Sports Business Journal media reporter John Ourand is departing the outlet for a new opportunity with Puck News.
Sports Business Journal Publisher and Executive Editor Abe Madkour released a memo to staffers revealing Ourand’s departure after 17 years with the outlet.
“John Ourand will be leaving Sports Business Journal at the end of the year and will join Puck News. Ever since John Ourand walked out of the third-floor elevator when he came to Charlotte for his first interview with SBJ in 2006, I was fond of him. He came from CableFax Daily and spoke a language of a cable trade that at first, I couldn’t figure out.
“But we immediately wanted to hire him because what is not to like? He’s incredibly kind, charming, funny, smart and curious. He instantly started breaking news at SBJ; I recall he was on the front page his first week, and he kept fighting for the front page week in and week out,” Madkour wrote.
“He was that good right away, and he only got better. He was the consummate SBJ reporter and teammate. He was collaborative, he was tough, he had great sources, he had integrity, fairness and did it the right way. He became the BEST sports media reporter in the world, and he kept wanting to do more. We pushed him to do the first SBJ newsletter and he quickly made that a must read in the business every Monday night. He and Andrew Marchand from the New York Post quickly made The Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast a must-listen at the highest levels of sports business.
“We will all miss John’s talent, energy, professionalism, humor and unbelievable contributions that have helped SBJ reach the success it has. John Ourand is an incredibly talented, kind person who helped us all be better. We wish him the best in the future and know he will continue to thrive and we all will be watching and reading.”
