Kick some a** in Big Rapids, Mich.

News reporter ad is unique.

http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1470263

Company: Pioneer Group
Position: Reporter
Location: Big Rapids, Michigan
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Not Specified
Ad Expires: March 22, 2013
Job ID: 1470263

Description:

BIG TIME IN BIG RAPIDS! Attention Watchdogs: Biggest, best beat in the
newsroom can be yours. City Reporter covers Big Rapids government,
business. Time to go big or go home - your chance to kick ass and get
noticed. If your skills, motivation are big enough for the job, send
five clips/resume to dclark@pioneergroup.com or Dave Clark, Pioneer,
115 N. Michigan Ave. Big Rapids, MI 49307

Sports reporter job also open, but you don't need to kick ass in that role.

http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1470266

Company: Pioneer Group
Position:SPORTS REPORTER!
Location: Big Rapids, Michigan
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Not Specified
Ad Expires: March 22, 2013
Job ID: 1470266
Website: http://bigrapidsnews.com

Description:

GET IN THE GAME: Are you itching to prove you belong in the starting
lineup? The Pioneer (Big Rapids, MI) is looking for sports writer
prospects. Cover Mecosta and Osceola schools, Division II Ferris State University.

Our award-winning Sports department consistently provides the most
in-depth prep and local sports coverage in the region, with the
attention to detail you'd expect from the pros. This position requires
nightly game coverage, with an ability to consistently turn in
features and enterprise pieces that set us apart from our peers. Page
design experience is preferred. Send a cover letter, resume and five
samples of your work to mslagter@pioneergroup.com or to The Pioneer
Group, 115 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids, MI 49307. ATTN: Martin
Slagter.

 

Re: Kick some ass in Big Rapids, Mich.

That ad should weed out plenty of unqualified candidates. Not everyone has what it takes to be a SPORTS REPORTER!

 

Re: Kick some ass in Big Rapids, Mich.

How big does the paycheck go?

C'mon, now. This is the BIG TIME in BIG RAPIDS!!!

 

Re: Kick some ass in Big Rapids, Mich.

GO BIG OR GO HOME!

 

I've never been so proud to state Big Rapids, Mich. is my hometown. Go Bulldogs.

 

Big as in paycheck? The hell you say!

 

I kinda like Mr. Clark's attitude.

 

It really isn't a bad paper, but the ad is a bit out there. They do cover the high schools very well. Couldn't tell you how much experience you'd get covering Ferris State... the one that used to cover Ferris for the Pioneer is now the school's social media manager...

 

Are there any adequate or average rapids in Michigan?

 

As far as jobs for a young sports reporter, you can do a whole lot worse than this. The publisher and editor are both great people to work for, which I know from experience. I was the SE there for three years. The sports staff is two full-timers, which is rare for a paper that size. That's nice because it does allow for some flexibility in hours/work load. You're going to work hard and not make a lot of money, but that's what working at a smallish paper means.

I think there will be some opportunity for the newcomer to cover Ferris, although he/she's primary focus will be the eight high schools (Big Rapids, Reed City, Morley Stanwood, Chippewa Hills, Crossroads, Evart, Baldwin and Pine River). John Raffel, the longtime SE in Greenville, also works at the Pioneer as a part-timer. In the past, the coverage of Ferris was kind of devoted to one person, but that was kind of by necessity, without going into detail. The quality of high school sports is decent. You're not covering the OK Red or Detroit Catholic league by any means, but Chip Hills, Reed City, Morley Stanwood and Big Rapids have their moments.

As far as Ferris, this is a great time to get on that bandwagon. Bob Daniels has the hockey program at an all-time high and the football program is looking up under Tony Annese.

 

They are all Grand, at the very least. Or is Grand bigger than BIG?! So many questions, so few answers.

 

There's one that's Eaton.