Longtime sports journalist Bob Kravitz has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with his former employer, The Athletic, following his recent layoff. Kravitz, whose career spans 41 years and includes stints at Sports Illustrated, IndyStar, and The Athletic covering the Indianapolis Colts, was among those let go as the publication shifts its focus to national coverage.
While acknowledging the unfortunate reality of media layoffs, Kravitz harbors deeper resentment towards The Athletic, claiming he "never felt wanted" and "felt barely tolerated" during his time there. He points to a 2020 incident where he was placed on probation shortly after undergoing quadruple bypass surgery. Kravitz alleges he was pressured to generate a specific number of subscriptions within a tight timeframe despite his health condition. He achieved the target, but the experience left a lasting negative impression.
Kravitz further criticizes The Athletic's emphasis on metrics, which he believes negatively impacted staff morale. He recounts the disheartening experience of pouring effort into a story only to see minimal engagement. He also reveals two instances where he felt his work was unfairly treated: a story about Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf that he wrote while recovering from a cardiac event was buried, and another piece about Jay Mariotti was shelved due to concerns about potential legal repercussions. Kravitz speculates that The Athletic's recent acquisition by The New York Times might have played a role in the decision to kill the Mariotti story.
Despite his negative experiences, Kravitz credits The Athletic for its attention to mental health, though he argues that the pressure to meet performance metrics contradicted this concern. He is now focusing on contributing to Indianapolis Monthly magazine and building his own Substack, expressing both apprehension and excitement about this new venture.
