‘Bulldog Insider’ host set to leave Fresno for bigger city after covering Super Bowl

A prominent face to Fresno sports coverage is leaving the market.

Andrew Marden, who for the past 10 years has hosted the popular Fresno State sports show “Bulldog Insider,” has taken a job in Sacramento.

Marden — known for his strong work ethic, dedication to journalism objectivity, and highlighting local ties and angles — will make his final local TV appearance on Sunday while providing Super Bowl LVIII coverage from Las Vegas for KSEE24.

“This was actually a difficult decision to make,” Marden said. “For me, I understand Sacramento is a bigger city, a bigger market and they have professional sports.

“But I like Fresno. I like the team that I work with. I like the work that we do. I felt like in my (time) here, I was able to make a positive impact. And that’s not something you want to throw away for any opportunity.”

A Syracuse alumnus and New Jersey native, Marden provided somewhat of an “outsider” point of view in his local sports coverage over the years — unwilling to take a “homer” stance in his sports coverage yet still managing to maintain viewers’ interests while emphasizing traditional journalism principles.

He never made his coverage about himself or his personality, instead making sure the story or the highlight clip itself was the attention-getter.

He never shied from reporting controversial-type stories, and in fact often would lead the charge and ask tough questions in both private and group interview settings.

And yet he still maintained close and respected relationships with sources, which positioned him to tell viewers interesting stories and important news over the years.

“You have to always toe the line as a journalist,” Marden said. “There are a lot of stories that have been uncomfortable for me to tell. But I felt like it’s important for me to pursue because it’s news and it needs to get out there.

“Not everything is a positive, uplifting feature. Sometimes, you have to report on coaches losing jobs or athletes getting arrested. There are some uncomfortable stories. But that’s part of the job.”

Marden’s dedication to objectivity when hosting the “Bulldog Insider” has turned out to be a lasting formula for audience retention.

The “Bulldog Insider” has aired as an independent show weekly since 2007.

“When I took it over, I had a vision for that show,” said Marden, who began hosting the Bulldog Insider during late 2013. “I wanted to make that show a magazine-type show. I didn’t want to regurgitate content from during the week. I didn’t want to re-run old highlights.

“I wanted there to be unique conversions, unique feature stories. I wanted people to turn into that show, knowing they were going to get fresh content that they couldn’t get someplace else.”

In all, Marden worked 16 years in the Fresno media market.

His first 4 1/2 years were with CBS-affiliate KGPE before the station was bought out by Nexstar Media Group, which went on to acquire Fresno NBC-affiliate KSEE24 months later and consolidated the two stations in 2013.

Marden’s top accomplishment was perhaps getting selected by parent company Nexstar to provide national and local coverage for four Olympics and five Super Bowls, including this weekend’s matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.

Marden’s local coverage, meanwhile, was highlighted with the rise and fall of Fresno State football within the five seasons under former coach Tim DeRuyter, including the Bulldogs’ record-breaking championship season in 2013 that was led by future NFL players Derek Carr and Davante Adams.

In addition, Marden told stories of the program’s immediately turnaround under current coach Jeff Tedford and the football team’s steady ascension as a conference power within the Mountain West.

His most challenging time in the market perhaps came during the COVID-19 pandemic when little to no sports were played, and access to Fresno State players and coaches was limited. Yet Marden continued to find content for the hour-long “Bulldog Insider,” thanks largely with his long list of contacts built over the years.

Marden, who has worked closely with the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame, will next become sports director for KTXL, the Fox-affiliate in Sacramento.

“I’m very proud of the work I’ve been able to do here,” Marden said. “I wanted to make sure I was fair and unbiased when it came to my coverage and that our content was interesting and informative.

“I hope those in Fresno could appreciate my approach.”