TV or print journalism?

So much depends on where you're doing this. ESPN goes through research drones like some folks do tissues - several folks I know have gone that route and been miserable, a couple are quite happy. If that's what you're talking about, be wary. On the other hand, if you're involved in researching and putting together specific magazine type stories, it might be great.

At least you're not talking about local TV sports, it appears. That's good, because the consultants keep pushing stations to cut, cut, cut sports until eventually there's not going to be anything left. Some stations have already gone that route.

 

True.

And, Dan, construction managers are at the whim of the economy, often have to travel for weeks on end and work long hours. Other than that, it's a great job.

 

Wow. Maybe it's my market, but here, sports gets almost as much time as news some days. Three or four days a week, they get more.

 

It's definitely your market. I have a pair of friends working in NFL cities who get two minutes at 6, 2:45 at 11 at this point.

 

At my shop it's 2:15 at 5:30pm and 2:30 at 10pm, and this is a city with all 4 major sports and a major D-I university.

One station in town eliminated sports a few years ago but brought it back within months. I think the backlash was pretty severe. The average viewer doesn't care much about sports, but you look like a Mickey Mouse organization if you don't have a sports department.

 

Our guys get 3 at the lowest end and 5 at the top end. On big prep or D-1 nights, they get half the show.

 

I say follow your heart. If it works out, more power to you.

But consider what Dan said.

 

I think it'd be like a newspaper that didn't have a sports section or even a sports page. I remember a faculty advisor telling me that some people buy the paper just to read the sports section. If she was right, if that's not there, there's no incentive for some people to buy the paper.

I wonder who had the idea to eliminate sports and how he/she ended up having to eat crow?

 

"EVERY job is full of bullshit. The best wade through it, and succeed in spite of it."

Well said. Couldn't agree more.

 

That's the beauty of TV management. No one ever eats crow. They blame it on the consultant, and consultants are fired every two years so nothing is ever a manager's fault.

 

Hoops, I think you should give it a shot. You have nothing to lose. I was considering moving over to the broadcast side after a couple more years of print, but now I am not so sure because of the job market where I live. I can tell you that broadcast professors have told me that the transition back to print from television is very easy.

My opinion to you is to give broadcast a try and if it is not your cup of tea in a couple of years time, go back to print.