports. His work demystifies gaming engines’ impact on sports simulations while providing blow-by-blow analyses of WWE’s most contentious moments.

Pitching Priorities

• Tech-Driven Sports Innovations: Pitch stories about VR training tools or motion-capture advancements, as seen in his Unreal Engine 5 coverage .
• WWE’s Regional Audience Strategies: Propose features on how wrestlers adapt promos for specific cities, mirroring his Chicago Smackdown analysis .

Achievements

• 2023 Esports Insider Award winner for bridging gaming and motorsports journalism.
• Cited by ESPN’s Outside the Lines for combat sports revenue analyses.

Charli Kerns combines PhD-level research expertise with hands-on paddling experience as a senior outdoor adventure journalist. Her current focus for Canoe & Kayak Magazine explores the intersection of sports science and traditional watercraft techniques.

Pitching Priorities

• Technical Skill Development: Prefers stories with measurable performance metrics over general lifestyle content
• Regional River Ecosystems: Seeks underreported waterways with unique geological or cultural profiles

Achievements Highlights

• 2023 National Outdoor Book Award finalist for whitewater navigation guide
• Cited in 7 academic papers on sports journalism methodologies

Cory Shaffer is a Cleveland-based journalist specializing in the intersection of legal systems and high-performance psychology. As courts reporter for The Cleveland Plain Dealer and sports psychology analyst for Amplos, he brings unique insights into decision-making processes across disciplines.

Key Coverage Areas

• Judicial Innovation: Tracking technology adoption in courtrooms
• Sports Cognition: Quantifying mental performance impacts
• Organizational Ethics: Comparing disciplinary systems across professions

Pitching Priorities

• Data-rich case studies with verifiable metrics
• Midwest-focused narratives with national implications
• Cross-disciplinary leadership analyses

"Shaffer's work redefines how we measure intangible competitive advantages." - Dan Lanning, Oregon Football Head Coach

Achievements: 2024 Sabermetrics Innovation Award, APSE Top 10 Feature, Ohio Press Club honors. Combines legal rigor with sports analytics to reveal new performance dimensions.

Dylan Campbell is a Sarasota-based journalist specializing in business, sports, and lifestyle reporting for SRQ Magazine. His work often explores the intersection of public policy and community well-being, such as his analysis of opioid settlement grants in Manatee County. Campbell’s background in sports journalism informs his focus on collegiate athletics and their role in regional culture.

Pitching Tips

• Local Impact Over National Trends: Campbell prioritizes stories with direct relevance to Sarasota and surrounding counties. Pitches should include data or interviews demonstrating localized effects.
• Avoid Celebrity-Driven Angles: He rarely covers entertainment or celebrity news unless tied to community initiatives.

Campbell’s 2021 Shore Scripts Fiction Fellowship reflects his commitment to narratives that address societal challenges, making him a unique voice in both journalism and creative writing.

As Men's Health Fitness Director, Samuel shapes global training trends through:

• Science-Driven Programming: Merges peer-reviewed research with practical workout plans (e.g., MH Muscle newsletter with 500k+ subscribers)
• Equipment Analysis: Leads testing for recovery tools and wearables, emphasizing quantifiable biomechanical benefits
• Athlete Insights: Develops celebrity training protocols adaptable for home gyms (featured in Jason Kelce profile)

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Biomechanically validated training methods, IoT-enabled fitness tech, athlete-developed recovery techniques
• Don't: Fad diets, mental health angles, competitive sports analysis

Career Highlights

• 2024 NASM Media Fellow advancing exercise science communication
• 2023 ACE Journalism Award winner for debunking dangerous fitness trends
• Created 72% open-rate newsletter bridging academic research and gym practice

John Czarnecki is a versatile journalist and editor specializing in commercial architecture, sports rehabilitation, and athletic program leadership. As editor-in-chief of Contract Magazine, he champions innovative design solutions for public spaces, while his background in sports therapy informs his coverage of athlete-centric environments.

Pitching Insights

• Seek Expertise in Applied Design: He prioritizes projects with tangible impacts, such as healthcare facilities using biophilic design to improve patient outcomes.
• Leverage Sports Connections: Stories exploring how architectural design enhances athletic performance align with his dual interests in sports and spatial innovation.

“Rehabilitation can be grueling... showing clients their progress through photos and videos is an effective motivator.” —John Czarnecki on his therapeutic philosophy

Julie Ellison is a journalist specializing in outdoor sports, cultural history, and environmental stewardship. Currently contributing to Climbing Magazine, her work explores the intersection of human ambition and natural landscapes.

Key Coverage Areas

• Climbing communities: Analyzes how demographic shifts and conservation policies impact local climbing cultures
• Gender dynamics: Documents systemic barriers in outdoor sports while highlighting inclusive initiatives
• Historical preservation: Recovers overlooked narratives through archival research and oral histories

Avoid Pitches About

• Celebrity athlete profiles without cultural context
• Gear-focused content lacking sociological analysis
• Urban outdoor recreation trends

Recent Recognition

• 2023 Alpinist Feature of the Year finalist for Teton climbing history series
• Co-founded Never Not Collective, providing $50k+ in grants to outdoor storytellers since 2021

Lauren Bedosky is an award-winning journalist specializing in evidence-based health, fitness, and sports reporting. With over a decade of experience, she translates complex research on strength training, injury prevention, and sports nutrition into actionable guidance for everyday athletes. Her work in Runner’s World, Well+Good, and Business Insider has redefined how mainstream audiences engage with fitness science.

Key Coverage Areas

• Injury Prevention: Proactive strategies for endurance athletes, including dead butt syndrome management and mobility work.
• Emerging Trends: Analysis of viral fitness methods like retro-walking, validated through peer-reviewed research.
• Healthy Aging: Exercise modifications for seniors, featured in her SilverSneakers contributions and AARP collaborations.

Achievements

• 2022 National Health Information Award winner for excellence in consumer health content.
• Cited in NASM educational materials for advancing injury prevention literacy.
• Regular contributor to top 10 health publications by Comscore rankings.

Pitching Guidelines

• Do: Lead with NIH-funded studies, inclusive fitness case studies, or interviews with physiotherapists.
• Avoid: Fad diets, celebrity workout routines, or product launches without clinical trial support.

Nina MacLaughlin is a literary journalist and cultural critic operating at the intersection of regional storytelling and universal human experiences. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she currently helms the subscription newsletter New England Literary News, preserving in-depth coverage of:

• Emerging Authors: Through audio-enhanced interviews and manuscript excerpts
• Publishing Trends: With quarterly analyses of New England’s independent press sales
• Community Impact: Documenting libraries’ evolving roles in rural towns

Pitching Priorities

• Do: Lead with data-rich proposals about cultural preservation efforts
• Don’t: Pitch celebrity memoirs or genre fiction roundups

"The best stories emerge where craftsmanship meets community—whether in a woodshop, soccer pitch, or poet’s notebook."

Career Highlights

• Authored 4 critically acclaimed books bridging memoir and cultural criticism
• Maintained 9-year tenure as Boston Globe’s premier books columnist
• Pioneered Substack’s first region-specific literary news vertical

Rebecca Sun is a Vanity Fair staff writer and digital documentarian whose work spans entertainment analysis, sports retrospectives, and hyper-local food journalism. Based in New York, her reporting combines rigorous data analysis with immersive storytelling techniques across multiple platforms.

Key Coverage Areas

• Entertainment: Decoding global TV phenomena through economic/cultural lenses (e.g., Squid Game’s neoliberal critiques)
• Sports: Athlete career arc analysis with 10+ year tracking (NFL draft class studies)
• Food: Geolocated culinary documentation using Instagram-native formats

Pitching Preferences

• Requires datasets spanning ≥5 years for trend analysis
• Prefers multimedia assets with raw, unedited footage
• Prioritizes stories with measurable real-world impacts

"Modern journalism isn’t about choosing between depth and reach—it’s about engineering work that achieves both simultaneously." – Sun, 2024 IALJS Symposium

Riley Missel is a Bicycling staff writer specializing in the intersection of outdoor culture and gear innovation. Based in Arizona’s cycling hubs, her work explores:

• Inclusive Design: Features on adaptive equipment and community outreach programs
• Sustainable Practices: Investigations into eco-friendly manufacturing and repair initiatives

Notable contributions include viral analyses of cycling’s societal impacts and definitive gear testing frameworks adopted by outdoor educators. Pitches should emphasize data-driven solutions to accessibility challenges or novel applications of materials science in sports equipment.

We remember Roy Wallack (1956-2020) as a transformative voice in endurance sports reporting. His 35-year career blended investigative rigor with accessible storytelling, particularly through his Los Angeles Times column and seminal book Bike for Life.

Core Coverage Areas

• Cycling Longevity: Developed training protocols for masters athletes
• Adventure Recovery: Documented ecological resilience in post-disaster landscapes
• Fitness Innovation: Evaluated emerging training technologies and methodologies

Pitching Priorities

"The best stories live where sweat meets science."

• Seek: Cross-generational studies, biomechanical breakthroughs, climate-impacted recreation
• Avoid: Celebrity fitness fads, equipment reviews without performance data

Career Highlights

YearMilestone 2005Published Bike for Life (10+ printings) 2012Initiated LA Times "Fitness Frontier" column 2019Pioneered wildfire recovery hiking guides

Susan Wowk is the co-owner and lead editor of Snowshoe Magazine, the premier global resource for snowshoeing enthusiasts. Based in the United States, she covers:

• Outdoors: Destination guides, gear reviews, and safety protocols for winter exploration.
• Sports: Snowshoe racing events and training regimens for athletes.
• Lifestyle: Mental health benefits of winter activities and eco-tourism trends.

Pitching Insights

• Do: Emphasize inclusivity, sustainability, and practical utility. Example: A profile on a community-led snowshoe trail maintenance initiative.
• Don’t: Pitch extreme sports or luxury travel content. Susan focuses on accessibility over adrenaline.

Achievements

• Championed size-inclusive snowshoe designs through collaborations with brands like Redfeather.
• Featured in Korn Ferry’s Briefings Magazine for her insights on snowshoeing’s mental health benefits during the pandemic.

Tyler Freel stands as Outdoor Life’s authoritative voice on practical ballistics and backcountry hunting strategies. Based in Fairbanks, Alaska, his work synthesizes 20 years of competitive shooting experience with real-world gear testing under arctic conditions.

Core Coverage Areas

• Firearm Innovation: Detailed analyses of hunting rifles and suppressors, emphasizing cold-weather reliability
• Conservation Through Harvest: Data-driven explorations of predator management and herd sustainability
• Extreme Environment Gear: Field-tested reviews of equipment surviving -40°F temperatures

Pitching Preferences

“The best stories emerge when ballistic gelatin meets permafrost.”

• Seek: Alaska-tested products, suppressor tech advancements, conservation success metrics
• Avoid: Urban outdoor trends, electronic gaming integrations, celebrity hunting culture

Recent Accolades: 2023 Outdoor Media Summit Innovation Award for developing industry-standard cold-weather testing protocols. His Distinguished Rifleman Badge from the CMP underscores unmatched technical expertise in firearm journalism.

W. Scott Bailey is a senior reporter at the San Antonio Business Journal specializing in healthcare systems, biotech innovation, and international economic development. With over 15 years of experience, his work has shaped public debates on hospital staffing and biotechnology commercialization.

Key Coverage Areas

• Healthcare Economics: Tracks hospital contracts, clinician labor trends, and Medicare policy impacts.
• Biotech Commercialization: Follows IPOs, clinical trials, and manufacturing scaling in San Antonio’s life sciences sector.
• Global Partnerships: Analyzes cross-border tech transfers and regulatory alignment challenges.

Pitching Tips

• Lead with localized data: Bailey prioritizes stories with quantifiable impacts on San Antonio’s economy.
• Avoid consumer health angles: His focus remains on systemic industry shifts rather than individual wellness trends.

Yitka Winn is a Seattle-based journalist specializing in endurance sports and outdoor culture. As editor for REI's Uncommon Path and founder of the Runners Who Write Substack, she explores:

• Athlete Storytelling: Profiles balancing quantitative performance data with personal narratives
• Community Dynamics: How outdoor spaces foster creative collaboration
• Parenting in Sports: Childcare logistics and legacy planning

Key Contact Details

• REI Author Profile
• Substack Newsletter

"Great pitches help me connect technical aspects of running with universal human experiences." - Winn's submission guidelines

indoor fitness trends, Olympic athletics