Former WaPo Reporter Ben Strauss Says His New Team at ESPN Wants to Do More ‘Big Journalism Swing Stories’

Key Takeaways

• ESPN hires ex‑WaPo team for investigative reporting.
• Leadership pledges appetite for “big swing” journalism stories.
• Recent hires include Roxanna Scott and Dan Wetzel.
• Past cuts removed investigative shows amid cord‑cutting.
• Success depends on monetizing long‑form investigations.

Summary

Ben Strauss, a former Washington Post media reporter, has joined ESPN as an investigative journalist alongside several ex‑WaPo colleagues who were recently laid off. ESPN executives, including chair Jimmy Pitaro, say the network is eager to pursue "big journalism swing" stories and is expanding its enterprise reporting unit. The move follows a series of high‑profile hires such as Roxanna Scott and Dan Wetzel and the revival of The Sports Reporters on YouTube. Analysts see this as a potential reversal of past cuts to ESPN's investigative programming.

Pulse Analysis

ESPN’s latest talent acquisition underscores a strategic pivot toward heavyweight sports journalism. By bringing Ben Strauss and his former Washington Post peers into the newsroom, the network signals a commitment to investigative storytelling that goes beyond game recaps. This aligns with recent leadership hires—Roxanna Scott as editor‑in‑chief and Dan Wetzel as a senior columnist—creating a layered editorial hierarchy capable of tackling complex issues such as athlete exploitation, labor disputes, and cultural shifts within sports. The move also revives the spirit of legacy programs like The Sports Reporters, giving reporters a broader platform across digital and video channels.

The decision arrives against a backdrop of industry‑wide challenges in funding deep‑dive reporting. Cord‑cutting and declining cable carriage have historically forced ESPN to trim its long‑form units, including the shutdown of Outside the Lines and E60 documentaries. Investigative pieces often require months of research, legal vetting, and multi‑platform distribution, making them costly to produce while offering limited immediate ad revenue. Yet, the growing appetite for trustworthy, narrative‑driven content among cord‑shave audiences and subscription‑based services suggests a viable path: leveraging investigative series to drive subscriber growth, premium sponsorships, and cross‑platform engagement.

If ESPN can successfully monetize these investigations—through branded content, exclusive streaming deals, or subscription tiers—it could set a new benchmark for sports broadcasters. A robust investigative arm may attract talent, deepen audience trust, and differentiate ESPN from competitors that rely heavily on highlights and opinion. Moreover, high‑impact stories can generate social media buzz, influencing public discourse around sports governance and ethics. In this evolving media landscape, ESPN’s gamble on big‑swing journalism could redefine the value proposition of sports news, blending traditional reporting rigor with modern digital monetization strategies.