ESPN launches ESPN Front Row corporate blog March 30

ESPN announced its launch of ESPN Front Row, a corporate blog run by its communications department that will give fans a chance to see inside operations at ESPN as well as discuss certain internal issues when they become newsworthy (or, you know, controversial). The blog is intended to give ESPN a little more transparency, and we’ll have to see how they do when the first PR firestorm gets ignited. Together with the recent announcement that the Poynter Institute will handle ombudsman duties, ESPN seems to be getting itself in line to handle any fallout from the release of James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales’ tell-all book about ESPN, Those Guys Have All the Fun, on May 25. (I did an interview with Miller last week about the book, and you’ll be able to read it in the May issue of Channel Guide Magazine and on this blog at a later date.) Is ESPN gearing up to handle any negative press that might arise from the book, or are they simply trying to get their version of what really goes on at Bristol out there in the open? Either way, fans will benefit from what we hope is some good behind-the-scenes insight.

Press release announcement from ESPN:

ESPN to Launch New Corporate Blog – March 30

ESPNFrontRow.com to Offer Window into ESPN; Address Company Questions on Key Issues; Two-Way Communication

ESPN announced the launch of its new corporate blog site, ESPNFrontRow.com, which will debut Wednesday, March 30.

The new blog, to be updated daily, will be managed by the Communications department, and be a collaborative effort among the company’s key personnel — meaning it will feature a variety of voices, opinions, and insights.  Topics will focus on ESPN news and people, the employee experience, behind-the-scenes activity and will serve as a platform to address select company issues that are making news.  ESPNFrontRow.com will feature a comment-posting functionality to allow two-way communication.

Sheldon Spencer, a journalist with more than 25 years of experience, will serve as the site’s primary voice.  Spencer, most recently an NFL editor for ESPN.com, working with NFL blogs, served as a staff writer for the National Sports Daily (1990-91), Seattle Post-Intelligencer (1991-96) and the San Jose Mercury News (1997-2000).

As a more informal and personal source of news and insights than a traditional website,  ESPNFrontRow.com will engage readers with both personality and authority as a source of information, photos, video and more.  The blog will feature posts that attempt to educate the consumer as well as entertain them.

Opening Day, ESPNFrontRow.com will launch with a collection of real time photos that depict “A Day in The Life” at ESPN.

“The goal for ESPNFrontRow.com is to provide fans a window into ESPN,” said Mike Soltys, ESPN vice president, communications, U.S. networks.  “We will provide credible, relevant, informative and fun content that will take readers inside ESPN.”

Consumers will be able to access the site directly at www.espnfrontrow.com or via links on ESPN.com and ESPNMediazone.com home pages.  Posts on the site will also be distributed via social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter.

About Ryan Berenz 2166 Articles
Member of the Television Critics Association. Charter member of the Ancient and Mystic Society of No Homers. Squire of the Ancient & Benevolent Order of the Lynx, Lodge 49, Long Beach, Calif. Costco Wholesale Gold Star Member since 2011.