Menu
Power Players

Power Players: Communicators & Storytellers

In a world where effective messaging and communication is more critical than ever, the ability to artfully craft and distribute a story is vital. That means communication specialists have a much larger role, with significant influence in shaping an organization’s agenda, strategy, tactics and public persona.

Over the years, sports has seen a specialization in the role of PR professionals. It’s about shaping the news cycle, selecting the proper distribution platforms and having the ear of and access to the leaders who articulate the message. Again, it’s back to storytelling, with more tools than ever at their disposal to tell, shape and spread the story.

Here are a number of top storytellers and communication specialists who influence much of the messaging we see today in sports — from teams, leagues, governing bodies and brands.

MEDIA
Jennifer Sabatelle, CBS Sports
Greg Hughes, NBC Sports Group
Chris LaPlaca, ESPN
Sal Petruzzi, Turner Broadcasting System

LEAGUES
Dan Courtemanche, MLS
Chris Widmaier, U.S. Tennis Association
Mike Bass, NBA
Joe Lockhart, NFL
Pat Courtney, MLB
Bob Williams, NCAA
Patrick Sandusky, U.S. Olympic Committee

BRANDS
Meier Raivich, Fanatics
Diane Pelkey, Under Armour

TEAMS
Staci Slaughter, San Francisco Giants
Jason Zillo, New York Yankees
Stacey James, New England Patriots
Raymond Ridder, Golden State Warriors
Rich Dalrymple, Dallas Cowboys

AGENCIES
Ari Fleischer, Ari Fleischer Sports Communications / Sandy Montag, The Montag Group
Alice McGillion, Rubenstein Associates
Ann Wool, Ketchum Sports & Entertainment
Mary Scott, United Entertainment Group
Joe Favorito, Joe Favorito Consulting
Steve Brener, Brener Zwikel & Associates
Melissa Zukerman, Principal Communications Group
Peter Land, Finsbury
Matthew Hiltzik, Hiltzik Strategies

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2017/09/25/Power-Players/Introduction.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2017/09/25/Power-Players/Introduction.aspx

CLOSE