NEW YORK, NY – February 15, 2023 – Audacy has partnered with Special Olympics and JRSportBrief Productions to launch “Agents of Inclusion:” A Special Olympics podcast, an Audacy Original. Hosted by CBS Sports Radio host JR Jackson, this weekly show will highlight Special Olympics athletes’ stories and accomplishments to encourage listeners towards inclusion and action. “Agents of Inclusion” will launch February 15 and will be available on the Audacy app and wherever you get your podcasts.
Aimed to raise awareness and share stories of inspiration, the partnership will also extend to grassroots action. Audacy will connect with Special Olympics Programs across the country to support, volunteer, and get involved with programmed events.
“I’ve taken my CBS Sports Radio show on the road the past two years with Special Olympics to promote diversity and inclusion. With the Media for the Movement Tour, we’ve popped up at more than 50 college campuses and professional sports teams to support this message. I’m thrilled to bring together Audacy and Special Olympics for programming that will encourage and inspire on a broadened level.”
“We’re delighted to partner with Special Olympics and JRSportBrief on content and action that will demonstrate our commitment to genuine inclusion, and will introduce listeners to Special Olympics athletes on a personal level they haven’t heard before,” said Lena Moss Glaser, Vice President and Executive Producer, Audacy’s 2400Sports. “We’re looking forward to leveraging our reach to raise awareness for the essential work Special Olympics does throughout the year.”
“Partnering with Audacy and JRSportBrief enables our athletes share a critical message of inclusion among many important audiences even at a grassroots level. J.R. is more than a friend of Special Olympics, he is an unwavering advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. With his unmatched storytelling skill and Audacy’s breadth of distribution, 'Agents of Inclusion' has real potential to change attitudes and behaviors across the North America and beyond.”
Primarily audio based, special episodes and promotional content will include video. Audacy, through its sports podcast studio, 2400Sports, will lead on production and distribution of programming. Follow the series.
Audacy is committed to supporting the health and success of the communities that are the heart of its business. Audacy’s partnership with Special Olympics is an extension of Audacy Serves, the Company’s social impact platform that raises awareness of social issues and brings communities together for good. Audacy unites with its listeners and brands to support sound communities through several pillars of impact: Mental Health; the Environment; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Veterans and Service Members; Children’s Health and Civic Education.
Audacy is the unrivaled leader in sports radio, reaching three times more people than the leading competitor. Audacy is the #1 sports radio ownership group, which owns and operates 41 all-sports stations across the U.S., including WFAN 101.9 FM/660 AM (WFAN-FM/AM) in New York, SportsRadio 94WIP (WIP-FM) in Philadelphia and 670 The Score (WSCR-AM) in Chicago. Its unparalleled broadcast portfolio reaches nearly 30 million sports fans monthly and boasts the nation’s leading collection of radio play-by-play coverage. Audacy is the flagship home of 41 professional teams and over 50 Division 1 collegiate programs, including the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls, University of Michigan and University of Oregon, among others.
“By a Fan, for the Fans.” Founded by JR Jackson and Charlie Stettler, JRSportBrief Productions has grown 80 Million Views on YouTube into a nationally syndicated CBS Sports Radio Show. The JR SportBrief® show airs weeknights on over 300 CBS Sports stations nationwide from 10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. ET and Saturdays afternoons on WFAN New York. Additionally, Jackson has been a contributor for V-103 and 92.9 The Game in Atlanta, CNN Headline News, SNY TV, Bleacher Report, while serving as a basketball analyst and fantasy expert for NBA TV. Host JR Jackson has shared his perspective around the world while covering multiple Olympic Games, Super Bowls, Final Fours and has interviewed world class celebrities, athletes, and leaders, including Pelé, Usain Bolt, Snoop Dogg, Kevin Hart, and Kobe Bryant. In 2015, while attending the Special Olympics World Games as a member of the media, Jackson was awestruck by the participating athletes, level of competition and overall entire event and quickly became a fan and supporter of Special Olympics.
About Audacy
Audacy, Inc. (NYSE: AUD) is a leading multi-platform audio content and entertainment company with the country’s best collection of local music, news and sports brands, a premium podcast creator, major event producer, and digital innovator. Audacy engages 200 million consumers each month, bringing people together around content that matters to them. Learn more at www.audacyinc.com, Facebook (Audacy Corp) and Twitter (@AudacyCorp).
About Special Olympics
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With more than six million athletes and Unified Sports partners and one million coaches and volunteers in over 200 accredited Programs, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 games and competitions every year. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedInand our blog on Medium. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.
