Poll for SEs and assistant SEs

Regardless of what description fits your present work, would you rather:

1) be the desk guy who puts it all together in a trenches approach?

2) as opposed to being in the trenches, be the visible person, the face and vision of the paper who does a regular column and if any desk stuff, minimal at best?

I debated making this a poll, but it's the commentary rather than the numbers that I thought would be most interesting (OK, so you can do both in a poll, so I'm arguing with myself!)

 

I'd rather be the guy who works with writers, assigns stories and such and doesn't have to work till 1 a.m.

 

I'd rather get things organized, write a little bit when I find something worthwhile, do some copy editing, design 1-2 days a week and basically be involved in a lot of things to make the sports section a solid one.

 

I'll vote for that.

 

Take away the writing and it's my dream job.

 

I think the "write a little bit when I find something worthwhile" part would cover that. If it isn't something that really interests you, assign it to someone else.

 

I like being the visible person. maybe a column a week or so with stories mixed in every now and then. but also remain very hands on.

 

Be visible, write a lot and do layout. I wouldn't want to handle rec stuff, local briefs, etc. i just don't see how an SE can function properly if he never leaves the desk.

 

i'm not that big on being visible -- i could care less who recognizes me in public -- but I do enjoy writing enterprise, features and columns.
I also like planning and developing projects.
That said, I try to do my part when it comes to the bullshit stuff because I don't want my staff thinking I'm above doing the crap that I have to assign them.
That's what works for me.

 

Option 2 would be my ultimate dream. Right now, my discription is more like Option 1.
Part of me does like being in the trenches. I've been at a place where the SE didn't do shit and wouldn't dare touch a page (or edit, for that matter). He basically spent weeks away, looking for any reason to travel on the company's dime. In the process, he alienated everyone in the sports department. For me, I like being in the trenches because I'm going through the same things as the other reporters, so I can relate to them better.

 

so, your job is much like your penis?

 

Kinda. Cause I want to be firm, yet fun for those around me.