Satellite High Grad, Sports Reporter Brittany McHenry Laid Off By ESPN

Worked Three Years At ESPN

ABOVE VIDEO: Cam Newton Sportscenter Conversation with Britt McHenry

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Satellite High Grad Brittany McHenry has been laid off by ESPN as part of network’s massive layoff of around 100 employees and on-air talents.

After serving ESPN for the last three years, McHenry made the announcement public via twitter that she will no longer be working at ESPN.

She will serve her last assignment for the NFL Draft beginning tonight and ending on Saturday.

McHenry released a statement thanking her co-workers, friends and her fans:

“First, I want to thank the followers and fans in a way that does you more justice than 140 characters allows. You welcomed a very ordinary girl into your households and followed the travels, the games, and the stories. Even to the trolls, you always kept it interesting and ultimately showed interest.

In this business, that’s all any of us can hope to garner. There are some things you’d like to handle privately, but I realized two years ago my life became anything but private.

So, here goes. I’ve learned at a relatively young age, you can experience huge disappointments. In my case, it’s been from both my own doing and most recently, out of my control. To all young journalists, know that adversity will confront you no matter how hard you try to avoid it.

But, if there’s anything I’ve learned, the key is to face, embrace and survive it. Who knows, maybe will make for a good book one day.

Thank you to my ESPN colleagues who produced the magic you see on TV: Tony, Eric, Brian, Andrea, Malinda, Shari, Jim, Charlie, Fitz, Ashoka, Vida, Garrett, Harrington, Chad, pretty much everyone who’s had to deal with me on my IFB (I usually never have my own, so trust it’s a process, ha).

Thank you to my colleagues on air at ESPN and other competing netwWo who gave me laughs and friendship. There are too many names to mention.

There are options and good opportunities that lie ahead. In the brief meantime, I have time and resources to finally enjoy myself a little more. But, will forever remember the good memories I leave behind.”

For three years, Satellite High School graduate Brittany McHenry shined as a sports anchor in the Washington D.C. media market.

Working for WJLA ABC-7 News, McHenry interviewed sports superstars from Bryce Harper to Donovan McNabb.

She also hosted and produced her own Friday night high school sports show for the D.C. area.

After mulling over a job offer to cover the San Diego Padres for FOX Sports in April, McHenry decided to resign with WJLA and stay in Washington.

“I wanted to develop here in D.C. more,” McHenry said in 2012. “This is now feeling like a home to me.”

LOCAL ROOTS

Before beginning her broadcast career, McHenry was already making her presence well known in Brevard County.

McHenry, who was the editor-in-chief of Satellite High School’s student newspaper and president of the National Honor Society, was a four-year letterman for legendary soccer coach Fidgi Haig with the Scorpions.

A two-time state champion in soccer, McHenry balanced soccer and academics with a deft touch.

“Satellite was such a great environment,” McHenry said. “It really helped prepare me for the next level. I had people like (journalism teacher) Mark Schledorn and (Athletic Director) Linda Anderson there who were a huge influence on me. I learned a high work ethic and it helped prepare me for my career.”

After graduating in 2004, McHenry enrolled at Stetson University where she was a scholarship soccer player. After playing one season of collegiate soccer, McHenry decided to focus on academics.

She went onto graduate magna cum laude from Stetson in three-and-a-half years and then was accepted into the prestigious Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in January 2008.

“When I was in undergrad, I thought I was going to go to law school,” McHenry said. “I sat down with my parents and talked about my opportunities. They knew that I loved writing and research and they thought that I should go the broadcasting route. My affection for writing and broadcasting was always there.”

CHALLENGES

For a 21-year old in graduate school, the challenges were coming hard and fast for McHenry.

“Northwestern’s program was an incredible experience,” McHenry said. “I was able to get an internship with Fox News where I worked with the political unit. It was an intense, seven days a week work. I wanted to keep busy and get as much experience as possible.

“The last quarter of graduate school was spent in D.C. and when I got there, I started applying,” she said. I was ready to start working in the field”.

Fresh after graduation, McHenry began her career with Washington’s News Channel 8 in January 2009.

“I was a local news reporter,” McHenry said. “A lot of the work was shooting and editing all by yourself. I was kind of green out of school, but I was hungry.”

Her time at News Channel 8 helped springboard her to a reporting job with WJLA ABC-7 in the spring of 2010.

She then transitioned to sports and she hasn’t looked back since.

WEEKEND ANCHOR

As well as anchoring sports on the weekends, McHenry reported live on assignment for Washington Nationals, Washington Redskins and Washington Capitals games. And she reported about Super Bowl XLII and the NCAA mens’ basketball tournament in 2008.

As a growing media celebrity, McHenry has emceed countless events as well as appeared in Mia Hamm’s charity celebrity soccer match where she was teammates with Kobe Bryant.

She also appeared on the front cover of Washington Life Magazine as she was named one of the most influential movers and shakers of Washington D.C. under the age of 40.

According to Satellite High School Athletic Director Linda Anderson, McHenry’s success doesn’t surprise her.

“What I recall most about Brittany was she had a pleasant demeanor,” Anderson said. “I was impressed how she turned into such a competitor on the soccer field because she was so sweet off it. I knew she would be successful wherever she ended up. I have watched a few of her broadcasts and was very impressed.”

With an eye toward working for a major network in the future, McHenry keeps plying her trade in D.C.

With role models such as Andrea Kramer and Jeremy Schaap, McHenry said she hopes to follow the footsteps of her mentors and do deeper investigative stories down the road.

With a hectic schedule, however, McHenry makes sure she comes back home beachside as often as she can.

“I’m always grateful that I can call Brevard County home,” McHenry said. “Growing up here has taught me very good values and made me appreciative for what I have. I have a strong family and friends that gave me a solid foundation that never wavers.”

Staying on the NFL Draft as my last assignment. Grateful for 3 years at ESPN. My colleagues became best friends & I’ll cherish that the most pic.twitter.com/YHZeutahTS

— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) April 27, 2017

ESPN

In March of 2014, her big break came when she was offered to work for ESPN where she served as a correspondent for various shows including SportsCenter, Outside the Lines, NFL Live and Baseball Tonight.

McHenry thrived for three years interviewing some of sports’ biggest names in the biggest games.

However, those three years didn’t go without some controversy when ESPN suspended her in 2015 for one week after a video was released showing her verbally attacking a tow truck company cashier.

“In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things,” McHenry wrote on Twitter in 2015.

“As frustrated as I was, I should always choose to be respectful and take the high road. I am so sorry for my actions and will learn from this mistake.”

Despite the incident, she continued to work for ESPN for two years serving as a reporter for various NFL and Major League Baseball games across the country.

ABOVE VIDEO: Britt McHenry reporting for ESPN

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