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Sports journalist John Orlando.
new york
CNN
—
Pac is stepping into the sports arena.
The trending digital subscription publication, which gives readers an inside look at the media, technology and political sectors and the ego-obsessed giants who lead them, told CNN on Monday that it has named veteran journalists as leaders in the new sports field. He said he has hired John Woolland. The outlet will be the company’s first foray into the vast and lucrative business of empowering leagues and athletes.
Mr. Ourand joins Puck after 18 years at Sports Business Journal. There he has been widely regarded as one of the industry’s premier reporters covering the intersection of sports and business.
SBJ Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Abraham D. Madkoul said in a memo to staff on Monday that he was “personally devastated” to announce Orlando’s departure, but that his “personal… “Disappointment” was overshadowed by “joy that John was so excited,” he said. For your next opportunity with the pack. ”
“It took a great opportunity” for him to leave SBJ, Orlando said in a statement. “I’m already a big fan of pack reporters like Matt Belloni and Bill Cohan, and I can’t wait to work with them.” I can’t do it,” he added. with them. ”
Puck is primarily powered by the twin engines of subscription and advertising revenue streams, and sees a huge opportunity in expanding into sports.
“The business of sports is a $5 trillion enterprise, from leagues and agencies to media deals and marketing structures,” Pack co-founder and founding editor-in-chief John Kelly told CNN in a statement. .
“John Woolland is at the heart of it all, and his reporting and analysis are essential tools for understanding industry changes, deal flows and the players who dominate the space,” Kelly added. . “I have been a fan of his for many years and am now thrilled to call him my partner.”
Through his steady writing of various scoops and topical articles, Puck has attracted the attention of prominent industry figures who read the outlet’s coverage with great interest. Despite her fewer than 50 employees, Puck has been highly successful in journalism, often breaking important stories ahead of traditional newsrooms.
When the publication launched in 2021, Kelly envisioned the startup as a place that blended the freedom of Substack with the resources of established news organizations.
Many of Puck’s journalists also boast significant personal brands, are partners in businesses, and receive a portion of the revenue from other business ventures, such as subscriptions and live events. Pac doesn’t disclose subscriber numbers, but this summer it raised $13 million in a Series B growth round that valued the company at more than $70 million, people familiar with the matter said.