00:00Madeline Burke has been a familiar face for Giants fans for nearly a decade,
00:03serving as one of the team's primary voices across digital, social, and broadcast platforms.
00:08Now, she's taking the next step, headed to ESPN as a SportsCenter anchor,
00:12a move that not only marks a major career milestone for Burke,
00:16but also speaks to the evolving pathways in sports media today.
00:20For more on the reporting behind this move and what it means for both Burke and the industry,
00:24I'm joined here in studio by New York Post sports and entertainment reporter,
00:28my good friend, Jenna Lemicelli, here with me now.
00:31Jenna, how are you doing?
00:32I'm good. It's been a busy time in the news for us, but, you know, never a dull moment.
00:38Never a dull moment in this industry.
00:40Now, Jenna, got to give you all the credit in the world.
00:43Got to put some respect on your name.
00:44You broke this story here about Madeline Burke.
00:46So when you first heard that Burke was headed to ESPN,
00:49what stood out to you the most about the move?
00:52And also, why did now feel like the right time for her to make this move?
00:56Yeah. Two things stood out to me the most was,
00:59wow, this tenured Giants reporter is leaving after ten years with the team.
01:04We really, you know, in recent memory haven't known much other than Madeline's reporting.
01:09We see her on the sidelines everywhere.
01:10We're also in the New York media, so we see her everywhere.
01:14And she's paid her dues.
01:15And that was one thing that stood out to me.
01:17The most prominent thing that stood out to me, though,
01:20was the fact that ESPN didn't pluck her from a network necessarily.
01:24She's kind of had her hand in a bunch of things.
01:27So this wasn't a typical hire for them, I would say,
01:30but I think it was the right hire for where the media landscape is shifting
01:33because it's digital first.
01:36We're getting more creative.
01:37It's not so much the way it used to.
01:39And we're seeing that in the news across all platforms
01:41with influencers, with digital media, with podcasts, with YouTube, and so much more.
01:46So this is a move that I see ESPN delving more into that new, modern media.
01:52And I think that that's what this hire was.
01:54And I think it was good for them.
01:56Yeah, I think it was good for them, good for her to make that move.
01:58Obviously, we know the brand is still strong there with SportsCenter ESPN,
02:01so a great move for Madeline.
02:02You mentioned that Madeline, she spent a decade covering the Giants
02:07in a multi-platform role, doing many different things.
02:09How much do you think that versatility that she has in its display
02:13played into ESPN seeing a role for her within SportsCenter?
02:17Incredible because, like we were just saying,
02:20she's dipped her toes into everything a little bit here.
02:22She's done media.
02:23She's also done actual studio work for CBS, too.
02:27So she's been behind the desk.
02:29She's done that traditional media coverage in terms of interviewing analysts,
02:34interviewing reporters, and shifting from multiple sports
02:37while on camera at the desk.
02:39But she's also been in the mix of social media.
02:41She's done digital shows.
02:43She's done podcasts.
02:44She's kind of really checked the box of every type of digital media that you would.
02:49So I think in terms of versatility, ESPN can really put her anywhere.
02:54And she would thrive.
02:55Because, again, you could put her on the sidelines.
02:57She could do the job.
02:58You could put her at the anchor desk.
02:59She could do the job.
03:00That's kind of rare these days, and especially in that old school media
03:03where it was traditional, national, just desk work.
03:07And I don't mean just as in, you know, to minimize it.
03:09But the more versatile you are in this space and in this day and age,
03:13the more telling you're going to get that position.
03:15You and I know this very well, right?
03:17You wear multiple hats.
03:18I have to wear multiple hats.
03:19We do different things in this space of broadcast media.
03:21That is so true.
03:22So for the young people out there looking to do some stuff in media,
03:25take some advice from Jenna Lemicelli.
03:27She knows a thing or two.
03:28Now, listen, because of that, you have covered sports media in this space, right?
03:32And you also cover entertainment.
03:34How significant is this move, not just for Burke,
03:38but for the pipeline of team-based reporters looking to make the jump to national networks?
03:43Because you know there are other team-based reporters that will look at a move like this
03:46and say, ah, there's a pathway for me, too.
03:49So how important is this move when you look at it from that aspect of where she was from
03:54coming from the Giants and now going to ESPN?
03:57I think it's extremely important.
03:58It's crucial.
03:59It's almost breaking that fourth wall of, hey, you can do this even if you are a team reporter.
04:04And I think, like you just mentioned, a lot of team reporters are kind of going to stick their ears
04:07up a little bit
04:08and be like, oh, wait a minute.
04:09I can get into the mix here and I can do this or that.
04:12So I think it opens up a new lane for them and a new door.
04:15And I think this hire is significant in terms of networks like SportsCenter and ESPN.
04:21Of course, we see that as the mecca we always have as young journalists in the business.
04:25And now that idea is, of course, spread across so many different things as media has evolved.
04:30But we see it as an incredible thing because you don't need to just have that little box of
04:36let me sit behind the desk and facilitate a conversation.
04:39I can do all these different things and still be seen by these big networks
04:43and taken even if it's from a sideline in New York.
04:45That's what I love most about the story.
04:47Like I said, they didn't pluck her from a network.
04:49It was a nontraditional hire, in my opinion.
04:51And I think it's great.
04:52Yeah, I think it's great.
04:53I think it's fantastic for the injury.
04:54Last thing, I think, before we get out of here, and this is for the New York fans,
04:58especially people who watch our channel.
04:59When you look at the Giants side, right, this is a pretty big loss for them
05:03in terms of their content and what they do.
05:05How impactful was Burke in terms of her digital content, also the fan connection when you look at it with
05:11her,
05:12and then just the overall coverage of the Giants.
05:15How impactful is her loss going to be moving on from the New York Giants?
05:18I think it's super impactful because she was there for so long.
05:22And not only was she on the sidelines, she took on a bunch of different roles,
05:25hosting so many digital shows for them, post-game shows.
05:28She did some stuff with MSG as well.
05:30And she was across their social media.
05:32She had a podcast that highlighted different women in the industry.
05:36And it's always nice to see a woman on the sidelines.
05:38And everybody's used to seeing Madeline.
05:40So I think they're going to have big shoes to fill over there.
05:43And I wonder how they're going to construct this role,
05:46seeing as Madeline was wearing so many hats.
05:49Are they going to split it up?
05:51Are they going to have the same person doing all of that?
05:53I think it's something to keep an eye on, for sure.
05:57Definitely something to keep an eye on.
05:58And that versatility will be a loss for the Giants,
06:01but should be a gain for ESPN.
06:03And if you haven't done it already, please check out the great Jenna Lemicelli,
06:08her story on Madeline Burke, excuse me, an exclusive.
06:11I was ready to say that.
06:12I didn't say that before.
06:13This was an exclusive.
06:14She broke the story.
06:15She had it first.
06:16Put some respect on Jenna's name there.
06:18Jenna, I appreciate you joining me to talk about the fantastic story.
06:22Everybody should check that out on NewYorkPost.com.
06:24And Jenna, we'll do this again soon.
06:26We don't get in the studio enough.
06:27I know.
06:27I love this.
06:28It's fun in here.
06:29Always fun in here.
06:30Always looks good.
06:31Especially with our great crew working in the back.
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