Coming to America. Maybe.

[TheDelaney]

Hello there.
I'm looking for some advice. I'm a 27-year-old Irish journalist. Undergoing a major life change at the moment in that my serious five-year relationship looks doomed. If it proves to be, I think I'd love to take a year out and live in a foreign country.
I've enjoyed a few holidays to the States, and have a high regard for a lot of American journalism. I'd qualify for a year's working holiday visa.
My question is, what chances would I have of doing some newspaper work in that year? I'm guessing, in the current climate, very little. I'm experienced in news and sports journalism, and at the moment, do a lot of sub-editing. But I'm not sure my experience would be relevant to American newspapers - the sports I have experience covering are very different from American sports, and in terms of subbing, there are obviously huge style and spelling differences.
Anyway, I suppose I'm asking two questions.
Are there many avenues I could explore for doing some interesting, narrative-style journalism or picking up subbing work? I wouldn't be too concerned about pay, as making money wouldn't really be the purpose of such a year.
Secondly, and I'm afraid this is where I live up the stereotype, any advice on the best area for me to live? I'd be looking for a town with a party atmosphere, where, say, there would be plenty of bars where people are not offended by mild but consistent drunkenness. If such a town contained women who are easily impressed by foreign accents, that would be something I could learn to live with.
Thanks.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Well, we don't have many papers covering rugby or GAA sports. So how's your knowledge of soccer, gridiron football and/or basketball?

Have you thought about seeing if you could string stories for Irish papers about life in America? Maybe do stories about Irish currently living here for papers back home?

As for where to live, move every month to a different state to get a feel for the USA. NYC isn't anything like Washington DC which isn't anything like Washington state.

And your accent will enable you to score like crazy.

 

[luckyducky]

And your accent will enable you to score like crazy.

And that's true regardless of which state/region you're in.

 

[Chef]

I was hoping Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall were re-uniting.

Carry on, wayward son.

 

[Buck]

Assuming this is an honest inquiry, which is a big assumption, I would look into the U.S. Olympic Committee.
See what they have available. They have might have a job in their media department, and they have an internship program. Considering your background, it could be a good fit.
Just a thought.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Where's GB Hack when you need him?

 

[imjustagirl]

Move near me. :D

 

[Diabeetus]

...Or if you're looking for something a bit...different...me! :D

 

[sportschick]

I'm available too, dammit! And closer to the USOC than those two :D

 

[friend of a friend]

Who says we don't welcome newbies?

 

[Buck]

The IOC has an opening.
http://www.olympic.org/uk/utilities/job/index_uk.asp

But, as is so often the case with large public and pseudo-public agencies, the job description is written so that nobody could possibly know what the job actually is.

 

[txsportsscribe]

sluts ;D

 

[Buck]

Also,
In 1999, 142 Irish were injured because they failed to remove all the pins from new shirts.

 

[JR]

One word: Canuckistan.

 

[luckyducky]

sluts ;D

you know us so well, tex. ;) ;D

 

[Care Bear]

I'm thinking you should go to Baltimore around, say, June next year. It could work out really, really, really well for you.

 

[TheDelaney]

Thanks for advice so far. Any more is more than welcome.
To expand a little - my knowledge of baseball, gridiron, etc is decent for someone who lives in Europe but nowhere near good enough to write about them with any conviction. My soccer knowledge is very good though.
It is an honest enquiry Buck, thanks for taking the time to post the link, though you weren't joking when you said it's hard to know what the job actually is!
Good suggestion InkyWretch, one that I think could work if I do decide to go...
I suppose I had a fantasy situation in my head of maybe working in a small enough paper that I could do interesting features on sports people or teams without having to have a huge in-depth knowledge of American sports. Having just typed that, I realise how unrealistic it is...
Think the term subbing has been lost in translation - what I mean when I say subbing is a desk job, basically, at least I think that's what you would call it.
As for other replies, let there be no panic. I plan to move near you all.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Get me a Guinness, newb

 

[Bullwinkle]

Coming to America ... today? [/neil]

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Might want to hit the freelance circuit when World Cup qualifying starts getting serious next year. There might be some European publications who are looking for journalists to hit a few CONCACAF matches. You never know.

I would also get familiar with economics writing too. It will come in real handy in this current climate. You might even be able to freelance some recession stories to the boys back home.