Sports Copy Editor, Toledo, OH

From JJ

Award-winning Midwest daily newspaper is in need of a paginator/copy editor who knows their way around the world of sports. The successful candidate will have proven skills in copy editing, paginating and sports section layout. Position requires evening and weekend work.. Must have a four-year degree or equivalent experience, and must have worked as a copy editor/paginator at a daily newspaper for a minimum of one year. While original emphasis will be on the printed product, Web experience is a plus, as late-night editing for the Web will be folded into this position over time. Knowledge of Facebook and Twitter is another plus.

This employer only accepts online applications.

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So, what's the word on T-Town lately? I'm thinking of throwing the hat into the ring. Is it a good shop?
I know they made cuts a few years ago.

 

Two things:

1. How could I apply?
2. Any chance this pays more than $32K?

 

Grew up on this paper but haven't had much contact with it professionally. But, from what I know, it's a mixed bag of a situation. It's a guild shop, so that will be a positive. On the other hand, I think they went to a two-tier scale during the last contract negotiations.

The Block family, which owns the paper along with the local cable company and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, has its quirks. They'll do front-page editorials, and they still use courtesy titles outside of sports. The sports section is solid ... not a ton of takeouts or enterprise, but very good on day-to-day stuff, especially with their college coverage. Not a big fan of some of the football special sections they have done in the past, but they have knocked some golf special sections right out of the park ... the city is good for a PGA Championship or major USGA event every 8-10 years, with the LPGA filling the gap in the interim.

As far as Toledo itself goes, it has improved greatly during the past 10 years. A gem of a ballpark opened downtown for the Mud Hens, and a new arena for the ECHL hockey team came online about a year ago. Some watering holes have popped up downtown as a result, giving what was a dead area a decade or two ago a bit of a life. And the opening of a casino across the river in 2012 should help things, as well.

 

Mud Hens have a really cool stadium. That's about all I can help with.

 

I know and once worked for Frank Corsoe, if he's still the SE there. Good people. Make sure you have plenty of caffeine on hand -- he's pretty high energy -- but he was always very supportive of staff and willing to listen to new ideas and differing opinions. He also values his desk, which is something all good editors do.

 

Just did a stringing gig for Toledo at state volleyball finals. Frank's still SE and my dealings with him were great. Don't know much about the job situation, but I'd give the paper a fair shake. I always pick it up when I go through or am by Toledo.

 

I've never met Frank, but he's done some interesting and fun stuff with video. The cable company that the paper owns has a channel devoted to high school and local college sports (BCSN), and he's on there from time to time.

 

Got an e-mail back saying this position has been filled but there is a news reporter opening.

 

The fact it's filled is news to some friends that still work there. And a college friend who works there tells me the hours are brutal...it's a 6p-2a shift, and it's not a get done at 1am and leave type of thing, nope, you're there until 2am every night you work. Good luck getting any weekends or holidays off either if you are low man/woamn and that there's a lot of people with a title and little direction.

 

Well the reply I got was one of those form replies, unless they just picked me out to decline.

As far as brutal hours - ARE YOU SERIOUS? 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. is an eight-hour shift, nothing wrong with that. In my career I have worked such schedules as 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. I see nothing "brutal" about a 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift.

 

Shame to hear the job is taken. I got the same form letter.

Maybe they have narrowed the field and aren't taking applications anymore and it's just easier to say it's filled rather than "we are not taking applications anymore." Just a hunch.

But, yeah, I don't see a 6 pm-2 am shift as brutal. It's just a normal shift, but if that's true, a lot of might be web work. My friend had a schedule like that at his last shop.

 

The place is a trainwreck right now. New system installed which is driving people crazy, they are constantly missing deadline, and there is a lot of redundant management.

You aren't actually working for the sports dept, you answer to someone outside of it.

Not to mention....

http://www.toledofreepress.com/2010/11/04/blade-seeks-cuts-in-union-jobs-wages-benefits/

If you want an honest assessment of the place (it's a previous stop for me), PM me.