Where do you find the time and energy?

Ace · Nov 27, 2007

Pulitzer Wannabe said:

Ace said:

armageddon said:

Pulitzer Wannabe said:

The 40-hour week is a myth, obviously. But that's not what I feel pressured by. It's the fact that someone is always, always, always waiting on something from me - usually multiple things. Story A, Story B, Podcast, proof some stories on a desk shift, but do you also have Story C written? It's not getting things done in 40, 50 or 60 hours a week that puts the strain on me. It's that every single thing is made to feel like it needs to be done right this second. I read over a story for clarity/mistakes, and I just feel the editor standing over me, tapping his foot, whether he's five feet from me or hundreds of miles from me. That's what burns me out, and probably others, as well, judging from this thread.
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Bingo.

I can't tell you how many times I've started swearing this season because I've been in the middle of a story or an interview or planning or whatever and had to drop everything to blog some minor item ASAP to make sure the competition didn't get it on their site first.

And I'm not talking breaking news. I'm talking league player of the week honors, starting time for an upcoming event, etc. This is stuff that in the past would get in the notes but today if you don't post it first you're viewed as slacking.

And the worst thing? Often times we don't even run it in the paper the next day because it's already in the blog. :
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This is the new news cycle, though. The business has changed. And if video ever really takes off -- look out. That takes a lot more time than rewriting a press release.
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Absolutely correct. At some point, however, they have to begin adding staff, or else there are going to be a whole lot of burned-out sports writers. Which leads to more mistakes, carelessness, and early exit from the business. Beat writing can be an exhausting endeavor to begin with, particularly the NBA and MLB. But adding all the frills and expecting it done yesterday - oh, and by the way, no raises this year, sorry for your luck - is flirting with morale disaster.
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Well, of course it is.

But since none of that directly affects stock prices or golden parachutes or dividends or executive bonuses, it really doesn't matter much, does it?

RedHotChiliPrepper · Nov 27, 2007

Damaramu said:

Within 40 hours? I certainly work more than 40 hours and most journalists I meet work more than 40 hours. Though I wish that's all I worked. But it balances itself out I guess. Some weeks you work 60 and some you only work 20.
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Ok, I'm well aware of the more the more than 40 hours part. But who the hell is working 20 hour weeks? Even in the summer there's 40 or more hours worth of stuff to do.

Pulitzer Wannabe · Nov 27, 2007

RedHotChiliPrepper said:

Damaramu said:

Within 40 hours? I certainly work more than 40 hours and most journalists I meet work more than 40 hours. Though I wish that's all I worked. But it balances itself out I guess. Some weeks you work 60 and some you only work 20.
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Ok, I'm well aware of the more the more than 40 hours part. But who the hell is working 20 hour weeks? Even in the summer there's 40 or more hours worth of stuff to do.
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Not necessarily if you're at a bigger shop.

imjustagirl2 · Nov 27, 2007

I'm at a big shop, summer isn't my down time, and I'm on desk the night after my season ends.

Painting with broad brushes isn't always wise.

Pulitzer Wannabe · Nov 27, 2007

imjustagirl said:

I'm at a big shop, summer isn't my down time, and I'm on desk the night after my season ends.

Painting with broad brushes isn't always wise.
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Which is why I said "NOT NECESSARILY."

Misinterpreting what somebody wrote isn't always wise, either.

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Where do you find the time and energy?

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Where do you find the time and energy?

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