ABOUT
Ricky Podgorski is embarking on a new journey as a Local News Reporter for WMUR-TV in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he’ll cover breaking news in the Granite state. Podgorski enters this next chapter after beginning his career as a Production Assistant at ESPN. As a graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, Podgorski is passionate about sports and news reporting. He excels as an anchor, producer, and reporter, bringing a unique blend of storytelling and field production skills to his work, with hands-on experience across various aspects of journalism.
His commitment to delivering compelling coverage and his diverse background make him a dynamic presence in the field. Podgorski continues to demonstrate his passion for telling the stories that matter in news and sports.
ESPN
After graduating from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, Podgorski began his career in Bristol, Connecticut, as a Production Assistant at ESPN. His first and current assignment is with ESPN Studio Wraps, where he collaborates closely with producers and on-air talent to craft compelling highlights for college football and basketball coverage.
In this role, Podgorski helps develop creative and in-depth breakdown tapes that showcase what sets great teams apart. One of his favorite parts of the job is producing fast-paced, high-energy montages that capture the spirit of college athletics while emphasizing the stories and growth of the athletes themselves.
Podgorski’s strong writing and storytelling instincts have been essential to his success at ESPN. At the core of his work lies a balance of sharp writing, thoughtful producing, and a deep commitment to meaningful story development.
NBC SPORTS
In the summer of 2024, Podgorski interned at NBC Sports on the news desk, collaborating closely with the digital team who was responsible for updating the NBC Sports website and creating online content. While the video team edited clips from shows, podcasts and live events, Podgorski’s responsibilities included labeling these clips with the appropriate metadata and ensured their distribution to the correct sections of the NBC Sports website and YouTube.
He also contributed to the network’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics by creating community-oriented social media posts and distributed Olympics-related content. Additionally, Podgorski had the opportunity to shadow live studio broadcasts, such as Gold Zone, and wrote several articles for the website. His work at NBC Sports gave him firsthand experience working for a network sports outlet and developed a deeper passion for digital content creation.
TERRAPIN SPORTS CENTRAL
Podgorski is the former executive producer of Terrapin Sports Central, a sports media outlet dedicated to covering University of Maryland athletics. He joined the organization in 2021, and served as Executive Producer for two years, overseeing a team of more than 30 student journalists and managing the coverage of every Maryland athletic home event.
In addition to game coverage and reporting duties, Podgorski’s primary focus was TSC’s weekly studio broadcast, The Left Bench, a 30-minute program that covers all Maryland sports. He was responsible for creating and building show rundowns, incorporating stories from University of Maryland athletics, and developing creative packages and segments with his broadcast crew.
Podgorski contributed as an anchor and reporter for Terrapin Sports Central for four years, honing his skills in sports reporting, broadcasting and writing. His long tenure with the organization has provided him with extensive experience across a variety of sports and in the fast-paced newsroom environment.
TESTUDO TIMES
Podgorski served as the Maryland football and men’s basketball video reporter for SB Nation’s Testudo Times. In this role, he strengthened his skills in storytelling, video editing and videography. Traveling across the United States, Podgorski had the opportunity to conduct interviews with coaches and players from across the Big Ten Conference, gaining valuable insight into the student-athlete experience and the evolving landscape of college athletics.
One of his most notable stories explores the expansion of the Big Ten and its impact on student-athletes, particularly in terms of increased travel distances. To report on this, Podgorski traveled to Eugene, Oregon, where he witnessed firsthand how athletes are navigating the challenges posed by the conference’s growth.
CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE
In 2023, Podgorski was an active reporter and anchor for Capital News Service (CNS), a news wire affiliated with the University of Maryland. In 2024, he joined the broadcast bureau in College Park, Maryland, in a full-time capacity, covering both breaking news and sports stories across the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia region. Podgorski reported from the front lines of major events, including the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, and conducted in-depth investigations into pro-Palestinian encampments on college campuses. His feature and news reporting earned him a top-10 finish in the 2024-25 Hearst Television Journalism Awards Features and News Competitions. His top finishes secured him a spot in the 65th Hearst National Championship in San Francisco where he placed second overall in the television competition.
In addition to breaking news and feature coverage, Podgorski has explored the world of sports journalism, reporting on both local and professional athletes and teams in the greater Washington DC area. His work includes an investigative piece on the growth of girls high school flag football in Maryland and an in-depth profile following a University of Maryland football player’s journey to the NFL. Working within CNS’s high-stakes newsroom, producing multiple broadcasts each week, Podgorski refined his ability to report swiftly and accurately under tight deadlines, gaining invaluable experience in fast-paced, real-world journalism environments.
DANBURY WESTERNERS
As the sideline reporter for the Danbury Westerners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), Podgorski gained valuable experience in live broadcasting while also crafting engaging segments and packages that resonated within the Danbury community. In 2023, he was honored as the NECBL All-Star sideline reporter, covering the All-Star Game for a nationwide audience of more than 75 million households through prominent networks such as NESN and AT&T SportsNet.
His responsibilities in Danbury included producing content for the Westerners’ broadcast and social media platforms, capturing game footage, and providing on-air updates on pitching changes, injury reports and relevant game statistics. Podgorski’s creative approach and strong writing skills were integral to his role, allowing him to continually push the boundaries of content production and elevate the overall broadcast experience.
CONTACT
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Ricky Podgorski 