ASE: Little Rock, Ark.

[Idaho]

From a guy who knows a guy:

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, based in Little Rock, is seeking an assistant sports editor who possesses excellent design, editing and communication skills and who can work closely with deputy sports editor to put out a product that aims for national respect but caters to a statewide readership that is Hog wild about its sports.
Pagination skills are a plus, but even more important, the editor must have the experience to visualize a section from front to back and possess the patience and savvy to move elements around at a moment’s notice when news breaks.
The assistant sports editor will also be expected to work closely with graphics and photo, as well as the sports editor in the Northwest Edition in Fayetteville, especially when deputy sports editor is off. Candidate must be willing to learn and completely understand how to get appropriate art and graphics done for centerpiece packages.
The candidate must be willing to work within a system, but also be willing to suggest changes and introduce innovation on a regular basis.
Knowledge of college sports, especially the SEC, is helpful. Candidate should also be well-versed and willing to wade into intense prep coverage as well as minor league baseball, Outdoors, golf, motor sports and horse racing at Oaklawn Park.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has a daily circulation of 177,879 with a Sunday circulation of 283,376.
Interested candidates should contact Deputy Sports Editor Jeff Krupsaw (1-501-399-3637) or e-mail him at [email protected] for more details.

 

[Editude]

Paper has good reach, but it sounds like another gig that equates ASE with lead designer.

 

[Football_Bat]

Paper has good reach, but it sounds like another gig that equates ASE with lead designer.

Lord knows they need one. The paper looks much the same as it did in 1979 when the original Democrat went AM. (Although the sports design isn't as bad.)

 

[Editude]

The design is old rather than elegant, but an ASE needs to be able to monitor others' work rather than updating Page 1 when Kobe scores 81.

 

[JayFarrar]

The design is old rather than elegant, but an ASE needs to be able to monitor others' work rather than updating Page 1 when Kobe scores 81.

Oh no, that's the NBA and that doesn't get in the Democrat. The key line in the job ad was "Hog wild" as in all Razorbacks, all the time.
You can look a week's worth of covers online if you want. A Razorbacks story was the lead in five of the seven sections.

 

[Bill Horton]

I don't know much about the specifics of the job but I will say this:
Jeff Krupsaw was as good to me as anyone in the business. He was a mentor, an encourager and when I needed it, a caring critic who would correct me without tearing down but instead worked to build me up. (That's a lot more than can be said of the SE who directly followed him at the Columbia Daily Tribune).
He was honest with me and always willing to go the extra mile for me. And he's one helluva a funny guy with a wonderful wife.
And no, I'm not Krup. If Krup caught me writing this he'd probably throw me underneath a very fast racehorse down the stretch.

 

[boots]

I've met Krup through mutual friends. He seemed like a nice guy.

 

[lurking]

Krup is absolutely the smartest journalist I've ever known. And what has already been said here about his character is absolutely correct. If you work under him, he's in your corner and I think that's worth an awful lot.

 

[greatgooglymoogly]

did Krup leave?

 

[lurking]

Nope. He is the contact person for the open spot.

 

[Football_Bat]

One little problem: Word on the SportsJournalists.com street is Krup frowns on posting on good ol' SportsJournalists.com.

So how do you tell him how you found out about the opening if you read it here?

ADD: I've met Krup before and he seemed nice enough to me. But Wally Hall is a total prick.

SECOND ADD: Problem solved. Opening is now posted on journalismjobs.com.

 

[greatgooglymoogly]

sorry I didn't fully read the thing. Who is leaving then, Suchan?

 

[fishwrapper]

Krup is absolutely the smartest journalist I've ever known. And what has already been said here about his character is absolutely correct. If you work under him, he's in your corner and I think that's worth an awful lot.

Thanks, Krup.

 

[OneMoreRead]

But Wally Hall is a total prick.

I've heard a lot of stories about that guy.

 

[JayFarrar]

This could be a bad move for the Democrat.
Suppose they hire a young and coming-up sports editor for a smaller paper. Maybe one of the other papers around Arkansas, like a Springdale.
And this guy promises he can bring a couple of his stud page designers if they give him the job. So the Democrat does and things are going pretty good at first.
The new ASE is all over the job, making the calls, just running the section and the readers are loving it. I mean the new ASE was practically a religious figure, and when he went to the Democrat, the readers followed.
But then disaster strikes. All hell breaks loose on the first night of college football. Game's moved to a late kick for TV and then it runs long and the whole thing explodes in the ASE's face. Deadline gets busted, papers go out late and the publisher decides the new ASE can't cut it, his system just won't work on the metro level and he tells the SE that he needs to start running the show again. Things even out, but down the stretch the Democrat gets trounced in section competitions. The readers are clamoring. If the ASE was allowed to do what he was hired for, the section would be awesome. They just know it.
But the proof is in the pudding and while doing well against the same level, the section needs something more to take the next step up. So the SE starts looking around and calls his buddy to see if he would also work as an ASE for the section. And the ASE from the Springdale paper starts looking around for another gig, but the readers are just aghast, just can't believe that the publisher and the SE would try to take down their beloved. People are threatening to cancel their subscriptions and maybe even protest to the advertisers who support the section.
In the midst of all this, the ASE, the one hired from Springdale, decides its time to go and heads to Joplin. Turns out the Glob needs an ASE who can run the show and the stud page designers? Well one heads to LA because he knows he can succeed at the metro level and the other heads to school and is going to evaluate his choices after a semester.
The moral of this story? Don't hire anyone from Springdale.

 

[Riddick]

Wow! From the Democrat to the Globe. Amazing.

 

[Slash]

Like any place, this one has some good and bad. PM me if you want specifics.

 

[thegrifter]

really stupid question I'm sure, but what's salary on a gig like this?

 

[Flip Wilson]

One little problem: Word on the SportsJournalists.com street is Krup frowns on posting on good ol' SportsJournalists.com.

So how do you tell him how you found out about the opening if you read it here?

ADD: I've met Krup before and he seemed nice enough to me. But Wally Hall is a total prick.

How much contact would the person in this job have with Wally. My impression is Krup does the day-to-day and Wally just writes columns.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

I've heard bad things about Wally, but I do love the title of his column.