RBR Interviews: Seven Questions with the new USATF Chief Content and Communications Officer, Jay Holder

RBR Interviews: Seven Questions with the new USATF Chief Content and Communications Officer, Jay Holder

It was announced just two weeks ago (July 14) that Jay Holder would be the new USATF Chief Content and Communications Officer. Jay Holder is a long-time media professional, with time at the Atlanta Track Club, Press liaison at the Olympics and World Championships, and major marathons. Jay Holder’s first day at USATF in his new position was Monday, July 28. We were quite fortunate to have Jay Holder respond so fast (he spent the day flying to the 2025 USATF Outdoors, which begins on July 31, but with a USATF presser tomorrow, Jay will have his first event in his new role.

The significance of this new combined position should not be underestimated. Jay Holder’s responsibility is to give the USATF federation a more positive position in the media, where, at times, it has suffered. USATF has been watched and criticized over the past couple years due to financial challenges and the loss of key staff, plus what some saw was a lack of transparency. 

Jay Holder will have to look at those situations and provide a conduit to the media, both new content builder, but also the long term media, who have supported the sport during times of less interest in the sport.  More established media, long form, print, digital and photography have been frustrated by past comms teams not recognizing traditional media organizations and longevity in communicating the stories of the sport with old school and new school media techniques. Jay Holder comes to his complicated job with not only those situations but the constant knowledge that he represents USATF and at times, for political, but also for legal reasons, transparency is just not possible. 

Jay Holder will have his hands full, but many keen observers believe that Mr. Holder is up for the challenge.

Please enjoy the seven questions answered by Jay today. We look forward to working with Mr. Holder in his new position.

RunBlogRun, #1. How did you get involved in sports media?

Jay Holder: I went to school for broadcast journalism where I ran XC and Track and Field and also produced hockey coverage. After school, I worked for more than a decade in local television news across the country. When I worked at WABC in New York, I was responsible for much of the production around the New York City Marathon. I also volunteered in media operations at the NYC Grand Prix. It was there that I discovered…