Sports writer, Stats LLC, Northbrook, Ill.

[playthrough]

Stats LLC, a joint venture of The Associated Press and News Corp., is searching for a sports writer. We are a leading provider of online and wireless sports content (including stories, photos, data, video, interactives and audio). Our customers include, among others, Yahoo!, ESPN and FOX Sports.

The ideal candidate will be thoroughly knowledgeable and passionately interested in all major U.S. sports with demonstrated experience as a writer and a solid background in journalism. Responsibilities primarily include: preview writing for all major professional leagues and Top 25 college football and basketball games; daily updating of individual player news and notes; customized seasonal editorial work.

Must be prepared to work nights and weekends out of Stats' new international headquarters located in Northbrook, Ill., just north of Chicago.

Please e-mail a cover letter, resume and writing samples to:

Brian Orefice
Director, News & Editorial Operations
Stats LLC
[email protected]

 

[Norman Stansfield]

I'd be interested in learning a pay range here.

Stats is an awesome service. Could be a great gig for the right person.

 

[Matt1735]

I'm thinking there will be a number of apps from places like Orlando, Tampa, Palm Beach, Chicago, Los Angeles... ****, this is depressing.

 

[MrBSquared]

Know a guy who works there ... actually talked to him about a job there about a year ago. Place is growing/expanding. Would be a great job, in terms of growth/location.

 

[Jay Sherman]

This would be a very cool gig. Obviously very, very competitive, with or without the recent tidal wave of buyouts/layoffs.

 

[mustangj17]

Anyone have any more information on this?

 

[mustangj17]

Just googled Northbrook since I had no idea where it was.

A little North of Chi-Town. Near places like Evanston and Arlington Heights. Probably an expensive place to live.

 

[YoungSportsScribe]

Anyone have any more information on this?

A little less than three years ago I applied and was contacted for an interview. After the phone interview I was asked if I could fly (at my own expense) to Chicago for an interview. I said I would not pay my way out there and their reason for not footing the bill was because they have qualified candidates in the area, too.

From what I remember, you don't really go to games for previews and gamers. You basically just write them from the office. The pay I recall was $40-45K.

Fortunately I'm in the position where I don't have to re-apply but I wish the best to those who do.

I hope this helped.

 

[Prince of Persia]

Tough to say exactly what they are looking for in a candidate. I thought I was a shoe-in with four years of covering minor league baseball and a year of covering the WNBA and a major men's college basketball program.

I applied twice for an open position and was brought in for an interview the second time. Be prepared to take a sports quiz with such questions as who won last year's Stanley Cup and name five WNBA players (Becky Hammons, Sue Bird, Candace Parker, Katie Douglas and Taj McWilliams-Franklin). After a couple of follow up emails, I never heard back from them.

 

[YoungSportsScribe]

Tough to say exactly what they are looking for in a candidate. I thought I was a shoe-in with four years of covering minor league baseball and a year of covering the WNBA and a major men's college basketball program.

I applied twice for an open position and was brought in for an interview the second time. Be prepared to take a sports quiz with such questions as who won last year's Stanley Cup and name five WNBA players (Becky Hammons, Sue Bird, Candace Parker, Katie Douglas and Taj McWilliams-Franklin). After a couple of follow up emails, I never heard back from them.

Ah yes, I forgot to mention that and Prince reminded me ( when he mentioned, "After a couple follow up emails, I never heard back from them") ... They said if I'd be available for a phone interview and when they said they'd call they never did. Think they finally called a few days after they said they'd call. And when the interview was over they said they'd get back to me in an e-mail and I never heard back from them. Very unprofessional, I thought.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Dude's e-mail is "borefice"?

That's unfortunate.

 

[mustangj17]

Tough to say exactly what they are looking for in a candidate. I thought I was a shoe-in with four years of covering minor league baseball and a year of covering the WNBA and a major men's college basketball program.

I applied twice for an open position and was brought in for an interview the second time. Be prepared to take a sports quiz with such questions as who won last year's Stanley Cup and name five WNBA players (Becky Hammons, Sue Bird, Candace Parker, Katie Douglas and Taj McWilliams-Franklin). After a couple of follow up emails, I never heard back from them.

Ah yes, I forgot to mention that and Prince reminded me ( when he mentioned, "After a couple follow up emails, I never heard back from them") ... They said if I'd be available for a phone interview and when they said they'd call they never did. Think they finally called a few days after they said they'd call. And when the interview was over they said they'd get back to me in an e-mail and I never heard back from them. Very unprofessional, I thought.

Sounds like ESPN to me.

 

[Jeremy Goodwin]

Just googled Northbrook since I had no idea where it was.

A little North of Chi-Town. Near places like Evanston and Arlington Heights. Probably an expensive place to live.

Northbrook is a cool place. I lived there for a few years when I was growing up. I haven't been there for years, but it's a great town and just a short ride away from the city.

 

[Walter_Sobchak]

Dude's e-mail is "borefice"?

That's unfortunate.

More unfortunate that his last name is Orefice.

Tough to say exactly what they are looking for in a candidate. I thought I was a shoe-in with four years of covering minor league baseball and a year of covering the WNBA and a major men's college basketball program.

I applied twice for an open position and was brought in for an interview the second time. Be prepared to take a sports quiz with such questions as who won last year's Stanley Cup and name five WNBA players (Becky Hammons, Sue Bird, Candace Parker, Katie Douglas and Taj McWilliams-Franklin). After a couple of follow up emails, I never heard back from them.

That's because it's Becky Hammon. :-)

 

[clever_username]

Caveat emptor.

Buddy of mine used to work there. Same basic gig. It involved a lot of content creation for sites they have contracts with. Shifts vary, but there are a lot of night shifts. Some people on the staff are apparently very hard to work with, (that shouldn't be a big surprise). Some of it seems like assembly-line type work. And there's Chicago traffic to deal with depending on where you live.

Still, it is a growing company and that could be exciting depending on your situation.

 

[Prince of Persia]

Dude's e-mail is "borefice"?

That's unfortunate.

More unfortunate that his last name is Orefice.

Tough to say exactly what they are looking for in a candidate. I thought I was a shoe-in with four years of covering minor league baseball and a year of covering the WNBA and a major men's college basketball program.

I applied twice for an open position and was brought in for an interview the second time. Be prepared to take a sports quiz with such questions as who won last year's Stanley Cup and name five WNBA players (Becky Hammons, Sue Bird, Candace Parker, Katie Douglas and Taj McWilliams-Franklin). After a couple of follow up emails, I never heard back from them.

That's because it's Becky Hammon. :-)

Maybe that was the reason. Oh well, it's the ****ing WNBA. The one year I covered it was pure torture.

 

[Prince of Persia]

Caveat emptor.

Buddy of mine used to work there. Same basic gig. It involved a lot of content creation for sites they have contracts with. Shifts vary, but there are a lot of night shifts. Some people on the staff are apparently very hard to work with, (that shouldn't be a big surprise). Some of it seems like assembly-line type work. And there's Chicago traffic to deal with depending on where you live.

Still, it is a growing company and that could be exciting depending on your situation.

Chi-Town traffic is a ***** because of the reverse commute. Going north to Northbrook is not going to be fun when you have to come in for the 6pm to 2am shift. If you want to live in the city, my advice would be to live as far north as possible and give yourself an hour and a half to get to work.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

Caveat emptor.

Buddy of mine used to work there. Same basic gig. It involved a lot of content creation for sites they have contracts with. Shifts vary, but there are a lot of night shifts. Some people on the staff are apparently very hard to work with, (that shouldn't be a big surprise). Some of it seems like assembly-line type work. And there's Chicago traffic to deal with depending on where you live.

Still, it is a growing company and that could be exciting depending on your situation.

Chi-Town traffic is a ***** because of the reverse commute. Going north to Northbrook is not going to be fun when you have to come in for the 6pm to 2am shift. If you want to live in the city, my advice would be to live as far north as possible and give yourself an hour and a half to get to work.

Not to mention the ****ing cheating-ass tolls >:(

 

[The Ghost of Red Smith]

Caveat emptor.

Some people on the staff are apparently very hard to work with, (that shouldn't be a big surprise).

Could you please amplify on that?

 

[Igor in CT]

Caveat emptor.

Some people on the staff are apparently very hard to work with, (that shouldn't be a big surprise).

Could you please amplify on that?

Yes, speak louder please .. we cannot hear you in the back.