Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic
Leon H. Carter

Leon H. Carter

Hartford,CT

Summary

Editorial leader with extensive experience at The Athletic Media Company, specializing in talent recruitment and content strategy. Proven success in developing future leaders through targeted initiatives. Achievements include driving award-winning coverage at New York Daily News, demonstrating strong leadership and editorial oversight in a competitive environment.

Overview

44
44
years of professional experience

Work History

Editor at Large

The Athletic Media Company
New York, New York
05.2023 - Current
  • Works closely with the editor to identify, recruit and evaluate talent.
  • Interviews potential candidates for reporting, editing, audio, audience and social positions.
  • Oversees the Leon H. Carter Newsroom Internship Program.
  • Develops a plan to improve managers' leadership skills.

Editorial Director

The Athletic Media Company
New York, New York
02.2021 - 05.2023
  • Worked closely with CEO and co-founder Adam Hansmann to implement the strategy and goals of a 4-year-old company. The main goal was to become profitable.
  • Oversaw the Talent & Development department that improved stories for publication, particularly with our younger writers.

Vice President

ESPN
New York, New York
03.2010 - 01.2021
  • Helped create, develop and launch ESPNNewYork.com. Recruited top talent. The site became ESPN’s most successful among the five locals. The site also won two national writing awards (APSE).
  • Assisted in the early stages of The Undefeated in 2015.
  • Oversaw our first efforts in personalization content in 2016.
  • Oversaw SportsCenter overnight on ESPN Radio.

Executive Sports Editor

New York Daily News
New York, New York
09.1999 - 03.2010
  • Led an award-winning staff of writers and editors in a highly competitive market. Staff led coverage of steroids in baseball and provided top-notch beat coverage of pro teams.
  • Staff won numerous national writing and section awards. In 2001, the section won the coveted Triple Crown from the APSE, voted among the best in the Sunday, Daily and Special Sections.

Deputy Sports Editor

New York Daily News
New York, New York
10.1996 - 09.1999

Assistant Sports Editor

New York Daily News
New York, New York
01.1994 - 10.1996

Freedom Forum Journalist-in-Residence

Norfolk State University
Norfolk, Virginia
09.1992 - 01.1994
  • Taught and mentored young journalists.
  • Helped create the Sports Journalism Institute.

Copy Editor

Newsday
Long Island , NY
01.1984 - 09.1992

Copy Editor

Louisville Courier Journal
Louisville, Kentucky
06.1981 - 01.1984

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism And Mass Communication

Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA
06-1981

Skills

  • Leadership
  • Editorial oversight
  • Content strategy
  • Editing
  • Talent recruitment
  • Diversity

Accomplishments

· 2009: NABJ Legacy Award.

· 2015: Honor Medal for Distinguished Service from the Missouri School of Journalism.

· 2022: The Red Smith Award, regarded as the highest sports journalism honor in the country, from APSE. Carter became only the third African American journalist to receive this award, joining Sam Lacy and Wendell Smith.

· 2023: The Roone Arledge Award for Innovation from the National Sports Media Association.

· 2023: The Legends Award from Norfolk State University.

· 2023-24: The Athletic announced the Leon H. Carter Newsroom Internship Program.

  • 2025: Inducted into the NABJ Hall of Fame.

Timeline

Editor at Large

The Athletic Media Company
05.2023 - Current

Editorial Director

The Athletic Media Company
02.2021 - 05.2023

Vice President

ESPN
03.2010 - 01.2021

Executive Sports Editor

New York Daily News
09.1999 - 03.2010

Deputy Sports Editor

New York Daily News
10.1996 - 09.1999

Assistant Sports Editor

New York Daily News
01.1994 - 10.1996

Freedom Forum Journalist-in-Residence

Norfolk State University
09.1992 - 01.1994

Copy Editor

Newsday
01.1984 - 09.1992

Copy Editor

Louisville Courier Journal
06.1981 - 01.1984

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism And Mass Communication

Norfolk State University

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE