University of Tennessee football beat - Knoxville News Sentinel

The talented Austin Ward is taking his talents to ESPN.com to cover Ohio State. So for the third time (UT basketball beat, copy editor) since late March, I need to post a job opening at the News Sentinel. All three have left for good jobs in the business. The good news is we're hiring.
The position open will cover the No. 1 beat: University of Tennessee football. You will need experience to be considered, I'll be looking for 3-5 years at a daily newspaper or digital company. I'll be looking for someone that has had proven success on a beat, ability to break news, watchdog journalist, use social media, shoot video and ready for a competitive market.
I'll need a resume, cover letter and a range of clips. Please no phone calls.
Email or snail mail.
Phil Kaplan
Sports Editor - Editorial
News Sentinel | knoxnews.com
Products of KNS Media Group
2332 News Sentinel Drive
Knoxville, TN 37921
kaplanp@knoxnews.com

 

People seem real eager to leave your shop ... when you say they left for good jobs, it is kind of telling ... people leave for "good jobs" when they are at average or below average places ... your goal should be for people to leave only for excellent, top of the line gigs.

Of course, you have to pay the rate that "good jobs" pay first.

See the revolving door ... going round and round ... and round and round.

 

I have no "skin" in this game, so to speak, but I can vouch from seeing the paper that Knoxville puts out a damn fine product. When you cover a high profile school like Tennessee, your work will get noticed.

Good luck to everyone who applies. And if Phil ever needs a preps or small colleges editor...

 

Sorry, but if you're actually ripping on Phil and the Knoxville paper, you're out of your mind.

 

So one writer goes to ESPN.com and the other gets the Alabama beat essentially for the entire state of Alabama and you're calling Knoxville's paper an average or below-average place?

 

That's a little harsh, mate. There are lots of "good jobs" out there and people move around for a variety of reasons. It's not a knock on the Knoxville paper, just probably a coincidence that several things opened at once.

 

Sounds like a coincidence to me too.

 

I'm sure this is a VERY good job at a place that gives priority to the beat. If I were available, and could stomach the cesspool that has become major college athletics, I'd apply.

 

Phil is a highly respected sports editor, and his department routinely produces some of the country's best college coverage.

Andrew Gribble won two APSE awards before moving on to the Alabama beat this spring. And Austin Ward leaving to cover Ohio State for ESPN speaks for itself.

I know a handful of talented reporters, who would love an opportunity to land this job. And there's little doubt Phill will have his choice.

Good luck to all of the applicants.

 

Lost in all of the turnover as well: The fact Scripps is saying Phil CAN fill these positions. It could have been a case of "oh, just do more with less". Thank God it wasn't.

 

Can't be that good reporters are ambitious and often have trouble settling down in a business known for its volatility, that kind of an explanation would be CRAZY.