big green wahoo
Member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2005
- Messages
- 190
I mentioned this in the Springfield, Mo., link on the Jobs board, but I figure not everyone's going to look at that, so I'm going to mention this issue here as well. I'm genuinely interested in what folks think about this one.
The reply below is what I got back just now after applying for a job covering Missouri State women's hoops. I declined to ``prove'' myself in these particular ways and I find it a little odd that these are their criteria.
I've been in this business for 15 years and my clips get a lot of positive feedback. But I doubt they were even read in this case and why send them in if I'm going to be judged on writing an essay? I haven't done that since J-School in classes that taught me next to nothing.
Or am I the one who's wrong here? Happens all the time.
Thanks for your interest in the News-Leader Media Group’s sports reporting position. As part of our recruiting process, we will need you to complete two exercises to help us assess your skills.
The first exercise is to write an essay. The second is to create four story ideas. These assignments will help us winnow the list of candidates.
Your deadline for all the above is 5 p.m. Thursday, May 29. You can e-mail the assignments to me by the deadline. If your materials are posted on a Web site, please provide me with a link by the deadline.
Full disclosure here: There are so many good candidates for this position that even the slightest misstep – misspellings, inattention to detail, a missed deadline – will eliminate you from consideration.
Assignment 1: Essay.
I would like you to explore this question: “Is there too much emphasis placed on winning in college athletics?” There is no length requirement. I want to see your logic and critical thinking, your ability to express yourself and how well you articulate your point of view.
Assignment 2: Story ideas.
At the News-Leader, we have reporters who cover sports. But they are reporters first and foremost. They, like other reporters in our newsroom, are critical thinkers. I’m looking for reporters who can get beyond the scores and games and generic coverage to create daily enterprise stories that inform and enlighten and delight. Too many clips from applicants thus far have been soft features or game stories. Our readers deserve more. How can you prove that you can do the work required?
1) Give me four story ideas that you will write about the Missouri State University’s women’s basketball program. If you want to make the cut, you’ll need to do your homework and learn all you can about the Lady Bears. Then you’ll need to develop four smart, enterprising, innovative ideas that are must-reads for our community. Generic ideas aren’t going to make the cut. Think enterprise. Be specific.
2) For each story idea, give me four primary sources you will use to report the story and why each is important. Sources can be data or human. But, again, be specific. (ie: Don’t tell me you’ll look at NCAA data. Show me why – specifically -- the NCAA’s 2008 graduation report will make your story better and more authoritative)
With all these assignments, I’m looking to see your creativity, your curiosity and your critical thinking skills at work. Everybody wants to be a sports writer. Show me how you will do it differently. These are tough assignments, to be sure. But covering the world of sports is more complicated than it has ever been. We need the best and brightest to do it, not those who want to be fans. Got what it takes?
The reply below is what I got back just now after applying for a job covering Missouri State women's hoops. I declined to ``prove'' myself in these particular ways and I find it a little odd that these are their criteria.
I've been in this business for 15 years and my clips get a lot of positive feedback. But I doubt they were even read in this case and why send them in if I'm going to be judged on writing an essay? I haven't done that since J-School in classes that taught me next to nothing.
Or am I the one who's wrong here? Happens all the time.
Thanks for your interest in the News-Leader Media Group’s sports reporting position. As part of our recruiting process, we will need you to complete two exercises to help us assess your skills.
The first exercise is to write an essay. The second is to create four story ideas. These assignments will help us winnow the list of candidates.
Your deadline for all the above is 5 p.m. Thursday, May 29. You can e-mail the assignments to me by the deadline. If your materials are posted on a Web site, please provide me with a link by the deadline.
Full disclosure here: There are so many good candidates for this position that even the slightest misstep – misspellings, inattention to detail, a missed deadline – will eliminate you from consideration.
Assignment 1: Essay.
I would like you to explore this question: “Is there too much emphasis placed on winning in college athletics?” There is no length requirement. I want to see your logic and critical thinking, your ability to express yourself and how well you articulate your point of view.
Assignment 2: Story ideas.
At the News-Leader, we have reporters who cover sports. But they are reporters first and foremost. They, like other reporters in our newsroom, are critical thinkers. I’m looking for reporters who can get beyond the scores and games and generic coverage to create daily enterprise stories that inform and enlighten and delight. Too many clips from applicants thus far have been soft features or game stories. Our readers deserve more. How can you prove that you can do the work required?
1) Give me four story ideas that you will write about the Missouri State University’s women’s basketball program. If you want to make the cut, you’ll need to do your homework and learn all you can about the Lady Bears. Then you’ll need to develop four smart, enterprising, innovative ideas that are must-reads for our community. Generic ideas aren’t going to make the cut. Think enterprise. Be specific.
2) For each story idea, give me four primary sources you will use to report the story and why each is important. Sources can be data or human. But, again, be specific. (ie: Don’t tell me you’ll look at NCAA data. Show me why – specifically -- the NCAA’s 2008 graduation report will make your story better and more authoritative)
With all these assignments, I’m looking to see your creativity, your curiosity and your critical thinking skills at work. Everybody wants to be a sports writer. Show me how you will do it differently. These are tough assignments, to be sure. But covering the world of sports is more complicated than it has ever been. We need the best and brightest to do it, not those who want to be fans. Got what it takes?
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