Sports Editor, Lincoln, Ill.

[jla74m]

Company: The Courier
Position: Sports Editor
Location: Lincoln, Illinois
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Not Specified
Ad Expires: August 15, 2012
Job ID: 1379133
Website: http://www.lincolncourier.com

Description:

The Courier, a central Illinois daily newspaper with a circulation of 4,800, is seeking a sports editor to cover all prep and college teams in Logan County.

We are seeking an individual with an outstanding work ethic, positive attitude and a passion for covering the local sports that the community cares about.

Duties will include developing in-depth feature stories on local athletes, and covering events as necessary. The sports editor also must produce daily content budgets and work closely with an off-site central design desk.

The successful candidate should have previous news or sports writing experience and the ability to effectively shoot photos at events. Strong organizational skills and the ability to work under tight deadlines is a must. Experience in video editing software is a plus.

The Courier, a branch publication of the State Journal-Register of Springfield, Ill., is a tight-knit group of dedicated community journalists. We’re looking for someone who can fit in immediately and hit the ground running.

This is an excellent opportunity for a reporter wanting to make the leap into a management position, or a current editor looking for something new.

If interested, send a resume, cover letter and work samples to Managing Editor Dan Tackett at [email protected]. No phone calls, please.

 

[jla74m]

I happen to have some insight into this job.

When they say tight deadlines, they mean everything has to be ready by 8:45 p.m. Don't expect to get ANY local sports into the paper the next day.

The editor of 45 years volunteered to retire in August because, if he didn't, GateHouse was going to eliminate another position. This will leave the entire newsroom with THREE people.

Also, you won't have to worry about page design because, in August, GateHouse is outsourcing that to a newspaper three hours away. So, that means don't expect to have an accurate sports section with copy editors and page designers who have never heard of your town, your newspaper or any of the coaches and athletes that you will be covering.

Best of all, you will be a one-man sports department who will have five high schools and two colleges to cover. There are no sports correspondents and there are no photo stringers. If you don't handle everything yourself, then it just won't get done.

To do a good job here, expect to work 80 hours a week, minimum.

 

[RickStain]

Three years ago, I would have been all over this because of family in the area. And I would have been burnt out and quit by now, but still :(

 

[Stitch]

I happen to have some insight into this job.

When they say tight deadlines, they mean everything has to be ready by 8:45 p.m. Don't expect to get ANY local sports into the paper the next day.

The editor of 45 years volunteered to retire in August because, if he didn't, GateHouse was going to eliminate another position. This will leave the entire newsroom with THREE people.

Also, you won't have to worry about page design because, in August, GateHouse is outsourcing that to a newspaper three hours away. So, that means don't expect to have an accurate sports section with copy editors and page designers who have never heard of your town, your newspaper or any of the coaches and athletes that you will be covering.

Best of all, you will be a one-man sports department who will have five high schools and two colleges to cover. There are no sports correspondents and there are no photo stringers. If you don't handle everything yourself, then it just won't get done.

To do a good job here, expect to work 80 hours a week, minimum.

I think you can do the best job you can in 40 hours. If something doesn't get covered, that's on Gatehouse. You don't have to be a martyr and there is nothing wrong with your work ethic if you insist on a 40-hour work week.

 

[CarlSpackler]

I'd rather hang myself with my own **** than work for GateHouse again.

 

[dixiehack]

Notice they say it's an opportunity to move into management. They expect those 80 hours without paying a lick of overtime. Illegal of course, but not worth the trouble of fighting for such a tiny shop (and paycheck).

 

[HanSenSE]

Notice they say it's an opportunity to move into management. They expect those 80 hours without paying a lick of overtime. Illegal of course, but not worth the trouble of fighting for such a tiny shop (and paycheck).

Sounds like management = managing yourself. But isn't that the way it is at most small shops nowadays?

 

[Dark_Knight]

Dear God. I can't even imagine trying to pull something like this off. No local sports news in the next day's paper? That's madness. No offense, J, but the person who takes this job has to be legally out of their mind.

 

[Mike Nadel]

Under Copley, this was a nice little newspaper with a large (for its size) staff of dedicated journalism pros.

GateHouse is the devil.

Wait ... apologize to Satan for the insult.

 

[slappy4428]

I'd rather hang myself with my own **** than work for GateHouse again.

Dealing with a short rope...

 

[steveu]

I like the town... halfway between Chicago and St. Louis, nice access to Bloomington and Springfield... but yes, the GateHouse horror stories can turn you off.

 

[jla74m]

Here is an interesting fact...

In the time that GateHouse has owned The Courier, the circulation has gone from 6,500 to 3,500. That 4,800 figure is a flat out lie.

 

[CarlSpackler]

I'd rather hang myself with my own **** than work for GateHouse again.

Dealing with a short rope...

That's not what your sister... sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously, though -- the day after one of my best friends was laid off in Peoria, GateHouse announced $1.25 million in bonuses for six execs. The very next day.

****. These. People. With a 79 syphillitic penises.

 

[slappy4428]

I'd rather hang myself with my own **** than work for GateHouse again.

Dealing with a short rope...

That's not what your sister... sorry, couldn't resist. Seriously, though -- the day after one of my best friends was laid off in Peoria, GateHouse announced $1.25 million in bonuses for six execs. The very next day.

****. These. People. With a 79 syphillitic penises.

Hey, if you had my sister, more power to you....

 

[Mark2010]

I like the town... halfway between Chicago and St. Louis, nice access to Bloomington and Springfield... but yes, the GateHouse horror stories can turn you off.

Not that you have a travel budget. Or any time to travel (or sleep, for that matter).

 

[Mark2010]

Under Copley, this was a nice little newspaper with a large (for its size) staff of dedicated journalism pros.

GateHouse is the devil.

Wait ... apologize to Satan for the insult.

I thought CNHI was the devil.

 

[jla74m]

In its infinite wisdom, GateHouse decided to promote an idiot to be the new managing editor.

This person has 3 to 5 years of overall experience, has been in Lincoln just 6 months and he will be your boss, should you choose to accept this job. His personality is very, VERY dry and is cocky, smartass to boot.

This is what you get after forcing a 45-year veteran managing editor to retire.

 

[Red-headed Man]

Worked here during the transition from Copley to GateHouse and can vouch for everything said, but especially the merit of the managing editor. GateHouse at least used to pay overtime, but that was four years ago.

Is their slogan still "It's about you"?

Preps coverage obviously has taken a huge hit, but the deadlines also have shortchanged the dirt track speedway in town, which can get folks just as fired up as the Railers.

I'm hoping this isn't eventually dissolved into a "Lincoln edition" within the J-R.

 

[jla74m]

Another tidbit...

The Courier's main boss at the SJ-R is relatively new. He came to Springfield from the east coast and has no clue about anything in the midwest.

 

[CarlSpackler]

Oh man! This reminds me of the time when they hired a new ME at my old shop who had no previous experience in daily newspapers.

His first day, he comes back to sports at 7 p.m. and says "So are you guys wrapped up for the night?"

At first we thought he had a real dry sense of humor. And then a few moments of silence passed. The horror... the horror.