Tim Stephens to CBS

Wow.

And to get a plug in first ....

I'm good enough to be sports editor of the Fort Orlando Sentinel-Sun-Sentinel, dammit!

 

Issues to think about in Orlando/Ft. Lauderdale:

1. Papers currently in bankruptcy.
2. Papers likely to be sold once parent Tribune emerges from bankruptcy.
3. Numbers 1 + 2 = uncertain future.

 

who becomes the front-runner for Tim's gig?

 

I hate to be the one to ask, but ... was this Craig Stanke's position?

 

No. Stanke posted the job before he died.

 

Congrats to Tim!

 

Here is Tim's new job:


Senior Product Manager, CBSSports.com
« on: March 30, 2012, 12:42:38 PM »
Quote
All: This isn't really an editorial job, but it's a critical one, so if you are interested, or know somebody who might be a good fit, please pass it along.

This is, in SportsJournalists.com parlance, a "big-boy/girl" job, an extremely important position to us at this company.

Job Title Sr. Product Manager
Auto req ID 10982BR
CBS Business Unit CBS Interactive
Division/Station CBSsports.com
Department / Business Unit Sports
Location Florida - Fort Lauderdale
Job Description Are you a passionate sports fan? Could you create the ultimate online and mobile destinations for other passionate sports fans? CBSSports.com is looking for you, the sports junkie and visionary to oversee all aspects of planning and execution in the development of content and products with a heavy emphasis on college football and basketball. Chosen candidate would touch all aspects of the consumer experience on every platform.

Role and responsibilities:
- Drive growth and engagement for college football, college basketball audiences.
- Develop and implement content strategies for all major sports.
- Lead teams of designers, developers, producers and editors.
- Assess competitive sets, emerging technology, and user base.
- Monitor traffic, unique visitors, consumption, referrers and other metrics, and develop growth plans.
- Coordinate between product, engineering, editorial, design, sales and marketing groups.
- Able to develop and mentor a staff, individually and on a macro level.
Required Skills/Experience - Robust sports background, either at online property or publication.
- 5+ years' experience in product and project management, with deep understanding of online media and mobile.
- Strong managerial and organizational skills.
- Operational savvy; adept at management of the moving parts.
- Minimum of BA or equivalent training and experience.
- The candidate should have an entrepreneurial sensibility and a track record of delivering products.
- Accomplished facilitator who is able to understand/articulate input of engineering, editorial and video groups.
*Must successfully pass a background check.

The ideal candidate:
- Sports nut
- Experience with brand strategy
- High social media IQ
- Strong sense of user experience
- Significant media industry and interactive experience
- Understanding of design, editorial and development processes
- Trustworthy, committed, considerate and skilled; high emotional IQ, good listener
- Entrepreneurial drive with a hands-on, high-energy personality
- Resourceful, efficient, and proactive approach
- Ability to track details without losing sight of the big picture
- Thrives on strict deadlines
- Innovation and initiative to discover new ways to engage college sports audience
Job Status Full Time

http://www.cbsinteractive.com/jobsearch.php?mode=by_req&reqID=10982BR&tag=main_wrap;content

 

Now that Tim is in a new gig, I wonder what he would say about the pros and cons of running two departments in two different cities simultaneously.

 

Is each paper now posting an ad for half a sports editor?

 

It really cannot be done effectively unless the bulk of the overall staff is in one place (likely impossible) or there are extremely strong and empowered ASEs in both places. Tim's one of the best in the business, but he is only one person.