Richard Deitsch is adding a new chapter to his sports media career, joining Sports Business Journal as a special contributor beginning in 2026.
The move was announced by SBJ and later confirmed by Deitsch in a social media post reflecting on the significance of the opportunity. In his new role, Deitsch will write a monthly print feature for the Journal. He will also contribute select news items to its daily coverage. Additionally, he will make occasional appearances on the SBJ Sports Media Podcast with Austin Karp.
For Deitsch, the addition carries personal meaning. In his post, he noted that seeing his reporting cited by Sports Business Journal over the years represented one of the “small thrills” of covering sports media, calling SBJ a national publication long recognized for its quality journalism, insight, and industry events.
Professionally, the move aligns two established brands in sports business and media coverage. Deitsch brings nearly two decades of experience reporting on the intersection of sports, media rights, broadcasting, and on-air talent. Most recently, he served as a senior writer at The Athletic.
Prior to The Athletic, Deitsch spent more than a decade at Sports Illustrated, helping define sports media coverage as a beat rather than a sidebar. Across both outlets, he built a reputation for blending reporting with context. He often explained not just what happened, but why it mattered inside newsrooms and boardrooms.
That skill set fits neatly within SBJ’s media coverage. While the publication is best known for reporting on rights deals, valuations and executive movement, Deitsch’s contributions will add focus on personalities, programming decisions and editorial strategies driving the business forward.
In his announcement, Deitsch emphasized that his role at SBJ will complement, not replace, the work of existing media reporters, including Karp and Josh Carpenter. He also clarified that his independently produced Sports Media Podcast will continue as usual, likely reassuring longtime listeners.
Deitsch also teased that his first SBJ feature will spotlight one of the most respected on-air figures in sports. This signals that his storytelling approach will remain people-focused, even within a business framework.
For Sports Business Journal, the addition reinforces a commitment to depth and credibility. For Deitsch, it provides a platform closely aligned with the evolution of the beat he helped shape.
