Raina Kelley, the longtime editor-in-chief and vice president of Andscape, a website dedicated to covering the intersection of Black culture and sports, is reportedly set to leave ESPN to take a position with another company.
According to a report from Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, ESPN Executive Vice President of Programming and Acquisitions Rosalyn Durant sent an internal memo to network staffers on Friday detailing the move.
Andscape has been in existence since 2016. Kelley was its third leader throughout its seven-year history under ESPN. She first began her stint with the outlet as its managing editor and took over as editor-in-chief and vice president in 2021 when Kevin Merida departed to become the executive editor of the Los Angeles Times. The website was known as The Undefeated until it was rebranded in 2022 as a multifaceted vertical for the company, operating as an editorial unit, book publishing firm, music publishing group and film and television division.
“Andscape, like The Undefeated before it, is a groundbreaking Black brand, a 24/7 multi-platform media venture curated for the infinite reflections of Black identity,” Raina Kelley said in a statement at the time. “We are disrupting the space with a broad, deep, and real representation of the Black experience.
“This is a place for folks to lean into all facets of their identity–all of their ‘ANDs’–and experience an extensive and inclusive view of the Black landscape. With visionary artists, writers, thinkers, and creatives contributing to all aspects of Andscape, our audience will be captivated and inspired by how we connect with them and how they connect with us.”
The nature surrounding Kelly’s departure remains unknown, nor has her final day on the job been revealed. Sources tell Front Office Sports that Andscape is expected to survive as a multimedia platform as a previously scheduled town hall meeting approaches.
