Introduction

[Adam Ide]

Hi. My name is Adam Ide, and I'm looking for a job in sports journalism. I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in May with my bachelor's in news and multimedia journalism. I'm looking for a job in the greater Denver area or also remotely. Thanks!

 

[cjericho]

No one's gonna say it?

 

[Adam Ide]

No one's gonna say it?

What?

 

[Cosmo]

Y
O
U
'
R
E

H
I
R
E
D
!
!
!

 

[expendable]

I thought it was, “Fetch me a beer, newbie.”

BTW, fetch me a beer, newbie.

 

[HanSenSE]

I thought it was, “Fetch me a beer, newbie.”

BTW, fetch me a beer, newbie.

My thought exactly.

Got your ID, noob?

 

[Azrael]

Good luck, Adam.

 

[typefitter]

I always feel bad for new people here who immediately get crushed by inside jokes. I get it, but it seems unwelcoming.

Adam, best of luck. My advice to you: write as much as you can. When you're not writing, read. Be open to moving from Denver if you can. Especially at the start of your career, mobility might be key to getting your big break. Whatever you write, practice at being as clean as you can be: posts here, grocery lists, angry letters to your roommates. Doesn't matter. Be a good, competent professional in everything you write. Put out good feelings into the universe. Remember that you're young and have lots of time, even when it doesn't feel like it. Don't wait for permission to write. You can write something beautiful right now. Be a good listener. Be kind.

 

[typefitter]

Also, Adam, check out this thread:

Required Reading: Death of a Racehorse by WC Heinz

"Death of a Race Horse" should be something you read more than once.

And this thread might be helpful, too:

Writing for mags like The New Yorker, GQ, Esquire, etc.

 

[Adam Ide]

I always feel bad for new people here who immediately get crushed by inside jokes. I get it, but it seems unwelcoming.

Adam, best of luck. My advice to you: write as much as you can. When you're not writing, read. Be open to moving from Denver if you can. Especially at the start of your career, mobility might be key to getting your big break. Whatever you write, practice at being as clean as you can be: posts here, grocery lists, angry letters to your roommates. Doesn't matter. Be a good, competent professional in everything you write. Put out good feelings into the universe. Remember that you're young and have lots of time, even when it doesn't feel like it. Don't wait for permission to write. You can write something beautiful right now. Be a good listener. Be kind.

Thanks so much. I was really surprised by all the negativity towards this

 

[typefitter]

Thanks so much. I was really surprised by all the negativity towards this

It's not negativity, exactly. This place has been around a long time and there are a lot of inside jokes. (You'll soon learn that everything is 15 minutes from Tahoe.) And this business has a way of making people a little harder edged than they might be otherwise. It can be a tough go, so you can end up with a thicker skin than most normal people and forget what it was like to be young.

When I was a young writer, I cornered a Sports Illustrated writer named Richard Hoffer in a bar. I wanted to do work like he did. He was terrified of me, I think—some strange kid asking him a million questions. But he answered, and he was super helpful, and I never forgot it. Another SI writer named Jeff Pearlman also did that for me, on a baseball field in Philadelphia. And Roy MacGregor. And Cam Cole. Stephen Brunt, Jeff Blair, and Tom Junod.

I don't think there's anything wrong with being earnest. Some people will see it as a weakness. Some people will like you for it. I vote that you keep that side of yourself. Put yourself out there, like you did here. Some people will make fun of you, but someone else will give you work, or a piece of good advice, or a little bit of encouragement, and that's what counts. Your job right now is to build a case for yourself: Evidence for why someone should hire you. You'll make a big part of that case just by putting your face to the sun every day.

While we're here: In American English, "toward" is generally preferred to "towards," but not always.

Toward vs. towards – Grammarist

Also you missed the period at the end of your second sentence. Let's do this, buddy. Get used to writing clean, clean, clean. You'll separate yourself in no time.

Don't forget to read "Death of a Race Horse" before the end of the night.

 

[Adam Ide]

It's not negativity, exactly. This place has been around a long time and there are a lot of inside jokes. (You'll soon learn that everything is 15 minutes from Tahoe.) And this business has a way of making people a little harder edged than they might be otherwise. It can be a tough go, so you can end up with a thicker skin than most normal people and forget what it was like to be young.

When I was a young writer, I cornered a Sports Illustrated writer named Richard Hoffer in a bar. I wanted to do work like he did. He was terrified of me, I think—some strange kid asking him a million questions. But he answered, and he was super helpful, and I never forgot it. Another SI writer named Jeff Pearlman also did that for me, on a baseball field in Philadelphia. And Roy MacGregor. And Cam Cole. Stephen Brunt, Jeff Blair, and Tom Junod.

I don't think there's anything wrong with being earnest. Some people will see it as a weakness. Some people will like you for it. I vote that you keep that side of yourself. Put yourself out there, like you did here. Some people will make fun of you, but someone else will give you work, or a piece of good advice, or a little bit of encouragement, and that's what counts. Your job right now is to build a case for yourself: Evidence for why someone should hire you. You'll make a big part of that case just by putting your face to the sun every day.

While we're here: In American English, "toward" is generally preferred to "towards," but not always.

Toward vs. towards – Grammarist

Also you missed the period at the end of your second sentence. Let's do this, buddy. Get used to writing clean, clean, clean. You'll separate yourself in no time.

Don't forget to read "Death of a Race Horse" before the end of the night.

Thanks for the advice. Grammar, punctuation and spelling are things I don't take lightly. I'll be sure to read that.

 

[qtlaw]

I'm not a journalist, nor do I pretend to be one, just was interested in how the pros viewed my sports passions. Good luck on your career.

I just participated in a leadership/mentorship workshop and realized yet again how having a mentor is so important to your professional development. I'm emphasizing just having someone you can observe, work with, and take away their strong points that appeal to you. Not necessarily someone you bird dog the whole time, just having someone you can learn from.

My story, I worked very closely with an ex-Army Ranger, paratrooper in Vietnam. As hard as they come; not a screamer, just someone demanding and who set a great example. Now there were times where I told the managing partner, "that's enough, I need a break from Bob." He was such a hard charger that at times I backed off, I told him, you need to sign this document, I won't, its not me. We never "hung out" together or had cocktails together; he had no interests in sports, he was in many ways the opposite of me. A purely working relationship. He was exhausting to a young lawyer. I was his associate for 12 years, then his partner for another 10.

But nearly 30 years into my career now, I always tell others that I learned so much from him. I identify him by name and tell my friends in the profession what he gave me and tell my family as well. I once told him at a conference straight up that I was so grateful and he reacted as you would expect, a shrug and a "okay".

I hope you can find someone like that to facilitate your development.

 

[cjericho]

Thanks so much. I was really surprised by all the negativity towards this

Not really negativity, pretty much just an inside joke. If you look at the jobs boards, most times someone will ask for an
update on a job opening, and someone will reply, "You're hired."

There are some here who may be a little jaded or bitter, but most people are helpful.

 

[Vombatus]

More advice: Don’t sign up with your real name.

And if you did...

well, get yourself a sock puppet PDQ.

 

[Scout]

Wi

It's not negativity, exactly. This place has been around a long time and there are a lot of inside jokes. (You'll soon learn that everything is 15 minutes from Tahoe.) And this business has a way of making people a little harder edged than they might be otherwise. It can be a tough go, so you can end up with a thicker skin than most normal people and forget what it was like to be young.

When I was a young writer, I cornered a Sports Illustrated writer named Richard Hoffer in a bar. I wanted to do work like he did. He was terrified of me, I think—some strange kid asking him a million questions. But he answered, and he was super helpful, and I never forgot it. Another SI writer named Jeff Pearlman also did that for me, on a baseball field in Philadelphia. And Roy MacGregor. And Cam Cole. Stephen Brunt, Jeff Blair, and Tom Junod.

I don't think there's anything wrong with being earnest. Some people will see it as a weakness. Some people will like you for it. I vote that you keep that side of yourself. Put yourself out there, like you did here. Some people will make fun of you, but someone else will give you work, or a piece of good advice, or a little bit of encouragement, and that's what counts. Your job right now is to build a case for yourself: Evidence for why someone should hire you. You'll make a big part of that case just by putting your face to the sun every day.

While we're here: In American English, "toward" is generally preferred to "towards," but not always.

Toward vs. towards – Grammarist

Also you missed the period at the end of your second sentence. Let's do this, buddy. Get used to writing clean, clean, clean. You'll separate yourself in no time.

Don't forget to read "Death of a Race Horse" before the end of the night.

With any career, figure out your strengths and weaknesses early and play to your strengths.

TF can flat out write. That was a message board post he blasted out probably on his phone in 12 minutes that read like a well edited column. His clips and where they have come from support the theory of his writing ability. He’s also the second best poster I’ve ever read here.

I can’t write for ****. I realized that, and it’s one reason why I left for a different career. My strength was building relationships and trust with coaches and players, especially ones you see on a consistent basis.

Some people are great researchers and finding the story and the details no one else sees.

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Play to your strengths.

 

[Gator]

Not really negativity, pretty much just an inside joke. If you look at the jobs boards, most times someone will ask for an
update on a job opening, and someone will reply, "You're hired."

There are some here who may be a little jaded or bitter, but most people are helpful.

Yeah, there’s no negativity here. Ever.

 

[wicked]

Typefitter’s posts on this thread should be mandatory reading for any young newbie who wants to go somewhere in this business. Inspirational and informative. Well done, sir.

 

[justgladtobehere]

What's your favorite chain restaurant? Favorite fast food place?

 

[Adam Ide]

What's your favorite chain restaurant? Favorite fast food place?

Popeye's