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UK writer looking to work in the US

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by lakeyboy, Jun 25, 2007.

  1. lakeyboy

    lakeyboy New Member

    Hello chaps

    I don't know if I'm posting this in the right place or not, so apologies in advance for that.

    I'm currently working in England covering football (that's 'soccer' over there!) and am in desperate need of a new challenge. One of the things I have always wanted to do is live and work in the US.

    Can anyone give me any advice as to how I would go about this? Is just applying for jobs on the boards here the best way or are there visa issues? Would it be a good idea to get fixed up with an agency first?

    Thanks for any advice anyone can provide me with at all...
     
  2. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    This cries for a University of Kentucky not being part of the US quip, but I'm rusty...

    Can't speak to the visa issues, but you might want to try our job board, one of journalismjobs.comand on the apse website.
    Good luck to you. The challenge might be in finding a job that will pay you money or an employeer who won't use and abuse you.
     
  3. Starman

    Starman Well-Known Member

    I would think you should check with the U.S. Embassy in regards to residence and visa issues. I doubt many people on the board are really informed enough to give you reliable information, and that's certainly an area in which you don't want to be dependent on "something somebody heard from somebody somewhere." ::)

    You should be aware before you start (I assume you probably already are) of two factors: 1) soccer is a very minor sport in the U.S. in regard to readership interest, and there are not very many publications who employ full-time writers to cover it (and those most likely are concentrated in the very largest markets); and 2), the job market in journalism overall in the U.S. is extremely oversaturated, with many many more graduates from journalism schools entering the job market every year than there are jobs available to be filled. To make matters worse, many companies are cutting writing positions.

    Now that I've done everything possible to dump ice water on your dreams, good luck anyway. We have a lot of people in our industry who seem to be sick of it; we can probably use a few who really want to be in it.
     
  4. RedCanuck

    RedCanuck Active Member

    My understanding as a Canadian looking for something similar is that you really have to have an employer who wants to bring you in to get that work visa or green card, primarily because there are so many Americans looking to take the the jobs available that are looking to be filled. Since there is concern you're taking an American job, they almost have to prove you're better than the alternative.

    Maybe if a paper is looking for a soccer writer, they might be able to swing something, but otherwise, I would expect you're going to have an uphill climb — without marrying an American or something along those lines. I understand post-9/11 they really slammed the door fairly tight in this industry.
     
  5. lakeyboy

    lakeyboy New Member

    Thanks for your replies. I pretty much thought that if it was me versus an American candidate the employer would go for the latter due to the visa complications, and it's unlikely I'll have a 'leg up' on any such candidate in terms of knowledge, specialism etc.

    Will keep my eye open for any MLS reporting jobs. In the meantime, if anyone wants any copy from this side of the pond, let me know!
     
  6. GB-Hack

    GB-Hack Active Member

    Lakey,

    I was already over here and married to a U.S. Citizen before I got into journalism. However, I do know that you would need to get a job and apply for a visa/work permit before you leave Britain, I had to do that when I was going to be a student over here.

    Good luck.
     
  7. writing irish

    writing irish Active Member

    Might want to get any medical issues squared away before you land on these fine shores. You see, health care's different over here...
     
  8. Freelance Hack

    Freelance Hack Active Member

    Typically, UK grads do need visas to work in the US. Most also need to learn English. :p
     
  9. RayKinsella

    RayKinsella Member

    Wait for it.....


    ..



    .


    You're hired!!!!!!!!!!
     
  10. Football_Bat

    Football_Bat Well-Known Member

    I've always kicked round the idea of going to the UK to work, myself. Either for a British publication or as a correspondent for an American paper. Do the rules operate the same in reverse?

    (As long as I get paid in sterling — the pound is kicking the dollar's ass right now.)
     
  11. britwrit

    britwrit Well-Known Member

    Yeah, I'm an American living over here and the visa rules are pretty strict. One way around it is if you qualify for citizenship in an EC nation through a parent or grandparent. One of my grandfathers was Irish, so I got it that way and now can live and work here in the UK. Germany offers the same deal and I think Italy also does as well. You also don't have to give up your US passport at the same time.

    I know this gets into the "something somebody heard somewhere territory" but if you're British, I heard the Press Association is expanding into the US with their PA sports ticker. You might want to give them a try. And Bloomberg (again, I heard) is expanding its sport operations in Europe.
     
  12. novelist_wannabe

    novelist_wannabe Well-Known Member

    Lakeyboy: This is purely a guess, but given the current journalism job market in the U.S., your chances of living and working here might be greater if you can get a British publication to send you here as a correspondent.
     
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