Sports Reporter, Berkshire Record (MA)

[superhater]

From JJ.com. This was my first full-time gig many moons ago. Not a fantastic social scene if you're in your 20s and single, but it's a really, really good place for a new jack to learn the ropes. (PM me with any questions...paper is still under same ownership.)

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Company: The Berkshire Record
Position: Sports Reporter
Location: Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Negotiable
Ad Expires: April 27, 2012
Job ID: 1251019

Description:
Award-winning weekly broadsheet weekly in western Massachusetts is seeking an experienced sports reporter able to juggle multiple assignments who is organized, self-motivated and is able to work quickly and accurately.

The position includes covering four high schools, laying out sports section as well as writing thought-provoking enterprise pieces, taking photos, writing compelling features .

Prior experience as a reporter preferred, but will consider recent college graduates with news reporting experience. Candidates must be highly motivated, hard-working, know AP style and InDesign. We prize those who can write well and can write the rest of the story. Need to have a car and a camera.

The Berkshires, 2 1/2 hours from New York and Boston, is in an area filled with lakes and hiking trails (the Appalachian Trail runs through it), skiing as well as being the regional homes for national arts, music, and dance companies. The population is a combination of life-long residents, those who have relocated from New York and Boston, and people who live in those cities and have weekend homes in the area.

The position is available now.
E-mail resume and samples of your work if you fit the job description and are available to [email protected].

 

[Whatwhat]

Caution people. This is a weekly, not a daily.

 

[spikechiquet]

Caution people. This is a weekly, not a daily.

Why does that matter? It's still a job in the biz you asshat.

 

[HanSenSE]

Caution people. This is a weekly, not a daily.

Why does that matter? It's still a job in the biz you asshat.

There's no disgrace in working at a weekly.

 

[Whatwhat]

I didn't say it was a disgrace. But a weekly isn't for everybody. That's why I was pointing that out.

 

[MileHigh]

Your planted words "Caution people" tended toward it was a disgrace. Knock it off. Here and elsewhere. Your act is wearing thin. Just like all the other times.

 

[Stitch]

Caution people. This is a weekly, not a daily.

The third word under the description probably would lead people to think this is not a daily paper.

 

[jr/shotglass]

doodah, doodah.

 

[HanSenSE]

doodah, doodah.

Your avatar's wave seems appropriate.

 

[Whatwhat]

Was I wrong in trying to point out it was a weekly?

Weeklies (obviously) don't provide the same type of writing opportunities dailies do. They are more featurey and have relatively few gamers.

 

[Stitch]

Was I wrong in trying to point out it was a weekly?

Weeklies (obviously) don't provide the same type of writing opportunities dailies do. They are more featurey and have relatively few gamers.

While you don't face the same deadline pressure as writing for a daily, if you're a wordsmith, there are great opportunities out for interesting features you might not have time with at a small daily if you have to crank out a couple of stories per day, take calls, and do layout.

 

[wicked]

I always viewed the weekly life as much more challenging than working at a daily. There's something to be said about being able to make a mistake, dusting yourself off and getting back on the horse 24 hours later.

 

[KJIM]

Was I wrong in trying to point out it was a weekly?

Well, it does state it clearly in the ad, so while it might not have been wrong, it was pointless and came across as condescending.

 

[mythirdalt]

Was I wrong in trying to point out it was a weekly?

Weeklies (obviously) don't provide the same type of writing opportunities dailies do. They are more featurey and have relatively few gamers.

I started out in a yearly -- high school yearbook -- and have made it in the business.

Just the fact that this paper has survived and is under the same ownership as years ago is a good enough sign.

 

[jr/shotglass]

A gentle reminder that those accepting a job at a weekly will most likely be financially challenged.

Just sayin'. It's not a matter of shame; it is realistically a tough road to ***.

 

[ChrisMaza]

That I can attest to. I've been working at a weekly for two years now and, well, let's just say I made more when I was working as a prison guard and as an exterminator while putting myself through school. When I interviewed for the job, the Managing Editor told me he was "embarrassed" by the amount of money he could offer.
Still, with that said, the experience has been very valuable and a lot can be gotten out of working at a weekly. And really, how many of us are rolling in the dough in this industry?

 

[wicked]

I can attest to that, $21K in a metro area didn't go far, even in 1998.

 

[CaymanGuy]

Before deciding on the lucrative world of print journalism, interned at a prestigious ad agency. Starting salary for new hires — $13K. In Boston. Massachusetts.
Philosophy: "If these kids want an ad career badly enough, they'll take a night/weekend job waiting tables or bar tending to make ends meet."

 

[TooOldForThis]

Sigh. This would be a total dream job for me in so many ways, and I would like to think the editor's inbox is filled with some great applicants.

Not even thinking so much of young'uns getting started in the business but, rather, older folks who have "been there, done that" with the daily deadlines, big city papers, competitive beats, etc. and (maybe out of work now) have different priorities or desires when it comes to continuing our lives in journalism.

Maybe they've got enough savings or the 401K from the jobs they've/we've lost with cutbacks squirreled away to be able to take a slightly lower salary in exchange for living in one of the most beautiful areas of the country, with less deadline pressure and more opportunity to write and make a difference in the community. And they remember, maybe, their own first jobs working on smaller local community papers and how much fun it was. My first job paid crap (I think I made $5K a year as a part-timer who actually worked full time) at a "bureau job" for a more major suburban daily, covering high schools and community sports but the two years in that bureau were among the best of my life.

If it were not for the fact that my spouse refuses to ever move anywhere colder than where we are now (southern part of the mid-Atlantic) and our next move will probably be west to be closer to the spawn (oh, and if I could actually do layout), I'd apply in a heartbeat and be thrilled to even be considered.

 

[BYH]

The Berkshires are 2 1/2 hours from New York? By what means of transportation?