ESPN made history last night, as over 40 of its African-American employees worked together to broadcast the company’s midweek NBA matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks. Coverage was led by an all-Black staff in all key positions, including production, operations, transmission, social media, graphics, stats, commentators, and more.
Mark Jones and Richard Jefferson called the game with Lisa Salters providing sideline coverage. It was produced by the duo Rodney Vaughn and Paul Ervin. The former shared his excitement for the evening.
“I’m thrilled that this broadcast can inspire young people dreaming of a career in sports broadcasting while also bringing together so many talented industry professionals,” said Vaughn. “It feels like we are creating Black history in real time.”
According to Sports Business Journal, ESPN started developing the plan last spring, with executives saying the conversations developed organically. ESPN also partnered with Clark Atlanta University to give students of the university’s Mass Media program a behind-the-scenes look at ESPN’s mobile units on-site.
“The NBA is always a sport where 70-80% of the participants are African-American, at the table, calling the games on the sidelines, has always been a really good presence,” Vaughn added. “You’re going to see a lot of that history come to life.”
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