Opening in Killeen, TX

I am looking for a copy editor or a reporter to fill a soon-to-be open position in my department. The Killeen Daily Herald is a seven-day, 20k-circulation paper that covers 12 high schools, a D-III university (UMHB) and some Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M football.

I will be looking for the best hire, even if it takes me a month to find you. The hire likely will not start until September.

Right now I am looking at this one of two ways -- I can either get a solid designer or I can hire another writer. The writer would cover three 5A high schools, Killeen, Shoemaker and Temple) and also have the option to cover a few Divison-I games. This position mostly covered Texas A&M last year.

We take a pretty hands on and creative approach to our coverage and will be looking for an organized individual who can think outside the box. Last year, we won two APSE top-5 section awards and this open position and another writer took Top-10 in beat writing.

If you are interested send your resumes and five or more clips to kdhtalbot@gmail.com. Don't kill yourself with a cover letter, I'd rather take time to read the clips.

 

Posted today on Journalism Jobs: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1520323

 

You can still send stuff to my email as well as personnel if you want. We are looking to move on this quickly now.

 

Is it safe to assume those who applied for the first round are out of the running?

 

I have not ruled anyone out, yet. They just posted it on JJobs. I actually had a second opening come open. Only one other movement in 4 years and now I two guys left within a week of each other leaving (one has been here nearly 7 years, the other 4). That's just how it works sometimes I suppose. But, I wanted to broaden the pool and make sure I get great hires since I now have 2 openings. We have done some initial in-state interviews, but have not hired for either position, yet.

 

Just saw an opening for a sports editor position in Killeen. Changes?

 

Nick Talbot is going to Jackson to be a producer, opening up the SE job in Killeen.

 

So I believe that's three openings at a 20K staff that probably doesn't have many more people than that.

 

Sometimes, that can be for the best. Start afresh without a lot of "well, this is how we used to do it" talk.

 

Unless they've changed this leaves them with one staff writer, who despite being the newest member of the staff, probably is qualified to take over as sports editor if they opt to go that way. And I think there is also a dedicated desk guy there, who also used to be the sports editor.
With football starting a week from today, I imagine all three of these will be filled quicky.

 

This is all correct, except the staff writer has chosen not to take over the role of SE.

 

I guess that's why a sports editor opening was posted today.