Sports/news reporter, The Associated Press, Jackson, Miss.

A few things about this job (or any AP job) as told to me by a former longtime APer who knows such things:

Minuses: You will work very, very hard (maybe you see this as a plus, however). ... AP tends to have a fear-based management style - quick to scream and blame, not as quick to praise and reward. Lots of knee-jerk reactions, especially by the sports editor and her immediate underlings. ... Editing, especially on the national level, is often heavy-handed. ... You will be expected to compete against newspapers and other outlets that have considerably more manpower (and womanpower). ... The news aspect of this job makes it all-encompassing and difficult to stay on top of everything.

Pluses: An AP week is a five-day, 40-hour week. There are days off, and an employee not only is allowed to take them but is expected to take them. ... There is OT pay when warranted. This is anything but the norm in this (and most any other) business these days. ... There is great potential for advancement. If AP likes you, the higher-ups will be on your side when opportunities become available. ... Sports fans in the state are passionate so there will be plenty of justification for doing even more than 75 percent sports. Enterprise opportunities will be plentiful.

Now, as for the pay: This is a guild job. The starting pay isn't the greatest, but by an AP employee's fifth and sixth year, the pay is pretty darn good for the industry - especially for an area such as Jackson, where a buck goes a long way. If the hire comes from outside AP, the rule of thumb has been that AP credits one year for every two worked. In other words - and unless this has changed recently - a sixth-year employee at the Podunk Press would be treated as a third-year APer for pay/vacation purposes. And AP employees are able to take their vacation time, unlike those at other places that quietly discourage it.

Good luck to any applicants for this and the other AP jobs that are popping open these days.

 

Thanks for the insight college girl. One thing about AP, it is a very thankless job that gets ripped a lot. You will be counted on to do a lot things. Definitely every day will be different.