Mike Esposito
Astoria, New York
As seen in:
Fandom,
Sports Illustrated,
The Indiegogo Review,
CBR,
The Duel,
WardsAuto,
12up,
FantasyPros,
Food Processing (U.S.),
Franchising.com
and
Covers:
Sports news and opinion, preferably about Major League Baseball, the NFL, fantasy football and Major League Soccer. Parody pieces and script writing are also within my ability.
Doesn't Cover:
Anything outside of the world of sports, but I believe I'm capable of covering anything if given the opportunity.
Highly opinionated New York sports nut and tuxedo football enthusiast.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I interned for 12up.com, covering breaking news and writing opinion pieces about a variety of sports.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No.
How is social media changing news?
It allows for breaking news to be reported quicker and allows for unique insight into both the subject of the news and the writer themselves.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Kent Brockman
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means not only painting an accurate picture of a subject, but reporting from a perspective that makes a piece stand out above the rest.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#SecondCivilWar courtesy of an Alex Jones InfoWars conspiracy. Some of the fake letters from the battlefront people tweeted were amazing
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I prefer to be pitched a topic and be given free reign to write the article from a chosen perspective.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
WordPress, Microsoft Word, Chorus, several sports databases, Twitter and Reddit.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
Any respected sports journalist who believes that my work is worth reading and sharing with their following.
Why did you become a journalist?
Writing came naturally to me and the opportunity to tell a story to a receptive audience is exciting and rewarding.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No. I didn't realize that journalism was the career path I wished to pursue as an adult.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My pieces on the deaths of two MLB pitchers. It allowed me to reveal how much of an impact they had and why they'll be missed going forward
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep trying to better yourself and plugging away. This is a competitive industry and only those with drive can get in and succeed.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I'm accessible any time between 5:00am and 10:00pm ET.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Writing about the Reddit rebellion in r/NewYorkMets. It was a fun piece to write due to the humorous nature of the subject.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Reporting a failed Trump rally by Curt Schilling. It was a struggle putting together a piece that wouldn't step on anyone's toes.
What's your favorite drink?
Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Most likely out on the soccer field or running around my neighborhood. I like to stay active in my spare time.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Sports Illustrated.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That we're a bunch of dumb jocks. Sports journalism requires knowledge of several subjects off the field. ex: Kneeling during the anthem.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.