CSN Mid-Atlantic Adds Washington Post Vet Leonard Shapiro to Digital Staff

Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic has brought on sportswriter Leonard Shapiro as a contributor to CSNwashington.com and CSNbaltimore.com.

Shapiro, 64, recently retired from The Washington Post, where he served as a sports reporter, editor, and columnist. A 40-plus-year veteran, Shapiro has already amassed more than 7,400 newspaper bylines, authored six sports-themed books and appeared in numerous national publications. He has covered more than 70 major golf tournaments, including every U.S. Open since 1991, five Olympics and numerous Super Bowls, World Series, NBA playoffs and NCAA championships.

“Len is an institution with a loyal following because of his unique gift for telling stories with passion, insight and color” says CSN Mid-Atlantic SVP and GM Rebecca Schulte. “He is part of the region’s sports culture and a significant addition to our expanding team of leading reporters, analysts and insiders serving Washington and Baltimore sports fans.”

The move follows several recent additions to CSN Mid Atlantic’s digital media team, including former Washington Times reporter Mark Zuckerman, longtime Redskins correspondent Rich Tandler, and 24-year Baltimore Sun sports department veteran Ray Frager as digital media managing editor. The CSN Mid-Atlantic digital staff also includes former Washington Times reporter Ryan O’Halloran and longtime Baltimore Sun sports columnist John Eisenberg.

During the fourth quarter of 2010, CSNwashington.com earned a 310% increase in unique visitors and a 151% gain in page-views compared to the same period in 2009. CSNbaltimore.com, which debuted in July 2010, has delivered a 101% month-over-month gain in visitors and a 92% increase in unique visitors in January.