Hiring bias against sports writers?

It was a online application that didn't allow for posting clips.

How exactly is the topic I brought up trolling?

 

The bolded portion is your problem. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of applicants for every newspaper job opening. They aren't going to take what they see as a risk when they don't have any reason to. You think you can cover news? I know this person can. Because she's done it.

 

This is the answer I expected when I first opened this discussion because it makes the most sense, but I thought it was worth it to at least ask the questions.

 

wow. that is one of the most outstanding posts i've read here in a month.

i should squeeze that bad boy into my sigs.

 

Can't tell that to the metro twerps in our shop. We beat every area TV and radio station and web site and they get torched by a local weekly alternative news paper. But we're the neanderthals in the toy store.

 

Some very good suggestions on this thread, but I'll add this:

People whine about writing cover letters for applications, but this is EXACTLY the type of situation where a cover letter can serve you well. Point out that you can hit deadline, you can write a spot news/profile/column/explanatory/obit/etc., you have experience interviewing everyone from administrative officials to minors, you can use social media to cover a developing news story (a game), and so on.

You need to make your case that you have the skills, regardless of the subject matter. A cover letter is a great opportunity to do that.

 

This is brutal when you try and get out. Some people think every sports writer is Ray Romano. You have to wow them. Non-sports people think because it is a game, that is is somehow less serious and easier to write and report.

It is really hard to break out of that. Just, hope the hiring manager is somewhat knowledgeable sports fan. I don't say sports is my job, writing and journalism are my job.

 

That is a great, great point.

Too many sports writers just want to watch a game and write about the game, maybe do an occasional feature. But they're lost when it comes to anything having to do with the business/legal end of stuff.

 

Eh, maybe that one door closed. There will be others.

You might consider tweaking your resume to highlight different experiences and use a different version of the resume when applying for non sports jobs.

 

I wouldn't send game stories when applying for a news jobs. I'd go with features (especially human interest angles), hard news, analysis, enterprise stuff.