Carmelo Anthony, former NBA star and Hall of Famer is stepping into a new role as a podcast host. His show, “7 PM in Brooklyn” was nominated for a Webby Award for Best Podcast for Sports.
Former athletes like Anthony are no longer just the subjects of interviews and analysis. They are now creators, commentators and entrepreneurs, using platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and podcasting to drive the discussions around sports culture.
Deron Snyder, a journalist and professor at Howard University, sees this transition as the result of larger changes brought on by the social media age.
“It’s an outgrowth of the internet and social media,” Snyder said. “Before, traditional media was the only way for athletes to reach mass audiences. Now, they can go straight to the people themselves.”
It’s a significant shift, changing not only how sports stories are told but who gets to tell them.
From Gilbert Arenas’ “Gil’s Arena” to Cam Newton’s “Funky Friday” podcasts, former athletes are leaning into raw storytelling, personal experiences and unfiltered opinions that legacy media can interpret.
Fans, in turn, are responding with enthusiasm. “Gil’s Arena” has raked in over 1.03 million subscribers on Apple Podcasts and Funky Friday surpassed 1 million YouTube views in its first year.
Snyder, who has written for outlets such as The Grio and The Washington Times, said the emergence of athlete-led platforms has created conflict within traditional journalism. While it gives players more freedom to tell their stories, it also creates challenges for aspiring journalists trying to establish their voices in the field.
“There used to be more space for journalists on these shows and platforms,” Snyder said. “Now, you’re more likely to see sets stacked with former players. That cuts into opportunities, especially for young people coming up in the industry.”
ESPN’s wave of layoffs in 2023 underscored that reality as roughly 20 on-air talents were let go to cut back on costs, according to CNN. Trained journalists such as Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were replaced by former NBA athlete and coach Doc Rivers alongside sports analyst Doris Burke.
Snyder believes that while athletes bring credibility, that alone does not guarantee better content.
“It all comes down to the reporting and writing,” he said. “Having played doesn’t mean you automatically tell a better story. It’s still about doing the work.”
For young journalists, especially student reporters and recent graduates, the rise of athlete-led media presents significant challenges as they navigate a landscape where fame can overshadow formal training and building trust and credibility is harder without name recognition.
Jeff Jones, a senior journalism major, sees athlete-driven media as a fresh challenge for journalists.
“I got into sports journalism because I love storytelling, especially the kind that happens around sports,” Jones said. “Athletes bring a real, lived perspective different from traditional reporting. It pushes all of us to be more authentic and connect with audiences in a new way.”
Snyder acknowledges the unique value that athletes bring when they use their firsthand experience to explain what’s happening beyond the scoreboard.
“There’s freedom there,” he said. “They’ve never had that before, and I’m not mad at them for using it.”
Snyder believes the key to success in the industry is adaptability and the ability to build something for one’s self.
“The most important skill now is figuring out how to monetize your work,” he said. “Whether it’s building your own brand or finding partnerships that value your reporting, you have to be willing to work under your banner if necessary.”
Armani Clark-Bey, a junior broadcast journalism major and founder of TALK2BHEARD podcast, shared his thoughts on the changing landscape of sports journalism.
“I started my podcast because I wanted to give my takes on sports and report on what I was seeing firsthand,” he said. “There’s space for everybody. The opportunities are endless if you’re good, whether you’re an athlete or a journalist.”
The fundamental attraction of sports media remains the same. People love sports, and they want compelling stories. Clark-Bey believes that both journalists and former athletes can contribute in different ways.
“Athletes might lead commentary or do analysis, but you don’t see a lot of them out in the field reporting stories or covering games,” he said. “Journalism takes a different kind of grind. There’s space for reporters and building trust with audiences.”
While the presence of athletes in the media may change traditional sports journalism, it also presents a challenge that could push the next generation to become more creative. Whether it’s through TikTok, newsletters, blogs or independent YouTube shows, young writers are finding ways to make their voices heard, even if they’ve never played a professional game.
“I think there’s room for all of us,” Snyder said. “It’s a big pie. Everybody wants a bigger slice, but there’s space for those willing to do the work.”
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
