[NU Sports] Michael Knisley, Medill alum, runs new page

[Weinbaum, Willie]

ESPN.COM LAUNCHING NEW WEB PAGE FOR MORE SERIOUS COMMENTARY

By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

ESPN.com today is launching a new commentary page on the site that will include a variety of op-ed pieces from both staff and outside submissions, as well as serving as the regular home for ESPN Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer's columns. The page, to be overseen by Senior Deputy Editor Michael Knisley, will feature the work of ESPN writers Howard Bryant, Gene Wojciechowski and LZ Granderson, among others. The page, serving as the area for the outlet's more serious commentary, will also include a heavy use of multimedia components such as video segments and podcasts.

"We're definitely looking to get at the complexity of the sports world and provide perspective and context, do so with many different voices, and really stretch the definition of what the op-ed is," said ESPN.com VP & Editor-in-Chief Rob King. The move comes as ESPN.com and other established sports sites face increased competition from more political outposts such as The Huffington Post and Politico, which have increased their attention to sports. King said those sites did not factor in the creation of the ESPN commentary page, and that its effort had been in development for many months.

ESPN.com additionally has launched a redesigned Page 2 that includes a blog-style format that in part is designed to promote more repeat visits from users each day.