Adapting to the Changing Landscape: The Future of Sports Journalism in the Age of AI and Fan-Led Content

The fabled New York Times sports desk is no more, causing many to proclaim doom and gloom for sports journalism. But in many ways, this is a greater opportunity than a moment of sadness.

Earlier this year, I visited New York City with my sister. It was our first time together back in the city that we grew up in since 2002. As we were going around Manhattan and doing all the activities we set out to do, we passed by a building and I had to stop. It was the New York Times Building. The New York Times is, for anyone in their 30s and older, an institution. A dream job for any aspiring writer.

As an aspiring sports writer, I have always had a level of reverence and respect for anyone that graced the pages of the Times sports section. More so than any other newspaper, the New York Times always seemed to be able to attract the most talented writers, and if you fashioned yourself as a talented writer you wanted to work there. But as we all know, the world of journalism is rapidly evolving, and the business of sports writing is especially fluid. This week the Times decided to disband its sports desk, choosing to instead rely on the work from its subsidiary The Athletic instead.