NLGJA Fosters Community for ESPN Content Associate
When Mac joined the ESPN Next Program as a Content Associate, they had a different name.
They knew who they truly were, but also understood the challenges of being transgender in the sports industry at a time when the community’s involvement in sports was still being debated.
“I feared being out as transgender would alienate me from my peers,” Mac said. “In reality, I have many colleagues who accept me and care about my perspective.”
Mac is a member of the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists (NLGJA), dedicated to connecting LGBTQ+ media professionals and covering issues that impact the community. NLGJA piqued Mac’s interest because they wanted to meet other LGBTQ+ journalists.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m one of very few transgender people working in my field, so I wanted to meet other people like me with similar careers,” Mac said. “I also wanted to let others who are just starting their careers that there is a place for them in journalism and they are not alone.”
The NLGJA 2026 National Convention is an opportunity for Mac to share their experiences and feel celebrated among industry peers. Mac never thought they’d be working in sports journalism until they decided to take a leap of faith and try something new.
They produce content for games and events — pitching ideas, producing short video elements and whatever else the producers may need. Mac covers college basketball and the WNBA most frequently, but recently had the opportunity to work at the Little League World Series.
“At Little League, I got to have a bigger role in shoots including what we call the “car wash” shoot before the tournament,” Mac said. “This is where we film all 20 teams and every single player to get content that is shown on TV throughout the tournament.”
Within the Walt Disney Company, Mac is also a Belonging Employee Resource Groups (BERG) leader. These groups advocate, celebrate and educate on behalf of all LGBTQIA+ and ally employees.
“Being a BERG leader has greatly helped me reach my current position,” Mac said. “Having leadership experience and running events makes me a better producer because planning and organizing are big parts of the job.”
For any NLGJA members looking to start a career at Disney, Mac emphasized the size of the company and how there are opportunities all over the world.
“Keep an eye out for a position that matches your skillset and make connections through NLGJA to help you,” Mac said. “Don’t be afraid to try something new.”
ESPN recruiters and ambassadors will be at the NLGJA 2026 National Convention in San Francisco Sept. 10-13. Stop by our booth to learn more about journalism and media careers at Disney and visit DisneyCareers.com to explore current openings.
