A Friday Night Writes Story...

[daytonadan1983]

I shared this story with jr/shotglass and he thought it was good enough to put in the main thread.

It's a stringer's story about the current state of high school football coverage... I think.

My local paper is paying $50 for a high school game.

They want us to shoot video post-game, but won't pay extra for it. So I don't.

One Friday night, I was scheduled for a local game. Boss wants me to go to another game. 50-mile round trip. I ask for $10 gas. Get $5. For a 50 mile round trip. I know, but Boss has been good to me throughout the years.

I'm the only reporter there. Other local paper doesn't cover the game.

Lightning delays for an hour. Then we start -- I'm the only live game in the region. My twitter goes through the roof. 30,000 impressions -- including retweets from the other local paper. Then I realize I've become "a twitter-addicted narcissist."

Get to halftime. 3-0. Lightning storm 20 minutes out. Game called.

I file $50 worth of copy and get the heck out.

Get back home. Other local paper calls. "Anything final on that game?" "Ask the reporter you had there" was my first response. (Then I helped out a little. The editor that called is also a long-time friend)

And just when I was about to say "I'm done" .... my boss calls and goes "Great Job. Hey, that game I originally had you down for has been rescheduled for Monday night -- it's all yours."

Sometimes, it all works out for the best.

 

[Doc Holliday]

No way I'd string any game for $50 these days. By the time you count your drive time plus writing time, you're at least taking about a five-hour night, more likely six. That's $10 an hour or less. My time is worth more. But neat story. Nice to be the only game in town for a night.