In the midst of the crazy world we are living in, it continues to get crazier from ESPN’s perspective. If you haven’t heard the news, ESPN had laid off 300 employees and leaving 200 open positions unfilled, many of them being journalistic jobs.
While ESPN continues to be the empire of sports media (Phenom Media soon) many people, including former employee Bob Ley, showcased their frustration towards the situation. He stated the following:
“Trying to remain objective and unemotional as I learn of the ESPN team members laid off today. Not possible. Not as I see countless decades of journalistic experience, and expertise jettisoned. Just when we need it most. Enjoy the DIS stock price and your NFL football.”
While a big reason for these layoffs is because of the global pandemic we are facing, it’s also because of “the tremendous disruption of how fans consume sports.” When I first read that, I stopped. I read that statement over and over again.
“The tremendous disruption of how fans consume sports.”
Then it hit me.
We, the fans, are the ones to blame.
Whether or not you agree with ESPN’s decision, they had no other choice. The way we sports fans consume things is not through long articles, hour-long podcasts, columns, everything that makes not just sports media, but media as a whole so valuable.
And that’s what needs to change.
I, along with others, are along the selective few still remaining in our world that wakes up in the morning, check what has been written on platforms like The Athletic, ESPN, and many more highly valued publications. I love to expand my knowledge on selective issues and news that surface in our world, especially on the sports side of things.
If you’re apart of the selective few who have a passion for journalism, let me tell you: I appreciate you. And we need you. The regression journalism has taken over the last couple of years is saddening, and shouldn’t happen. While a pandemic is going on, ESPN shouldn’t have to let go of some of the most talented writers in the world because of “the tremendous disruption of how fans consume sports.”
Blame ESPN all you want for the layoffs, and while I believe the decision was completely erroneous, I sadly put the blame on:
Us.
Photo: Digiday
