Best state to live in as a sports reporter?

[Damaramu]

I figured everyone would have a different opinion on this one.

What do you think is the best state to live in and cover sports? Like where would be the ideal place for a sports reporter to live and work at?

For me it's Arizona. I've heard nothing but good things about the weather there. They seem to have a wide variety of pro and college teams to cover as well. I figured you'd have no shortage of work to do there.

I've always wanted to end up working at a paper in Oklahoma because it's where I grew up and where my family is. But, honestly if it came down to Arizona or my home I'd go with Arizona.

What does everyone else think?



*PS* Does every state have a press association website with job listings? Because I know OK has the Oklahoma Press Association and I've seen some decent openings on there. Wonder if 'zona has that too? Forgive my noobish and neophyte musings.

 

[Batman]

Most state press associations have some form of job listings on their sites, but the quality varies. Some of them have every job, others only advertise for the desperate.
apse.dallasnews.com or journalismjobs.com don't have every job, but they have enough to give you an idea of what's out there at a wide variety of places.
Here's a pretty good list of links to state press associations. Peruse them at your leisure:
http://www.mspress.org/pressassn.html

As for the best states to work in, I would think any area that gives you a chance to cover pro and college stuff in addition to solid prep sports would be good. Texas, maybe, or Florida. Both have decent weather and neither has state income tax. The Northeast corridor would be good for variety, but has a lot of other factors working against it (crowded, lots of competition on the bigger beats, weather, etc.).

 

[jgmacg]

Best state to live in as a sports reporter?

Denial.

 

[Ace]

State of employment.

 

[Paper Champion]

I would say Texas. The state is passionate at every level and most big cities such as Houston, Dallas and San Antonio have a cheap cost of living compared to most major cities. The sports sections, big and small, are solid across the board and the weather is great 10 months a year (excluding summer).

 

[TyWebb]

Disbelief

 

[Idaho]

Saskatchewan

 

[EStreetJoe]

I would say the central part of New Jersey.
- High school sports are big
- You've got Rutgers for D-1 major, you've got Rider, Princeton and Monmouth as mid-lower D-1 majors... there's a few D3s and a bunch of JUCOs.
- Plus if you're in the right part of central Jersey you're in the overlap market.. where all the Philly and New York City pro teams get to be/need to be covered.
- A little bit off to the north or the south and you lose some of the D1s and a city (either NYC or Philly)

Yes, the cost of living is high, but you get exposure to both media markets which is a plus... especially if you don't have a dish and the NYC and Philly stations are airing different NFL games.

 

[Ace]

I would say Texas. The state is passionate at every level and most big cities such as Houston, Dallas and San Antonio have a cheap cost of living compared to most major cities. The sports sections, big and small, are solid across the board and the weather is great 10 months a year (excluding summer).

Good points all.

Long drives and monotonous scenery in most of Texas, though.

 

[sportschick]

Indiana

Or whichever state has a paper that offers you a job.

 

[writing irish]

Stoned, as long as you don't have to build an agate page.

 

[ServeItUp]

Confusion.

 

[Batman]

I would say the central part of New Jersey.
- High school sports are big
- You've got Rutgers for D-1 major, you've got Rider, Princeton and Monmouth as mid-lower D-1 majors... there's a few D3s and a bunch of JUCOs.
- Plus if you're in the right part of central Jersey you're in the overlap market.. where all the Philly and New York City pro teams get to be/need to be covered.
- A little bit off to the north or the south and you lose some of the D1s and a city (either NYC or Philly)

Yes, the cost of living is high, but you get exposure to both media markets which is a plus... especially if you don't have a dish and the NYC and Philly stations are airing different NFL games.

Used to love the overlap on NYC and Philly stations. It was even better during the NCAA Tournament. You'd usually get two different games. Back in the 80s and 90s, before the packages on DirecTV, that was way cool.
Only bad thing is, if you live in the wrong part of central Jersey you might be working for the Trentonian :o

 

[playthrough]

Florida's certainly got it all from numbers of preps/college/pro teams to papers of varying size, but hurricane season sucks.

 

[writing irish]

I would say Texas. The state is passionate at every level and most big cities such as Houston, Dallas and San Antonio have a cheap cost of living compared to most major cities. The sports sections, big and small, are solid across the board and the weather is great 10 months a year (excluding summer).

Good points all.

Long drives and monotonous scenery in most of Texas, though.

All though it is amusing to pass through a town and wonder, "Why in the **** did anyone ever, ever decide to live here?"

 

[EStreetJoe]

I would say the central part of New Jersey.
- High school sports are big
- You've got Rutgers for D-1 major, you've got Rider, Princeton and Monmouth as mid-lower D-1 majors... there's a few D3s and a bunch of JUCOs.
- Plus if you're in the right part of central Jersey you're in the overlap market.. where all the Philly and New York City pro teams get to be/need to be covered.
- A little bit off to the north or the south and you lose some of the D1s and a city (either NYC or Philly)

Yes, the cost of living is high, but you get exposure to both media markets which is a plus... especially if you don't have a dish and the NYC and Philly stations are airing different NFL games.

Used to love the overlap on NYC and Philly stations. It was even better during the NCAA Tournament. You'd usually get two different games. Back in the 80s and 90s, before the packages on DirecTV, that was way cool.
Only bad thing is, if you live in the wrong part of central Jersey you might be working for the Trentonian :o

and it's cool for those of us who don't have a dish and don't work for the Trentonian.

 

[SoCalDude]

If you like the NFL, not here.

 

[writing irish]

I would say any place where Minions of Satan disguised as middle-aged women wearing stretch pants and XXL t-shirts featuring Looney Tunes characters in "gangsta" poses don't barge into the office when you're on deadline and demand more complete coverage of junior high cheerleading in the sports section.

 

[HejiraHenry]

State of employment.

Ding!

 

[spinning27]

Any state without an income tax. The paycheck is quite a bit better.