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Richmond - writer

Discussion in 'Journalism Jobs' started by Moderator1, Sep 11, 2009.

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  1. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    I'm too busy/lazy to go find the link right now on the Media General site, but my old joint is looking for a writer.
    They lost U.Va. writer Jeff White to U.Va. and racing/small colleges/GA writer Ralph Paulk to Pittsburgh. Far as I know, they're only replacing one now (maybe the other one later) and I don't know how it will be structured. U.Va. job? Another beat? Don't know. Just know it is a writing job.
    Go to Media General's site and search the jobs. It is there.
     
    Moderator1, Sep 11, 2009
    #1
  2. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    This seems to be it:

    http://jobs.mediageneral.com/JobDetails.asp?varID=RNI-000990


    I'm told that the second opening created when a sports writer left may go to news side but that's not certain. Well, it may be since the other listing on the site along with the one linked above is for a news reporter.
     
    Moderator1, Sep 11, 2009
    #2
  3. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    Ok moddy, I'll bite. Does it get your seal of approval?
     
    Drip, Sep 11, 2009
    #3
  4. thebigd

    thebigd Member

    Is this Trosky's shop still?
     
    thebigd, Sep 14, 2009
    #4
  5. imjustagirl

    imjustagirl Active Member

    Yep.
     
    imjustagirl, Sep 14, 2009
    #5
  6. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    This one should draw a flag for a couple of reasons. For starters, NEVER in my recollection has Moddy not given a seal of approval for this shop. As much as I may banter with him back in forth on issues - some of it jokingly - if he doesn't give a thumbs up, it's worth noting. Secondly, the latest thread on MG news involving furloughs is a definite cause for concern.
     
    Drip, Sep 17, 2009
    #6
  7. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    In this profession, in this era, every job on the board has a flag. Some are just bigger than others.
     
    playthrough, Sep 17, 2009
    #7
  8. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    I agree. Like I said, this is the first one in the Old Dominion that Moddy didn't sign off on, to my recollection. I could be wrong and he knows for sure. But what I do know is that it should serve as a warning.
     
    Drip, Sep 17, 2009
    #8
  9. RedHotChiliPrepper

    RedHotChiliPrepper Member

    So, let me ask this, outside of the potential warning signs of the trouble of the paper, should this be a good job in terms of the work and making a step up the ladder? It would seem, circulation-wise, and with the things they're able to cover, that this would be a nice gig in relation to purely just the work you're doing. Am I wrong?

    Because despite all the warning signs, Moddy apparently not giving his seal of approval, and the apparent appocalyptical feeling about the paper and its direction, this still seems like an enticing opportunity to someone in my position.
     
    RedHotChiliPrepper, Sep 20, 2009
    #9
  10. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    Look, please let's not read too much into Moddy's thumbs for right now. I'll have more to say later.
    Everyone knows I love this place. There's seven writers left. Five I worked with for 18 or more years and I would literally sacrifice my life for any of them. The other two I hired. I love Steve to death, professionally and personally. These are good, ass-busting people.
    That said, I'm getting tons of mixed signals. Before last week's news I would have given an enthusiastic thumbs up, even though they're not specifying a beat. Now? I'm still pointing up but maybe not as emphatically. Give me some time to figure out some things.

    My basic advice would be to apply, you darn sure won't get it otherwise. Go in with your eyes wide, wide, wide open and be ready to ask tons and tons and tons of questions. Hard questions. They're legit and you have a right to know honest answers as best as they can give them right now. If they balk at answering, you have your answer.

    And, drip, we have a lot of fine papers and fine newspaper people here in the Old Dominion. I'd endorse working at almost all of them. I don't sign off on every single one, however. There are some places I wouldn't recommend to a dead skunk.
     
    Moderator1, Sep 20, 2009
    #10
  11. RedHotChiliPrepper

    RedHotChiliPrepper Member

    Thanks, Moddy. I got the thumbs up from a colleague of mine who knew the are very well, and who I think you know. But like you, he had a not-so-emphatic thumbs up for the job. All the question-asking in the world likely doesn't matter for me, because I don't know how likely someone is to give me a shot at this kind of gig, but I was just looking for some input either way.

    I've already got a list of questions I want to ask should something positive result from this, and as you said, I will go in with eyes wide open as to the future.
     
    RedHotChiliPrepper, Sep 20, 2009
    #11
  12. imjustagirl

    imjustagirl Active Member

    Moddy, it's six writers according to Steve. The sports department is down 8 people from about 15 months ago.

    This job will most likely be a combo of racing and some smaller colleges with CAA football and some preps. That's my guesstimate. I'd guess more colleges/preps than racing.

    Moddy's dead right about the people involved. REALLY good folks who keep busting their ass no matter the crap coming down from above. And Steve's a VERY good man, possibly too nice.

    It's a job that's probably going to offer you more opportunities than some of the "new grads please apply" gigs. MG has its issues, but Moddy's right: As long as you ask the questions, and make sure you're comfortable with what they're telling you, it's a good group of people in the department to work with.
     
    imjustagirl, Sep 20, 2009
    #12
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