News Journal in Delaware seeks Phillies beat writer

[SavebyKeans]

The News Journal in Wilmington, Del., is seeking a beat writer to cover the 2009 National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies. We're among a select few newspapers outside the city that still travel with the team. Our previous three beat writers have moved on to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sacramento Bee and Boston Herald, respectively. This is a high-visibility position. Our coverage is carried by our fellow Gannett newspapers in southern New Jersey and our blog has fans across the country.

The ideal candidate will excel with not only game coverage, but with enterprise stories, blogging, online chats, tweeting and breaking news in and out of season. Major League beat experience is preferred but not required. More important is the desire and ability to raise the already high standard set for our coverage.

Interested candidates should send resume and clips (or links to clips) to [email protected] or to Jason Levine, Sports Editor, The News Journal, 950 W. Basin Road, New Castle, DE, 19720.

 

[Rhody31]

I'm guessing this opening has a lot to do with this.

http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/

 

[Michael_ Gee]

My old home town paper. It must be doing fabulously if a writer fled for the security offered by the Herald.

 

[tdonegan]

Expanding media market, big paper that is probably looking to take some market share away from The Globe given the financial difficulty over there. Maybe he just wanted to move back to his college town or wants to cover the AL East.

Obviously I don't have any insight into how well the NJ is doing, but there's plenty of reasons Lauber might jump ship that have nothing to do with the shop he's leaving.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Sure, he may have very good personal reasons for going to the Herald. But the Herald's future is unsettled even by newspaper standards. If it weren't for the recession, the publisher would have sold the building out from under the paper by now.

 

[SavebyKeans]

My old home town paper. It must be doing fabulously if a writer fled for the security offered by the Herald.

We've had staff cuts but Scott is the first writer to leave our department for another job since 2005. Scott's been on the Phils beat for us since then and the situation in our shop has been a lot worse than it is now, yet he stayed through that. tdonegan hit the nail on the head when it comes to good reasons for Scott to take the Herald job.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I've lived and worked in Boston for 35 years. I can understand and approve of someone wanting to do the same, especially in sports.

 

[ARose17]

I would love to give this one a shot. Too bad I just started a new gig in January.

 

[esport12]

Thinking about applying for this one. Would be an outside shot, but still. Could someone explain or be more specific on the dynamics of the News Journal? I know it's Gannett, but some details would be nice. Heck, I could deal with a lot of B.S. if I can travel and cover the Phillies.

 

[wicked]

Scott has busted his behind over the years to get this gig. I met him when he was at BU, and I was really impressed with his work and effort back then, 10 or 12 years ago. He'll do great back at the Herald.

 

[SavebyKeans]

Thinking about applying for this one. Would be an outside shot, but still. Could someone explain or be more specific on the dynamics of the News Journal? I know it's Gannett, but some details would be nice. Heck, I could deal with a lot of B.S. if I can travel and cover the Phillies.

What do you want to know?

 

[WerenCole]

Any word on the hiring process yet?

 

[Fenix031]

I sent some stuff along about a week-and-a-half ago, but haven't heard anything back. I saw during a Phillies chat Scott told his readers he has 10 days left, and that was the middle of last week. I just assumed they would have somebody in place before then.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I wonder how much this paper travels with the team? I would guess it's one of those gigs where they travel for the road games that are close by, but not much else... Just a guess...

 

[Moderator1]

I'm pretty sure at one time it was full travel, though I'd like to hear from someone who actually knows.

 

[sayyestomi]

I sent stuff along when this was first posted, too, and didn't receive anything back. Not even a note saying they received it. I haven't seen this on any other job boards/forums, so there can't be that much of a response, can there?

I'd like to hear someone's take on the travel involved, too, who knows a bit more. It's hard to be a team's beat writer when you aren't even allowed to attend each game. Coverage lacks when you rely on wire copy for games that are "too far" to send your writer to.

 

[WerenCole]

As an NHL beat writer who does not travel with the team, I would wholeheartedly agree that not traveling is a huge pain the in the ass in terms of coverage.

 

[didntdoit19]

The News Journal in Wilmington, Del., is seeking a beat writer to cover the 2009 National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies. [size=10pt]We're among a select few newspapers outside the city that still travel with the team[/size]. Our previous three beat writers have moved on to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sacramento Bee and Boston Herald, respectively. This is a high-visibility position. Our coverage is carried by our fellow Gannett newspapers in southern New Jersey and our blog has fans across the country.

The ideal candidate will excel with not only game coverage, but with enterprise stories, blogging, online chats, tweeting and breaking news in and out of season. Major League beat experience is preferred but not required. More important is the desire and ability to raise the already high standard set for our coverage.

Interested candidates should send resume and clips (or links to clips) to [email protected] or to Jason Levine, Sports Editor, The News Journal, 950 W. Basin Road, New Castle, DE, 19720.

I don't know if that means all over or what, actually.

 

[SavebyKeans]

The News Journal in Wilmington, Del., is seeking a beat writer to cover the 2009 National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies. [size=10pt]We're among a select few newspapers outside the city that still travel with the team[/size]. Our previous three beat writers have moved on to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sacramento Bee and Boston Herald, respectively. This is a high-visibility position. Our coverage is carried by our fellow Gannett newspapers in southern New Jersey and our blog has fans across the country.

The ideal candidate will excel with not only game coverage, but with enterprise stories, blogging, online chats, tweeting and breaking news in and out of season. Major League beat experience is preferred but not required. More important is the desire and ability to raise the already high standard set for our coverage.

Interested candidates should send resume and clips (or links to clips) to [email protected] or to Jason Levine, Sports Editor, The News Journal, 950 W. Basin Road, New Castle, DE, 19720.

I don't know if that means all over or what, actually.

To answer the travel question, we have, in recent seasons, skipped West Coast trips unless they occur around the trade deadline or involve games critical to the standings. Otherwise, we cover the rest of the road games, not just those in the region. There is no indication that will change this season.

 

[sayyestomi]

Thanks, SavebyKeans. That's still a decent amount of traveling and would allow for a good variety of coverage. Many papers are skipping West Coast trips these days, with the exception of those larger papers that can still swing it.

Impressed to see that it isn't just Baltimore/Pittsburgh/Washington/NY that would be considered "road coverage." Although being in Philadelphia allowed for many road trips to be close by because of this -- five teams within driving distance helps for sure. The KC/Seattle/Milwaukee types don't really have this luxury.