Sports Writer/GA Reporter, Mount Airy (N.C.) News

[Tarheel316]

The Mount Airy News has an immediate opening for a sports writer/general assignment reporter. We are a community newspaper that puts a premium on local content. The successful candidate will split her (or his) time between prep sports and local news and feature work, with the majority of that time on sports. Experience preferred, but open to recent college grads as well. Photography experience a big plus. Please send a resume, three writing samples, three references and expected salary requirements to John Peters at [email protected]. This is an immediate opening, so do not delay.

Preps are pretty decent here. Of course covering news is also involved. Beautiful area with decent cost of living, which is crucial since it's a Heartland paper and the pay will be meager. Winston-Salem is less than an hour away.

 

[PirateSports]

There's no sports editor...because the editor, who is also the regional editor, wants to be in control of the sports section and he also coaches a homeschool basketball team that manages to get great coverage. There was a high school volleyball team in Surry County that reached the state championship a few years back...the local girls won, but no one staffed the game. To make matters worse, the paper got the score and the opponent wrong.

There's Heartland and then there's the Mount Airy News....great people in the building...lousy leadership...but it's the hub.

 

[SportsGuyBCK]

Heartland -- like Paxton, only less competent ...

 

[Tarheel316]

Heartland -- like Paxton, only less competent ...

I have to agree.

 

[PirateSports]

I recently talked to someone from the NC Press Association that goes around to papers across the state to offer free training. He said that Heartland papers won't let him come...because "our papers are already the best in the state"

 

[Tarheel316]

Interesting. I don't remember hearing any of their names called during the NCPA awards ceremony earlier this year.

 

[PirateSports]

One of my "favorite" Heartland stories. The company's COO is a huge Alabama fan. So much so that every office that he has in the company MUST have crimson carpet and be decked out with 'Bama gear. No telling how much the company spent on redecorating. At the same time that it was announced that hourly employees would be cut back to 37.5 hour weeks, one of his offices was being redone in crimson and cream...employees were less than pleased.

 

[SportsGuyBCK]

I recently talked to someone from the NC Press Association that goes around to papers across the state to offer free training. He said that Heartland papers won't let him come...because "our papers are already the best in the state"

Is that Jock Lauterer you are speaking of?

 

[Tarheel316]

I recently talked to someone from the NC Press Association that goes around to papers across the state to offer free training. He said that Heartland papers won't let him come...because "our papers are already the best in the state"

Is that Jock Lauterer you are speaking of?

It's got to be Jock.

 

[PirateSports]

I think that's who it was. Very cool guy.

 

[Tarheel316]

I think that's who it was. Very cool guy.

Without question. A real asset to the business, too.

 

[TWilliams161]

You both seem to have a handle on this one. Any other insights to share as to what the paper is like or the job itself?

 

[Tarheel316]

You both seem to have a handle on this one. Any other insights to share as to what the paper is like or the job itself?

They are stretched pretty thin. Of course, that probably goes for most of us. I don't know what their deadline since they are a hub for Heartland.

 

[TWilliams161]

Sounds like it, just wonder what the stepping stone potential is there.

 

[PirateSports]

This is a job that has turned over a lot in recent years. Fantastic area for prep sports and great people in the building, especially the graphic folks.

Deadlines are not the best...not sure exactly on specifics, but I do know that their writer would leave high school football games either at half or shortly afterwards to go back to the office and write his story.

But...it's a Heartland paper and it's probably the "most Heartland" because the COO is the publisher in Mount Airy and he's very, very involved.

 

[Mark2010]

I've never met this guy, but I always get a little leary of publishers who are very involved.

 

[writingump]

Involved publishers generally mean bad news for the sports department.

 

[Tarheel316]

Involved publishers generally mean bad news for the sports department.

I concur.

 

[slc10]

Amen!! The publisher of the paper I worked for was supportive for the first few years then decided to pull some politics and eventually became a real bad guy. I have been gone a year and I still have a deep hate for the man.