Mike Soltys, the vice president of ESPN’s corporate communications division, was laid off Monday after 43 years with the network in Disney’s latest round of job cuts.
The longtime executive was first hired by founder Bill Rasmussen in 1980 as a college intern. After several promotions in the 1980s, he was named director of communications in 1992, directing the day-to-day operation of programming media relations activities. Soltys oversaw ESPN’s comprehensive 25th anniversary publicity campaign in 2004, which received 12 public relations awards, more than any other project in ESPN history. From 2003-2021, Soltys was responsible for strategic planning for publicity for ESPN’s U.S. networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN on ABC, ESPN’s college networks, Espnews and ESPN Radio.
In his current role, Soltys focused on Espnpr’s content creation—including its social media feeds, its corporate blog ESPNFrontRow and media website ESPNPressRoom—and on publicity and issue management for ESPN’s news operation,...
The longtime executive was first hired by founder Bill Rasmussen in 1980 as a college intern. After several promotions in the 1980s, he was named director of communications in 1992, directing the day-to-day operation of programming media relations activities. Soltys oversaw ESPN’s comprehensive 25th anniversary publicity campaign in 2004, which received 12 public relations awards, more than any other project in ESPN history. From 2003-2021, Soltys was responsible for strategic planning for publicity for ESPN’s U.S. networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN on ABC, ESPN’s college networks, Espnews and ESPN Radio.
In his current role, Soltys focused on Espnpr’s content creation—including its social media feeds, its corporate blog ESPNFrontRow and media website ESPNPressRoom—and on publicity and issue management for ESPN’s news operation,...
- 4/24/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (Mjff) announced that Bill Rasmussen has joined its team to help speed a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Mr. Rasmussen is the storied founder of ESPN, the world’s first 24-hour, 7-days-a-week sports television network, who ushered in a new era of 24/7 broadcast sports news and coverage. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (Pd) in 2014 at age 81, he has taken on the disease with his signature positive attitude and commitment to staying active, embracing engagement and inspiring others, one person at a time.
Mr. Rasmussen will sit on the Foundation’s Patient Council, a 35-member body of individuals living with Parkinson’s who guide and counsel the Foundation on programmatic strategy to ensure the Foundation’s mission to bring a cure for Parkinson’s over the finish line is informed, supported and fortified by the patient voice.
As a Foundation ambassador, Mr.
Mr. Rasmussen is the storied founder of ESPN, the world’s first 24-hour, 7-days-a-week sports television network, who ushered in a new era of 24/7 broadcast sports news and coverage. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (Pd) in 2014 at age 81, he has taken on the disease with his signature positive attitude and commitment to staying active, embracing engagement and inspiring others, one person at a time.
Mr. Rasmussen will sit on the Foundation’s Patient Council, a 35-member body of individuals living with Parkinson’s who guide and counsel the Foundation on programmatic strategy to ensure the Foundation’s mission to bring a cure for Parkinson’s over the finish line is informed, supported and fortified by the patient voice.
As a Foundation ambassador, Mr.
- 6/3/2020
- Look to the Stars
Within a year of being fired as communications director of the New England Whalers hockey team, Bill Rasmussen went on to change sports history with the launch of ESPN in 1979.
That’s the kind of “making lemonade out of lemons” approach that the 86-year-old ESPN founder has embraced ever since, even when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which he made public earlier this year.
“I just think anyone with a positive attitude is going to be successful. The less time you spend being discouraged, the better your life,” Rasmussen told TheWrap following a Q&a with ESPN staff in Los Angeles to commemorate the network’s 40th anniversary.
Also Read: ESPN 'E:60' Special Digs Through the Ashes of Paradise in the Wake of Devastating Wildfire
“A day wasted moping around saying ‘woe is me,’ is not advancing the ball,” he added. “I just think life is here...
That’s the kind of “making lemonade out of lemons” approach that the 86-year-old ESPN founder has embraced ever since, even when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which he made public earlier this year.
“I just think anyone with a positive attitude is going to be successful. The less time you spend being discouraged, the better your life,” Rasmussen told TheWrap following a Q&a with ESPN staff in Los Angeles to commemorate the network’s 40th anniversary.
Also Read: ESPN 'E:60' Special Digs Through the Ashes of Paradise in the Wake of Devastating Wildfire
“A day wasted moping around saying ‘woe is me,’ is not advancing the ball,” he added. “I just think life is here...
- 9/20/2019
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
ESPN reminded its editorial leaders about its policies concerning talking “pure politics” on air in a memo on Friday.
The memo was sent one day after Dan Le Batard, who hosts a show on ESPN Radio as well as “Highly Questionable” on ESPN, heavily criticized president Donald Trump over the “Send Her Back” chants from his North Carolina rally on Wednesday, as well as his own network.
ESPN declined to comment on any potential disciplinary action for Le Batard. He was on his show Friday.
Also Read: ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Reveals Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis
“The ‘send her back’ chant and the ‘go back to where you came from’ chant are so antithetical,” Le Batard said on Thursday. “It is so wrong what the president of our country is doing, trying to go down getting re-elected by dividing the masses at a time when the old white man–the old...
The memo was sent one day after Dan Le Batard, who hosts a show on ESPN Radio as well as “Highly Questionable” on ESPN, heavily criticized president Donald Trump over the “Send Her Back” chants from his North Carolina rally on Wednesday, as well as his own network.
ESPN declined to comment on any potential disciplinary action for Le Batard. He was on his show Friday.
Also Read: ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Reveals Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis
“The ‘send her back’ chant and the ‘go back to where you came from’ chant are so antithetical,” Le Batard said on Thursday. “It is so wrong what the president of our country is doing, trying to go down getting re-elected by dividing the masses at a time when the old white man–the old...
- 7/19/2019
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease back in 2014, and just publicly shared his personal news on Monday.
Rasmussen published “The Story Changes, While the Message Endures: ‘I Have Parkinson’s Disease,’ ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen” on ESPN’s Front Row.
“First and foremost – I’m doing well,” Rasmussen wrote. “For a guy pushing 87, and with the help of medicine that helps treat my symptoms, I still get around quite well and continue to travel the country telling the ESPN/life lessons stories as I have for decades.”
Also Read: ESPN NFL Analyst Tedy Bruschi Recovering From Another Stroke
“By sharing my experiences, my hope is that I can help others who are impacted by Parkinson’s and we’ll all learn more together,” he continued.
More to come…
Read original story ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Reveals Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis At TheWrap...
Rasmussen published “The Story Changes, While the Message Endures: ‘I Have Parkinson’s Disease,’ ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen” on ESPN’s Front Row.
“First and foremost – I’m doing well,” Rasmussen wrote. “For a guy pushing 87, and with the help of medicine that helps treat my symptoms, I still get around quite well and continue to travel the country telling the ESPN/life lessons stories as I have for decades.”
Also Read: ESPN NFL Analyst Tedy Bruschi Recovering From Another Stroke
“By sharing my experiences, my hope is that I can help others who are impacted by Parkinson’s and we’ll all learn more together,” he continued.
More to come…
Read original story ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Reveals Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis At TheWrap...
- 7/15/2019
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
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