David Whitley to AOL?

[Moderator1]

Someone? Anyone?

 

[Moondoggy]

Apparently true

 

[Double Down]

True.

 

[pallister]

Whitley is one of the few sportswriters I enjoy reading.

 

[Fran Curci]

So who is the sports editor --- or whatever the title is ----- at AOL? Seems like he or she is getting some things done.

 

[gingerbread]

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

[Ira_Schoffel]

What is AOL? Is this 1997?

 

[gingerbread]

AOL's political site continues to scoop up newspaper journalists as well, from the RMN, Sun-Times, USA Today, Wash. Post ..

http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0409/Sweet_Lawrence_join_AOL_politics_site.html
Melinda Henneberger, editor of PoliticsDaily.com, AOL’s forthcoming politics site, continues scooping up talent from the struggling newspaper and magazine industries
Jill Lawrence, a national political correspondent at USA Today, just gave notice this morning that she’ll be joining the site as a columnist.
And Henneberger will have another big-time Washington reporter contributing: Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times
Henneberger told POLITICO that Sweet will be writing a column and blog on Michelle Obama — a possible title is “Daily FLOTUS.”
Sweet, who’ll continue as a Sun-Times political columnist, confirmed the news by phone.
“I’m very, very excited about this new venture,” Sweet said. “I’m very excited about being part of the new team.”
It makes sense that newspaper reporters might be looking at other journalism models: the Sun-Times recently filed for Chapter 11, while Gannett — USA Today’s parent — just announced a second round of furloughs.
“It was less the company than the industry,” Lawrence said, of the move. “Things seem to be on a bad trajectory.”
Lawrence said she’s excited about working at a start-up and getting back into column writing.
But Lawrence and Sweet aren’t the only ones writing for the new site, slated to launch on April 27.
Last month, a few hires were reported: National Journal correspondent Carl Cannon, USA Today columnist Walter Shapiro, and Citizen Jane Politics founder Patricia Murphy.
Now, three former newspaper editors have signed up, too: Peter Kaufman, (Washington Post); Cliff Foster (Rocky Mountain News); and Jan Battaile (Washington bureau of the NY Times).
Linda Kulman, recently a senior writer at U.S. News and World Report, will be covering education. And former Washington Post columnist Donna Britt will be writing a regular column.
Henneberger said the non-partisan site will be more of a magazine — with thematic pieces and profiles — rather than focus on breaking news. “It’s not an attempt to dominate the 10-second news cycle,” she said.
Other contributors will include conservative commentator Matt Lewis, Beliefnet’s Steve Waldman of Beliefnet.com, Commonweal’s David Gibson, and Newsweek’s Karen Breslau.

And Henneberger said there will be a woman-focused blog called "Woman Up" with over 20 contributors, including former POLITICO writer Helena Andrews, former Dallas mayor Laura Miller, novelist Laura Lippman, and ex-Fader editor Alex Wagner.

 

[mediaguy]

Rough week for Sentinel sports ...

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

Do we know what Whitley will cover for AOL? Is he going to be a columnist, and if so, on what beat(s)?

 

[carolinafever]

From Sports Business Daily (3-19-09):

AOL Sports GM DERRICK HEGGANS has left the company 14 months after taking over the portal’s sports operations and helping implement a sweeping series of operational changes, including a shift to Fanhouse.com as the destination’s consumer-facing brand. Heggans said the departure was not related to planned staff cuts of about 700 people across AOL -- 10% of the company’s workforce -- over the next several fiscal quarters. Heggans additionally said he was not forced out. "We’ve done a lot to change the programming formula and make AOL Sports relevant again from where you could say it had sort of fallen off the radar,” Heggans said. "The house is essentially now built, and I felt like my role was going to be less impactful going forward, and I’m interested in being impactful." Heggans, who prior to joining AOL in '05 held executive roles with Collegiate Images, the NFL and the then-Advantage Int'l, said he does not have his next career stop planned. "I’m a free agent, and I haven’t really been one before, and I’m looking forward to it. The timing may seem crazy, given the economy, but I’m really comfortable with the concept." Heggans’ other moves at Fanhouse.com included the hiring of columnists JAY MARIOTTI, KEVIN BLACKISTONE and LISA OLSON and the purchase of fantasy site Fleaflicker.com. AOL execs said oversight of Fanhouse.com will now be shared by Exec Editor SCOTT RIDGE and AOL Senior VP/Programming MARTY MOE, who was Heggans' former boss. "This was a personal decision. We're very happy for Derrick and we wish him well in whatever he decides to do," said AOL spokesperson ALYSIA LEW. "Derrick was instrumental in a lot of changes to Fanhouse, and we have a lot more exciting changes coming up for us."

 

[Fran Curci]

Seems like it would be easier to be "impactful" and to get another job while still in your current job.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Whitley is a good guy, but not 1/1000th the columnist Bianchi is.

 

[SCEditor]

Whitley is a good guy, but not 1/1000th the columnist Bianchi is.

I agree and disagree. While I do think Bianch is better, I think they offer two different styles. I tend to like Bianchi's style (and humor) better, but that doesn't mean Whitley doesn't have game.

 

[BYH]

Anyone else worried by the plans to cut 10% of the workforce over the next few quarters?

 

[Blair Waldorf]

I've had the pleasure of working with David Whitley, and he's one of the best guys left out there.

He was more than a columnist - working in Orlando always equaled a lot of travel because of the limited in-town sports options. But whether it was the Army-Navy game, the World Series, the NFL playoffs or the Tour de France, you could count on Whitley to file a lead, sider, notes and column from whatever event he was at. On deadline. With quotes.

Tell me how many big-paper columnists in this business would deign to do that.

 

[HorseWhipped]

Whitley is good.

Bianchi? Meh .... A carnival barker wishing the big show had come to his town.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

On no level was I implying that Whitley doesn't have game...

 

[Montezuma's Revenge]

On no level was I implying that Whitley doesn't have game...

Yeah, why would anybody think you're implying he has no game when you say he's not 1/1000th the columnist Bianchi is?

For my taste, Whitley is the better read. But I'm sure not going to insult Bianchi by saying he's not 1/1000th the columnist Whitley is, and then wonder why people would get the idea I'm insulting him.

 

[mediaguy]

Mizzou, you can't say somebody is 1/1000th the columnist of another guy at his paper and not intend it as a slight.

Whitley's one of the best I've known at column ideas -- just great concepts, and well executed most of the time. Bianchi might be better with a one-liner, but I've enjoyed reading Whitley.

So what does Orlando do now: Promote from within? Go with one less columnist? Actually hire someone?