California Post Expands Sports Team with Strategic Hires

LOS ANGELES – In a significant move signaling its commitment to sports journalism, the California Post has recruited veteran sportswriter Ben Bolch from the Los Angeles Times. This marks the third high-profile departure from the Times’ sports section to the New York Post-backed startup, which is gearing up for its official launch set for later this month.

Strategic Additions to California Post Sports Team

Ben Bolch, renowned for covering UCLA athletics over the last decade, joined the California Post as a senior college sports reporter. Expressing his excitement on Twitter, Bolch shared, “After 26 years at the Los Angeles Times, I am joining the new sports team at @capostsports under the direction of @Ryan_Kostecka as a senior college sports reporter.” His first day will be on January 20.

Bolch’s addition comes alongside other notable hires:

• Vincent Bonsignore, who has spent the last six years covering the Las Vegas Raiders for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is now a senior NFL columnist. He stated, “I am joining the new sports team at @capostsports under the leadership of @Ryan_Kostecka as a senior NFL columnist.”

• Michael Duarte, previously of NBC Los Angeles for twelve years, will be stepping in as a senior sports writer. He expressed his enthusiasm for the new opportunity: “I’m excited to announce that I will be joining the All-Star team being assembled by @Ryan_Kostecka.”

• Charly Hill, a 2024 graduate from Miami with experience at Bleacher Report, TNT Sports, and NBC, joins the team as a sports content creator. Hill commented, “So excited to be a part of what’s shaping up to be an incredible year for California sports!”

Impact on Los Angeles Times

The California Post’s recruitment strategy seems to be a direct response to ongoing challenges at the Los Angeles Times, which has witnessed significant staffing reductions. With Bolch’s departure, the Times now retains only nine full-time sports staff members, a stark contrast to its previous standing as a powerhouse in sports journalism.

The Times has faced increasing scrutiny and contraction in its sports section since the pandemic, reducing the sports coverage to minimal pages. The paper was once set to send a substantial team to cover the 2020 Summer Olympics but has scaled down its sports coverage significantly.

Focused Coverage of Los Angeles Sports

While the California Post has aspirations to serve the entire state, its initial focus will be on Los Angeles sports, emphasizing major teams such as the Dodgers, Lakers, Rams, Chargers, USC, and UCLA. Bolch will notably lead college sports coverage centered on USC and UCLA, while Hernández and Harris will manage MLB and Dodgers reporting. Bonsignore takes charge of NFL and Rams coverage, and Lakers coverage will be handled by Khobi Price and Melissa Rohlin.

Future Plans for California Post

As the California Post prepares for its January 26 launch, it appears to be on the hunt for more talent from the Times, aiming to fortify its sports team further before its debut. The evolving landscape of sports journalism in Los Angeles is set to witness a new contender, with the California Post positioning itself as a comprehensive source for local sports news.

For more insights on the latest developments in sports journalism, visit California Post and stay updated on significant changes in the field.