NEW YORK, July 6, 2000 - ESPN The Magazine Editor in Chief John Papanek announced today that Jon Scher has joined the staff as senior editor of the magazine's Internet integration. In addition to overseeing the upcoming expansion of magazine-branded content on ESPN.com, he will edit the front-of-the-book department "The Pulse" and create interactive "bridges" between articles in each biweekly issue and the magazine's new section on the website.

"Jon brings to the magazine a fabulous understanding of both the traditional print and online editorial worlds," said Papanek. "His background and creativity will be instrumental as we grow the magazine's Internet presence."

Before joining ESPN The Magazine, Scher spent three years as a supervising producer at CNNSI.com where he developed, assigned and edited original pieces for the website while serving as the primary liaison to the CNNSI newsroom in Atlanta. From 1991, Scher held various positions at Sports Illustrated, including writer-reporter, editorial projects manager and a senior editor of Sports Illustrated For Kids. After graduating cum laude from Duke University, he started his journalism career as a reporter at the Times-Advocate in Escondido, Calif. Scher then moved to Baseball America in 1985 as an associate editor. In 1988 he was promoted to managing editor where, for three years, he was responsible for the twice-monthly's day-to-day editorial operation.

In addition to his newspaper and magazine backgrounds, Scher has written a children's book, Baseball's Best Sluggers (SI for Kids, 1996) and co-authored two adult books - The New York Mets, An Illustrated History (MacMillan, 1995) and It's Your Call: Baseball's Oddest Plays (MacMillan, 1989).

ESPN The Magazine is a provocative and innovative sports publication. Full of insight, analysis, impact and wit, the oversized biweekly looks ahead to give fans a unique perspective on the world of sports.