News and sports reporter (Fitchburg, Mass.)

[Stitch]

Another infamous opening. Fitchburg, Roswell, Sandusky. Any openings in Wausau?

http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=860672

Company: The Sentinel & Enterprise
Position: Seeking News and Sports Reporter
Location: Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Negotiable
Ad Expires:
August 4, 2009
Job ID: 860672

Description:
The Sentinel & Enterprise, an award-winning daily newspaper in North Central Massachusetts, has an immediate opening for a reporter to cover news and sports. The paper is located just an hour from Boston and an hour from the Seacoast. We're looking for a reporter who's not only capable of covering meetings and games, but also digging for scoops and turning out features. Interested candidates should send resume, cover letter, references, work samples and salary requirements to Jeff McMenemy, Editor, The Sentinel & Enterprise, 808 Main St., Fitchburg, MA 01420.

 

[Twinkilling]

Who is/was the SE in Wausau? I heard legendary stories about him from his Salt Lake days. Just can't remember his name. There was a thread on here a while ago dedicated to the piece of work ...

 

[sgreenwell]

What's the deal with The Sentinel anyway? I can't help but notice that they always have the same ad for a general assignment reporter up every couple of months. Is it a horrible place to work, low salary, just a constantly changing staff, etc.?

 

[Ice9]

Stay away from this job. Seriously.

 

[BottomlessPit]

Let's hear the horror stories!

 

[sgreenwell]

Stay away from this job. Seriously.

Much like BottomlessPit, I'm kind of interested to hear some of the horror stories. I've been told to stay away by at least three people, but none of them have really elaborated.

 

[terrier]

There is a tale involving a 5-year-old being told, literally, to STFU by her father in the newsroom. It remains unverified.

 

[RedSmithClone]

Avoid this editor like the plague! Ooooops I meant job . . . Or did I?

 

[zebracoy]

There is a tale involving a 5-year-old being told, literally, to STFU by her father in the newsroom. It remains unverified.

Why is a 5-year-old in the newsroom in the first place?

 

[wicked]

There was a thread on here a couple years ago about how McMenemy posts jobs just to "motivate" his staff. Yes, I am too lazy to look it up.

I also heard he did a bang-up job at the Eagle-Trib... may have been pushed instead of jumping, but I don't remember the story.

 

[Ice9]

There is a tale involving a 5-year-old being told, literally, to STFU by her father in the newsroom. It remains unverified.

I don't think we need to question the veracity of any story coming out of that newsroom...especially if it involves McEnemy.

This is the same place that has a sign over the thermostat in its newsroom that reads, "Nobody allowed to touch expect Jeff." And that misspelling is deliberate.

I bet this is another fake job posting used as "motivation", like the paper is so famous for.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

There is a tale involving a 5-year-old being told, literally, to STFU by her father in the newsroom. It remains unverified.

Why is a 5-year-old in the newsroom in the first place?

Child labor is pretty cheap.

 

[terrier]

You can probably guess whose 5-year-old was involved.

 

[Boomer7]

When I worked there, it wasn't so bad. But a few things have changed in the ensuing 10 years.

 

[Big Galoot]

I stumbled across this board and thread and joined up mainly to reply to it.

Nobody except a suicidal masochist need apply to any job at this paper. The editor rules it with an iron, no an adamantium fist.

The level of micro-managing he does must be unparalleled throughout the industry.

You want to hear horror stories? There's only about a billion, so maybe bullet points are better. Fair warning, I was more on the news side so if there are specific sports dept. behaviors I may be unaware of them.

-- In my two years there he fired 30-40 people, or prompted them through his behavior to leave. This is for a paper with an average total newsroom staff of about 20.

-- He leaves for the day at around 6 p.m. and calls in to "check in" with every editor at least three times EACH per night. This includes going over every headline and changing most, usually at about 15 minutes before press time, which is around 10:45.

-- He is suspicious of any story idea not generated by himself. Pop culture stories are relegated to things he stumbles upon at the local record store. For example, a large Justin Timberlake display for his new record led to a front page feature, complete with editor-ordered man on the street reaction.

-- He makes innumerable spelling and pagination errors, yet naturally goes mental when he spots a typo missed by an employee.

-- He has claimed to work "100 hours a week" and therefore easily bats away even a hint of a complaint from any employee about long hours or workload. Yes, 100 hours, aka 7 days a week, 14-15 hours a day. I think he is including his commute and the constant after hours phone calls as "work."

-- His "editing style" includes a mandate that all paragraphs in a story may have only one sentence. This, he says, "is AP style."

-- His other editing tool is the delete button, used very very heavily.

Gotta run, part II

 

[Ice9]

Any updates on this one?

 

[Stitch]

If it's filled, expect another vacancy is 2-3 months.

What type of people work at this shop and why is the editor still there?

 

[supabassmon]

Any idea what the salary range is here?

 

[Big Galoot]

Q: What type of people work at this shop and why is the editor still there?


A: A lot of really good and cool people actually. Just unsuspecting ones eager for a first job in journalism. The editor is still there because .... that's a mystery to a lot of us who've gone through the Sentinel's meat grinder.


Q: Salary range?

$25,000-$30,000 to start for reporters.

 

[supabassmon]

Who the hell can live off that salary? 25-30k? What a joke..Might as well be pumping gas