AnnouncementsESPNESPN The Magazine

Get to know ESPN.com’s first female MLB deputy editor, Cristina Daglas

Cristina Daglas (second from left, foreground) is ESPN.com's  new MLB editor. (Courtesy of Cristina Daglas)
Cristina Daglas (second from left, foreground) is ESPN.com’s new MLB deputy editor.
(Photo courtesy of Cristina Daglas)
Vice President, Editorial Director, Domestic Digital Content,
Chad Millman, on Daglas’ new role:

“Cristina is a fantastic talent who has a knack for not just coming up with big ideas, but making them happen as well. We’re thrilled she’s going to apply those skills and bring that entrepreneurial spirit to her new role as our lead MLB editor.”

Chicago native (and Cubs fan) Cristina Daglas begins her new role as ESPN.com’s MLB deputy editor today. She is the first female to have that job.

Daglas joined ESPN in 2014 as a senior editor at ESPN The Magazine where she primarily covered the NFL, but also logged time with college hoops, NBA, MLB and many stories that didn’t fall neatly in a sports group.

Daglas is excited to join ESPN.com’s MLB team and continue telling stories in new and innovative ways, she tells Front Row.

What has contributed to your success in reaching this milestone?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my career. At every stage, people have been willing to take chances on me, despite my age, gender or hometown. I edited Milwaukee Magazine as a native Chicagoan when I was 27 years old. They brought me on in Dallas [at D Magazine] at 29. Running two city books before 30 was an honor. But every step along the way, people have been able to see my passion for the field and energy for whichever subject matter I’m diving into.

Cristina Daglas (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)
Cristina Daglas
(Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

What excited you most about this new role?
Baseball is a sport in transition, with a vibrant youth movement and aggravated traditionalists. They’re experimenting with social media, they’re battling PEDs (again), we’re seeing teams tank and continue to use analytics in interesting ways. And I want our coverage to reflect that. I’m looking forward to collaborating with all of our unparalleled talent, from analysts and writers to editors, TV, radio, etc.

What mentors have helped you in your career at ESPN?
I’ve had incredible mentors throughout the years. Betty Quadracci, of Quad/Graphics fame, gave me my start back in Milwaukee. Here at ESPN, [Vice President, Editorial Director, Domestic Digital Content] Chad Millman, [Executive Editor], Scott Burton and Neely Lohmann [senior deputy editor] were wonderful to work with at The Magazine and learn from day to day. And Mary Byrne [ESPN.com senior deputy editor] was my first introduction to dotcom, which quickly got me hooked. I learned so much working with her this past season on NFL, and I’m looking forward to learning more. As far as pure inspiration, that’s watching [ESPN MLB analyst] Jessica Mendoza on Sunday Night Baseball. She’s so sharp.

Have you experienced challenges as a woman in sports?
I’ve faced discrimination, in some capacity, at every stage of my career, but in no place have I seen it as severe as I have in sports. Within the walls of ESPN, there are no problems, but the reactions that people have to women in this field are astounding. Watching that #MoreThanMean video was uncomfortable and upsetting, which is a testament to just how effective it was.

What has been your favorite moment in baseball this season?
It has been an absolute joy to watch the Cubs. They’re fantastic on the field and so fun off of it. But the competition is there, they have injuries, and they’ve got bats that need to heat up. There will be plenty to keep things interesting.

Back to top button