Sports editor, Henderson N.C.

...from jj.com

Company: The Daily Dispatch
Position: sports editor
Location: Henderson, North Carolina
Job Status: Not Specified
Salary: Not Specified
Ad Expires: March 14, 2012
Job ID: 1319563
Website: http://www.hendersondispatch.com

Description:

The Daily Dispatch, a 7,200-circulation, award-winning daily newspaper in Henderson, North Carolina is seeking a sports editor. We have a one-person sports department, so this position does it all. Duties include covering high school, rec and college sports and coordinating stringers. This position also takes the lead on our sports special sections and is responsible for all sports web content (stories, blogs, etc.) The sports editor is not responsible for pagination, but is responsible for proofing/editing sports pages. To apply, send a resume with writing samples to Luke Horton at lhorton@hendersondispatch.com

 

Paaaaxxxxton.

 

One-person sports department at a six-day daily? Slightly above indentured servitude. Did it for a year at another paper in N.C. Chalk it up to Stockholm Syndrome.

 

Beat me to it. Again, Paxton. Enough said.

 

A one-person staff I understand at a 7200 circ daily. But having to proof and edit the sports pages nightly? What do you do, work a 15-hour day?

 

I was a 1-man at an 8k, 6 day and had to do layout on top of proofing, writing and shooting pictures. I think they need to include in the ad "You will never have a day off. Typical day includes working 3 p.m.-1 a.m. All meals will be eaten at your desk between phone calls from coaches. Abandon all hope ye who enter here."

 

ColdCat, I think you summed that up very well.

 

You forgot this: "And don't think about putting in for overtime, even if you've worked 60 or more hours ..."

 

Overtime at Paxton...

(fell to the floor laughing).

 

Let me guess, North Carolina is one of those "Right to Work" states.

Meaning if someone were to sue Paxton for unpaid overtime, or call the Dept. of Labor to complain, they'd be told they have a right to work, which doesn't necessarily mean a right to be paid.

 

No. What it ends up happening is you fill out a time card after the fact. Crunch the number to make sure they add up to 40 hours. Put in OT and a supervisor cracks down on you. But when you write down 40, you not only write off the OT, but also give up any leg you might have had to stand on.

What Paxton did to Durham was disgusting and, worse, this used to be a two-man sports department. And now they think because they sent off layout to be handled elsewhere, they can justify a one-man department? For a six-day paper?

Umm ... umm ...

 

I am certainly not defending Paxton by any means; They have run down some good papers in my home state (as have other media companies). But don't bash right-to-work laws. If you work 60 hours a week you should be paid for that work. It's your choice if you allow a company to "crack down on you" and make you only claim 40 or 37.5 hours.

Leave the company, for goodness sakes if they are doing that. Don't look back. Make sure to tell everyone else of your rotten experience with the company. But move on. That's the only way to change that type of behavior in companies like that.

I was the dutiful journalist for several years and worked tons of unpaid OT in the name of "covering my teams well." That was really dumb of me to get taken advantage of like that. Although it has helped my current career.