Columnist, Kansas City

[jeffro88]

The Kansas City Star is looking to round out its award-winning team of journalists with a top-flight sports columnist.

The Chiefs are king in KC, but our readership is just as passionate and knowledgeable about college sports, the Royals and area preps. Our sports columnists build and maintain audience by writing, blogging and tweeting for the newspaper and our website, kansascity.com.

Qualified applicants will have a minimum of 3-5 years of experience as a columnist or reporter in a mid to major market and be equally eloquent, opinionated and resourceful online and in print.

Send cover letter, resume and clips to [email protected] with sports columnist in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

The Kansas City Star does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability or any other legally protected status.

 

[LevinTBlack]

I assume this is Whitlock's position. Weird it took them this long to put out an ad or did someone get the job and already leave?

 

[billikens]

I believe Sam Mellinger stepped into the position when Joe Posnanski left, so I'm assuming this would be to fill Whitlock's role. Sam's been the only columnist in KC for almost a year.

 

[Harry Doyle]

I assume recent grads are encouraged to apply?

 

[HandsomeHarley]

This would be a sweet gig, but I don't think I have the talent.

 

[mb]

Big shoes to fill. Literally and figuratively.

 

[YGBFKM]

Bigger pants.

 

[NightHawk112005]

The readership knows the Royals exist?

 

[Football_Bat]

Line forms to the left.

 

[steveu]

The readership knows the Royals exist?

They will in a few years.

I'm just happy to see McClatchy filling a position. KC's taken so many hits in the last few years yet maintained a pretty decent sports section.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'll be very curious who they go after.

 

[dkphxf]

I'll be very curious who they go after.

Any chance they promote from within?

 

[mellinger]

Only downside is the other columnist you'd be working with is a total prick.

E-mail me ([email protected]) if I can answer any questions.

 

[brettwatson]

Maybe Whitlock will re-apply.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

If I'm hired I promise the radio show will be extremely entertaining when I quit. And it will be catered by Bryant's.

 

[Sir Sid]

Any chance they promote from within?

I'm guessing if they were going to promote from within now they'd have already done it. Only potential internal moves would be Brady, Blair or Babb.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Any chance they promote from within?

I'm guessing if they were going to promote from within now they'd have already done it. Only potential internal moves would be Brady, Blair or Babb.

Not necessarily. They might want to see what kind of interest there is and then find out how much it would cost to poach a big-name columnist from another paper.

I think when all is said and done they'll promote from within.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

There are a few beat writers at the Washington Post, some with column-writing experience, who would be perfect for this job.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Were I in charge of this particular search, which heaven forbid, I would have two priorities in the following order.
1. Somebody good, obviously. This is the easiest requirement to meet. The talent pool is very large out there.
2. Somebody willing to stick around. Somebody whose ambitions, personal and professional, are compatible with becoming an institutional voice of the Kansas City Star for a considerable period of time, not someone who is going to dump me for a gig holding a microphone on the MLB or NFL Networks if they ask (I cite that as a hypothetical example only).
This is a hard one, because at this point, you're asking a writer to make a commitment papers aren't in a position to make back to writers. But I think it is necessary nonetheless. Continuity of brand is maybe the one thing papers have going for them in the media universe.
I also want to say that Joe and Jason gave the Star many years of service and this should in no way imply criticism of their career choices. They more than amortized the Star's investment in them. A commitment does not mean indentured servitude.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

A friend who works there said they want someone who is half the columnist Whitlock is.

Half the size.
Half the pay.
Half as controversial.
Half as much of a pain in the ass.

I cannot take credit for that. I just thought it was pretty funny.