Sports openings with Syracuse Media Group (Post-Standard)

Here are a few openings with the Syracuse Media Group

College sports editor: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1447149

Syracuse football/basketball reporter: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1445318

Syracuse football lead reporter: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1445319

GA reporter: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1445320

Community engagement specialist: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1445333

 

I submitted an application but there was never an opportunity to include clips or writing samples. Will you be asking for clips if applicants appear to be a good match or should I send them somewhere?

 

They'll contact you for samples if everything else looks good.

 

Great. Thanks.

 

The real question: How are there this many different openings at the same time? Seems... a bit suspect.

 

It was mentioned on another thread that Syracuse and Harrisburg both were reducing printing frequency. Now we see all these openings at both places. So....

I understand that reducing print frequency does not necessarily correspond to manpower needs and that you still need journalists for both print and online stuff. But I am curious did they do a massive newsroom purge and now are rehiring for positions where they ran people off. Or is this completely unrelated?

 

I would imagine the old reporters will be rehired, but SMG is seeing what's out there. But I'm not sure.

 

OK, so that raises another question. And I'm not sure where I stand on this issue.

If you see an opening for "Syracuse beat writer" and apply, get an interview and offer, is it ethical to accept a position knowing that doing so means kicking an incumbent out the door?

On the one hand, we've all seen that happen in different professions, be it coaching, politics or whatever. Management is within its legal rights to change personnel for whatever reason, and however often, it wants. On the other hand, if you live by the principle of treating others as you would wish to be treated and you know the incumbent isn't stepping aside for a better deal, are you job-stealing?

 

We've been through all this on the wave of job postings for NOLA.com and AL.com that are, indirectly or directly, replacing people who have been laid off.

This is the same routine.

The rules don't change. Look out for yourself. If you don't take the job, someone else will.

 

From someone who got a phone interview with the headhunting company that is doing the initial round of scouting -

The impression I gathered from the lady I talked to was the paper is basically hiring online writers to fill an online void. The stuff the newspaper writers produce won't go to site and vice versa. It's all digital basically and that's what they're hiring.

That being said, they aren't paying for relocation and she did say they were looking for folks in the region, with some experience covering Syracuse, etc. As an independent agency doing the calls, she was "looking for the best folks out there" but I'm assuming the company will take their suggestions and whittle them down to the ones that are close and qualified.

Like I said, just what I took from the call.

 

Were you asked for references?