Award-winning journalist Sam Borden has joined ESPN as a writer and television contributor. Borden, who joins ESPN from The New York Times, will focus on enterprise and investigative work around international sports, largely contributing to coverage surrounding major global football leagues and competitions including FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championships, the Premier League, Champions League and more. In addition, he will contribute to ESPN coverage of the Olympics and major cricket, rugby, golf and tennis competitions. His written work will appear on ESPNFC and ESPN.com and ESPN app editions globally, and he will also appear on SportsCenter, E:60, Outside The Lines, and various ESPNFC programs.
Most recently, Borden was the first foreign correspondent in the sports section of The New York Times, based in Paris.
A graduate of Emory University, Borden began his career as the Yankees beat writer for the New York Daily News, and paved his journalism career with stints at the Florida Times-Union, The Journal News, and then The New York Times, where he worked for five years. He was heavily involved in the Times’ investigative efforts in the FIFA corruption scandals, and has covered all manner of global sport throughout his career.
“As we grow both our global coverage and audience, Sam’s vast experience and deep insight on major international sports will add to the depth and breadth of the excellent work being done around the world,” said Patrick Stiegman, vice president, ESPN global digital content. “We’ve admired his work for many years, and we are thrilled to have him join our strong contingent of enterprise reporters at ESPN.”
Borden added, “Having the chance to work with such a dynamic group of people that has such grand ambition about impact journalism and rich storytelling is inspiring, and I’m really excited to jump into the mix. ESPN is committed to that excellence across TV and digital, and I’m looking forward to contributing.”
Borden has had his work featured in The Best American Sports Writing Series on several occasions — most recently in the 2015 edition — and was named the No. 1 sports columnist in New York (in his circulation category) in the 2007-08 New York Associated Press Association contest. He has won six awards in the Associated Press Sports Editors annual writing contests, including one in each year he served as a foreign correspondent.
Previously based in Europe, Borden now resides in Connecticut.
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