BRISTOL, Conn. -- ESPN has named Le Anne Schreiber, a former sports editor for The New York Times and most recently an author of essays, memoirs and criticism, as its new ombudsman.
Schreiber, who takes over on April 1, replaces George Solomon, the former sports editor and assistant managing editor of The Washington Post. Solomon has held the position for 21 months and is leaving when his contract and pre-determined term expires.
Schreiber will be the public representative to ESPN for a fixed two-year term. In her role, she will offer independent examination, critique and analysis of ESPN's programming and news coverage, both on television and in other media.
She will write a column at least once a month for ESPN.com.
Schreiber has a considerable journalism résumé. She covered foreign affairs and the 1976 Montreal Olympics for Time magazine; she later was editor in chief of womenSports magazine; and she was sports editor at The New York Times (the first female to hold the title at a major American daily newspaper). Schreiber left the job in 1980 to serve as deputy editor of The New York Times Book Review.
Schreiber is the author of two memoirs and has written for a number of magazines. She won a National Magazine Award for public interest journalism for a 1991 magazine series in Glamour about the violence and intimidation faced by doctors who perform abortions. Also, Schreiber has taught in Columbia University's graduate writing program, among other schools.
"Le Anne brings an impressive array of eclectic experience in journalism, writing and teaching that will bring a new dimension to our role," said John A. Walsh, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor. "Her accomplishments in sports -- having led the sports department at The New York Times and womenSports magazine -- combined with writing about a broad range of topics, will provide a fresh perspective examining all we do."