The Press Club of Southwest Florida will welcome veteran sports media executive and author Marc Appleman as its featured speaker at the Newsmaker Luncheon on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Lujack’s Restaurant in Naples.
The luncheon begins at noon at Lujack’s, located at 7935 Airport Pulling Road North, Suite 20. Registration opens at 11:30 a.m. Click here to purchase your ticket on Eventbrite. Tickets are $45 for members, $50 for guests, and $20 for full-time students. Or if you don’t use electronic payment methods and want to pay at the door, send an email to RSVP@pressclubswfl.org. Use this email address to let us know of any special dietary requests.
Appleman will present “The Evolution of Sports Media: A Behind-The-Scenes Look,” offering a firsthand account of how the industry has transformed over the past several decades. Drawing from his extensive career, he will share insights into the intersection of sports and media, the rise of digital platforms, and the shifting dynamics of professional and collegiate athletics.
Appleman began his career as a sportswriter at the Los Angeles Times and went on to hold prominent roles across some of the most influential brands in sports journalism and media, including ESPN, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Fox Sports, and AOL’s Sports Channel. He also served as CEO of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and has been involved in multiple sports media startups, helping shape the industry’s transition into the digital age.
In addition to his executive leadership, Appleman is the author of two books: Dad, Are You Pumped? A Father-Son Baseball Odyssey and Joe Montana, a biography published by Sports Illustrated for Kids.
His career has been marked by early adoption of emerging technologies and a front-row seat to the evolution of sports storytelling—from print to broadcast to digital innovation.
The Press Club’s Newsmaker Luncheon series brings influential voices in journalism, media, and public life to Southwest Florida for conversations on the issues shaping the industry and the community.
We hope to see you (and bring a guest!) on April 24.
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