Senior Publicist

Senior Publicist

Job
Location Bristol, Connecticut, United States
Business ESPN

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.

ESPN’s Communications team plays a vital role in developing messaging, launching new products and content offerings, managing issues, guiding executive visibility, and protecting and elevating the brand as ESPN continues to transform the fan experience and expand its leadership in the sports marketplace.

The Senior Publicist, ESPN DTC, Streaming & Research will support communications strategy for ESPN’s digital products, including its direct‑to‑consumer service and the leading ESPN App, ESPN on Disney+, and more, while 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, viewership milestones, and industry storylines. The Senior Publicist will also support issue and crisis communications as 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, 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 work streams simultaneously.

This position is based in Bristol, Conn.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…