At the first Varsity Letters of 2013, three pre-eminent sports media reporters—Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch, Richard Sandomir of the New York Times, and Deadspin's John Koblin—tackled the biggest issues in sports media today, including ESPN's delicate balance as a broadcast partner and journalistic enterprise, the prospects for print and online sports media, and how to pick your Twitter battles.

"There's more good sportswriting today than there has ever been before because the barriers to entry have been reduced significantly." - Richard Deitsch

From left: Richard Sandomir, John Koblin, and Richard Deitsch.

Listen to the full audio of the panel discussion and the question and answer session that followed in the player below:

Varsity Letters Sports Media Panel Discussion -- January 10, 2013

0:00 - Moderator and Gelf editor Michael Gluckstadt
0:55 - New York Times sports television and business reporter Richard Sandomir
2:29 - Deadspin writer John Koblin
4:18 - Sports Illustrated writer and editor Richard Deitsch.

Note:
The Q and A session began with a question directed at Richard Sandomir about ESPN's handling of Brent Musburger's statements about Katherine Webb. The recording picks up with Sandomir mid-answer.

Also on Gelf: Prior to the event, Gelf interviewed each of the three speakers on the topic of sports media.

• Read Gelf's interview with Sandomir.

• Read Gelf's interview with Deitsch.

• Read Gelf's interview with Koblin.