Sports editor, writer needed in Kansas

[HandsomeHarley]

From the Kansas Press Association jobs board:

WANTED – Eager, hungry, energetic sports writer to cover state- and nationally-contending high school and college athletic programs for a daily newspaper launching into the world of new media. This full-time position requires a reliable professional who possess good writing and communications skills, has reliable transportation, and a passion for sports. There will be weekend and evening hours. If this fits you, please send letter, clips, resume and references to [email protected] with EB-3044 in the subject line.

WANTED – Sports editor passionate about local sports to energetically lead a two-person department in covering high school and collage programs that are perennial state and national contenders. This full-time position is responsible for coordinating daily multimedia sports coverage and reporting. Must be reliable and professional, possess good writing and communications skills, have reliable transportation, and most importantly, a desire for excellence. Weekend and evening hours required. If this is you, please send letter, clips, resume and references to [email protected] with EB-3043 in the subject line.

Anyone know where this might be?

 

[Bristol Whipped]

From the Kansas Press Association jobs board:
WANTED – Sports editor passionate about local sports to energetically lead a two-person department in covering high school and collage programs ...

Anyone know where this might be?

I don't know exactly where, but I do love a good collage.

 

[fishhack2009]

A shadow ad, huh? In other words, "We're getting rid of the sports staff now, but they don't know it yet."

You'd think a journalism job ad could be spelled corrrectly ...

 

[Shaggy]

I have never once applied for a job that's too afraid to tell you who they actually are, and I never will.

 

[deskslave]

Which was the town in Kansas that had a paper where the whole staff quit and started a new paper? Was it even in Kansas? Could this be related somehow?

 

[Smokey33]

Which was the town in Kansas that had a paper where the whole staff quit and started a new paper? Was it even in Kansas? Could this be related somehow?

It was that evil Liberal media, wasn't it?

 

[FreddiePatek]

Which was the town in Kansas that had a paper where the whole staff quit and started a new paper? Was it even in Kansas? Could this be related somehow?

It was that evil Liberal media, wasn't it?

I love me a good play on words. Well done, Smokey. And considering this ad apparently enjoys play on words ("collage"), perhaps you'd be a perfect fit!

 

[slappy4428]

I have never once applied for a job that's too afraid to tell you who they actually are, and I never will.

Actually, I did once and, while I didn't get the job, turned it into a semi-steady three-year gig writing corporate communications for a construction company between $50-70 per hour.

 

[HandsomeHarley]

That paper was the Southwest Daily Times in Liberal. The whole newsroom, including publisher, walked out and formed the High Plains Daily Leader.

The Leader kicked everyone's ass in the Kansas Press Association contests last month.

 

[apeman33]

That paper was the Southwest Daily Times in Liberal. The whole newsroom, including publisher, walked out and formed the High Plains Daily Leader.

The Leader kicked everyone's ass in the Kansas Press Association contests last month.

It was the Times going from daily to 3 times a week that began the exodus of people leaving. It had the daily paper in Guymon, Okla., bragging for a short time on its website that it was the only daily paper serving the Oklahoma panhandle "and neighboring counties in southwest Kansas."

 

[deskslave]

That paper was the Southwest Daily Times in Liberal. The whole newsroom, including publisher, walked out and formed the High Plains Daily Leader.

The Leader kicked everyone's ass in the Kansas Press Association contests last month.

It was the Times going from daily to 3 times a week that began the exodus of people leaving. It had the daily paper in Guymon, Okla., bragging for a short time on its website that it was the only daily paper serving the Oklahoma panhandle "and neighboring counties in southwest Kansas."

So I guess if the Times isn't daily anymore, that rules out this posting.

 

[HandsomeHarley]

The Times never really was shy about advertising. Same with Dodge City, Junction City, Great Bend and Emporia.

I'm trying to think of papers with two-man shops that might fall into this category. The only ones that come to mind would be Manhattan, Olathe or Hays.

One dark-horse candidate would be Leavenworth.

They needed an ASE a few years back, and I read on here about troubles at their shop. I e-mailed the SE and asked him about the rumors. I received a reply, not from him, but from the ME, basically ripping me for asking.

Later that year, they were advertising for a new SE. I just put 2+2 together and moved on.

 

[Shaggy]

I have never once applied for a job that's too afraid to tell you who they actually are, and I never will.

Actually, I did once and, while I didn't get the job, turned it into a semi-steady three-year gig writing corporate communications for a construction company between $50-70 per hour.

That changes my perspective. I will now apply for them all.

 

[Elmwood44]

Anybody actually apply and/or hear where this is at?

 

[flexmaster33]

I am supposed to meet someone in a dark alley on 0:900 hours on Tuesday...I was going to double check the location, but the "interview" package they sent self-destructed moments after I opened it. Oh yes, I'm supposed to wear sunglasses and pick up a briefcase left next to a garbage can on my way

 

[NegativeVertical]

That's a lot of work for one collage.

 

[lone star scribe]

If there's a parking deck in town, maybe you could meet there at night. Remember to check the flowerpot first.

 

[Riding Phat]

A friend of mine that actually sent in their resume for these gigs just heard back...seems the paper is the Great Bend Tribune. Googled it and found out a bit of info. Anybody have anything to add?

 

[HandsomeHarley]

Not sure why they advertised it like this. They had an opening about two years ago and advertised online.

I know the sports guys take their own pics but they have full-time page designers that lay out the paper. That could be a good thing or bad thing, depending on your skills.

Last time I rode through there, the SE was a young guy, but a nice enough kid.

 

[billikens]

Worked for the Tribune for 3 years. Near the end of 2005, and I think they've gone through 4 or 5 different SEs in that time, including two guys who've left, come back, then left again. You pretty much just have to accept that you're going to a small town in the middle of no where to do a job.

A few bits of info, but this is now almost 5 years removed, so take it for what it's worth:

- Don't expect much in terms of pay. If it was any higher than $27K, I'd be shocked, but I'm guessing closer to $23-25. When I started, with no experience, I think I was at around 18K.
- Rent there is super cheap. I think my first place was a 2-bedroom duplex that ran $300 a month.
- Expect to work a lot. A lot. There's GB High School, which is 5A. Barton County Community College, which has a solid athletic program. And about 8 area schools. So if it's a 1-man job, you'll have a lot of ground to cover. Even with 2, it's still close to 50 hours on an average week, 65 during the regional/state weeks. But closer to 30 during the summer.
- Can't speak for the area schools, but many of the GB coaches are still there, and were always great to work with. Can't think of a single bad thing to say about the coaches. And the BCCC basketball coach is one of my favorite coaches of all time.
- The GB athletic program is solid. In the last decade, they won 2 baseball state titles, 2 basketball state titles, went to the girls basketball state championship twice and football state championship once.
- The people at the Tribune are nice. Likely won't be much help in terms of coverage, but they're not bad folks to share a workspace with.
- You'll be taking your own photos, and, when I was there, we designed all of our pages as well, although I heard they'd changed that.
- If you're young and single, there's not a whole lot going on. A few bars for the locals. And one bar or the college kids/younger people.
- I met my now wife at the junior college there, so it's not impossible. Although it does mean I'm now tied to GB forever. Sooooooo.......