Steven Ginsberg, executive editor at The Athletic, sent an internal memo to staff after NFL insider Dianna Russini submitted her resignation, saying “new questions” have come up as the company conducts its investigation into her conduct.
The memo, shared by Puck’s Dylan Byers on X, was sent via Slack and timestamped at 3:43 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13. Russini, 43, shared her resignation letter via X 20 minutes later.
“I’m writing to let you know that Dianna Russini has submitted her resignation from The Athletic, effective immediately,” the memo began. “While I can’t share the details of our investigation into Dianna’s conduct, I want to emphasize that the leadership of The Athletic has taken this matter seriously from the moment we learned about it.”
Ginsberg continued, “Our coverage at The Athletic is deeply rooted in our integrity and our commitment to earning the trust of our audience. Our newsroom has thrived because of our core journalistic values, and we will always ensure they are protected.”
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Russini resigned amid The Athletic’s investigation into photos published by Page Six showing her and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel together at a resort in Arizona. She and Vrabel, 50, who are both married, have insisted the photos are innocent, with Russini saying they were with a group of friends who were not pictured.
Ginsberg initially defended Russini, releasing a statement that said the photos “lack essential context.”
“When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter,” he wrote in the memo. “As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.”
Ginsberg did not specify what the additional information entails, but said that despite Russini’s resignation, the investigation into her conduct is continuing.
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“Amid all of this, I want to sincerely thank everyone for continuing to produce the best sports report in the business,” Ginsberg concluded. “I’m looking forward to focusing on our journalism and continuing our momentum.”
In her resignation letter, Russini maintained that she did not compromise her ethics as a reporter.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” she wrote.
She added, “Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.”
