Michael Kataja

Background

About Michael Kataja

I’m an Emmy Award-winning Video Editor and Supervisor with 20 years of experience shaping sports content for ESPN across every platform. My career has centered on turning moments into stories, from fast-turnaround highlights to intricate breakdown tapes, while leading and mentoring a team of editors to deliver work that informs, excites, and connects with fans. Fluent in Viz Libero, Grass Valley (Quantel), and the Adobe Suite, I also bring deep experience in production workflows using Asana, MediaPulse, MS Teams, and more. I deliver value at the intersection of craft and leadership, balancing hands-on editing with helping others elevate their work. My work has been recognized with four Sports Emmy Awards and a New York Film Festival Gold Medal, reflecting both creative excellence and collaborative teamwork. I’m passionate about elevating content through telestration, storytelling, and emerging tools, and about mentoring the next generation of editors who will define how sports stories are told.