Senior Publicist

ESPN Communications is a collaborative, fast-paced, and highly strategic organization responsible for shaping and amplifying the company’s narrative across all platforms – linear, digital, audio, streaming, social, and corporate. The team supports every major ESPN business and works closely with partners across The Walt Disney Company, including Disney Entertainment, Product & Technology, Corporate Communications, Platform Distribution, and Marketing.

As ESPN continues transforming the fan experience and expanding its leadership in the sports marketplace, the Communications team plays a central role in developing messaging, launching new products and content offerings, managing issues, guiding executive visibility, and protecting and elevating the brand.

About the Role

The Senior Publicist, ESPN DTC, Streaming & Research will support communications strategy for ESPN’s digital products, including its direct-to-consumer service and the industry-leading ESPN App, ESPN on Disney+, and more, while also contributing to communications for ESPN’s Digital Research, performance, and measurement leadership.

This role executes strategic communications plans including proactive media outreach across tech, business, sports, and consumer press, and manages press materials, messaging, and executive briefings tied to product launches and innovations, viewership milestones, and industry storylines. The Senior Publicist will also support issue and crisis communications when needed and serve as a liaison to cross-functional partners in Product & Technology, Research, Marketing, and Disney’s DTC communications teams.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer, a proactive storyteller, and someone who can simplify complex product features and data into compelling narratives for both internal and external audiences. They must be comfortable working in a high-visibility environment, anticipating press and stakeholder needs, and managing multiple priority workstreams simultaneously.

This position is based in Bristol, Conn.

Responsibilities

Direct-to-Consumer & Streaming

• Serve as a key communications contact for ESPN’s DTC business, including the ESPN App, ESPN on Disney+, and ongoing product enhancements.
• Pitch and promote product launches, app features (e.g., personalization tools, AI-driven experiences), executive perspectives, and core streaming innovations.
• Execute strategic publicity campaigns to support fan experience features, product tentpoles, and major company announcements.
• Draft press releases, messaging docs, executive Q&A, FAQs, pitch notes, press event materials, internal comms, and storytelling assets.
• Collaborate closely with partners across ESPN Product & Technology, Digital Programming, and Disney Entertainment to align messaging and anticipate press needs.
• Embrace a 360-communications approach, creating multimedia assets and supporting content for ESPN Front Row and internal audiences.

Digital Research & Measurement

• Support communications efforts around ESPN’s digital performance, engagement milestones, measurement innovation, and audience insights.
• Work closely with the Research team to translate data into clear storylines for media, executives, and cross-functional partners.
• Draft regular digital research notes, trend explainers, data contextualization, and supporting materials for high-profile events and seasons.
• Monitor industry news across measurement, streaming trends, digital consumption, and marketplace shifts – advising executives of implications.

Ongoing Communications Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with reporters across business, tech, consumer, sports, and streaming media.
• Support issue management and crisis response related to product performance, fan experience, ratings, or industry developments.
• Build targeted media lists, manage inquiries, and craft tailored pitches that secure meaningful coverage.
• Contribute to internal and external messaging on key issues.

• Prepare executives for interviews, panels, and briefings with concise, well-structured materials.
• Generate regular story ideas and creative ways to communicate product and data narratives.
• Monitor press coverage, industry movement, competitive trends, and major marketplace shifts.

Required Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of experience in communications, PR, or media relations.
• Exceptional writing skills and proven ability to manage high-stakes, deadline-driven communications.
• Understanding of the streaming ecosystem, digital user experiences, and/or sports media landscape.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with executives, partners, and media.
• Comfort working in a 24/7 news cycle and supporting early mornings, nights, or weekends as needed.
• Proficient with media monitoring tools, Boolean search, digital platforms, and basic design or video editing tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in communications or PR supporting streaming, sports, technology, media, or digital products.
• Familiarity with ESPN’s brand, sports fans, and the wider Disney ecosystem.
• Experience supporting product/tech communications or corporate storytelling around innovation, data, or analytics.
• Ability to understand and explain ratings, audience measurement, and data-driven insights.
• A genuine passion for sports and entertainment, with an understanding of how fans engage with content across platforms.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, PR, Journalism, Marketing, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.

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