Victoria Advocate: Top-flight sports editor

[GidalKaiser]

From jjobs.com

http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=979477

We have the team in place to create one of the nation's best community sports sections, but we need a talented and organized coach. While most of the industry is mired in a downward spiral, we’re a progressive, family-owned company that sees the opportunities for growth. We’re on a quest to be one of the best community newspapers and digital delivery systems in the country. We're looking for a sports editor who swings for the fences -- thorough prep coverage, nontraditional sports stories, and in-depth features -- and carries a good batting average. Your playing field must include digital platforms. Ability to speak Spanish a plus. We have a strong No. 2 in place who is acting as interim sports editor, so this could become a search for an assistant sports editor.
We’re a 30,000-circulation daily in south Texas about 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. We’re close to the beach and the big, fun cities of Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Houston. To join our team, send your résumé, work samples and cover letter to the Victoria Advocate, attention Managing Editor/Digital Thomas Martinez, at either [email protected] or mail to 311 E. Constitution, Victoria, TX 77901.

 

[spikechiquet]

People that swing for the fences tend to strike out a lot.

 

[BujuBanton]

anyone have input on Victoria? Seems like a decent size paper and town.

 

[albert77]

One thing I do know is that the ad is a little misleading. It makes it seem like Houston, Corpus Christi and San Antonio are just down the road, and that is definitely not the case.

Looking at it on a map, it appears that Corpus is a good 2 hours away, Houston is close to 2 1/2, maybe 3, and SA probably 3 hours drive over a lot of two-lane highways. Even getting to the beach is probably close to an hour.

Anyone who looks into a job in Texas needs to remember that it is a BIG state. I'm reminded of that every time I drive over the Sabine River bridge on I-10 en route to my folks, who live near Houston, and see the first mile marker that says 880.

 

[Random Journalist]

Albert 77 is correct. Austin and San Antonio are at least two hours away and only accessible via two lane highways. Houston is no quick commute either.

As for the Advocate, from what I understand the place has had a half dozen Sports Editors over the last five years and a lot of turnover in the newsroom. There are some very good people there. However, the Editor of the paper is someone who has had serious ethical lapses in the past.

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20070224/NEWS/102240049

This can be a good opportunity for someone, but they should know exactly what they are stepping into.

 

[SpeedTchr]

Victoria is about two hours from central Houston, hour and a half from Corpus, a couple hours to San Antonio and a bit more than two hours from Austin. Hardly as remote as you guys are portraying it. Great mid-sized town.

 

[BDC99]

Victoria is about two hours from central Houston, hour and a half from Corpus, a couple hours to San Antonio and a bit more than two hours from Austin. Hardly as remote as you guys are portraying it. Great mid-sized town.

So is it, or is it not, a couple of hours from most of these towns? No one has said otherwise.

 

[SpeedTchr]

Victoria is about two hours from central Houston, hour and a half from Corpus, a couple hours to San Antonio and a bit more than two hours from Austin. Hardly as remote as you guys are portraying it. Great mid-sized town.

So is it, or is it not, a couple of hours from most of these towns? No one has said otherwise.

Uhh, ok. Guess I'm misreading albert77's post.

 

[Football_Bat]

Two hours in Texas is like 30 minutes back East.

 

[BDC99]

Two hours in Texas is like 30 minutes back East.

Fair enough.

 

[Den1983]

Victoria is about two hours from central Houston, hour and a half from Corpus, a couple hours to San Antonio and a bit more than two hours from Austin. Hardly as remote as you guys are portraying it. Great mid-sized town.

This is about right. The town itself doesn't have much to offer, particularly sports-wise, but it is located nicely to other big cities.

 

[Steak Snabler]

It is the home of one "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. That's all I got ...

 

[gravehunter]

I think Doug Drabek is from there as well.

 

[arceditor]

Drabek's from Victoria, and so is Ron Gant. Reds reliever Logan Ondrusek is from Shiner. Cuero up the road produces its fair share of college and NFL football players, El Campo just went to a state football title game and Refugio is a hot story in prep football year in year out. There are some really good stories to be mined in and around Victoria if you're willing to pursue it.

The drives to Houston and Corpus Christi are not bad because 59 is a real highway; Houston is a solid two hours while Corpus Christi is 90 minutes. San Antonio takes you over some gnarly backroads that are choked with tankers these days, and the trip to Austin is just long. The beach is 30 minutes away, if that. Not good beaches, mind you, but beaches nonetheless.

I can answer any questions about the job. Just PM me.

 

[Mark2010]

Victoria is about two hours from central Houston, hour and a half from Corpus, a couple hours to San Antonio and a bit more than two hours from Austin. Hardly as remote as you guys are portraying it. Great mid-sized town.

Agreed. But I'm not sure they cover much in any of those places. Seems like it's pretty much high schools and small colleges.

That's one of the big changes I've noticed compared to when I started more than 20 years ago. back then, go to a pro or major college games and chances were you'd run into writers from a dozen or more places, most of whom would drive in for the day to get a taste of the "big time". Not sure how much that is encouraged, or even allowed, anymore.

 

[Football_Bat]

Victoria is about two hours from central Houston, hour and a half from Corpus, a couple hours to San Antonio and a bit more than two hours from Austin. Hardly as remote as you guys are portraying it. Great mid-sized town.

Agreed. But I'm not sure they cover much in any of those places. Seems like it's pretty much high schools and small colleges.

That's one of the big changes I've noticed compared to when I started more than 20 years ago. back then, go to a pro or major college games and chances were you'd run into writers from a dozen or more places, most of whom would drive in for the day to get a taste of the "big time". Not sure how much that is encouraged, or even allowed, anymore.

Most places it's allowed, but it's on your own time.

 

[Mark2010]

Yeah, that was sort of always the case: do a good job with the stuff in your own backyard and then you can go cover the pro/college teams as time allows if you want to.

But in recent years, quite a few papers even began nixing that after some yahoo filed wage and hour lawsuits. So managers responded by cracking down on what employees were doing. Once, several years ago, I was even suspended because I got a press pass and went to an event and wrote something ON MY OWN TIME. (Needless to say, I was outta there pretty soon afterward.)

I do see both sides of the argument. But if you're going to cut out what some consider the most attractive parts of the jobs, then what is left is going to be less attractive.

 

[BujuBanton]

any update on this one?

 

[Captain Obvious]

Yeah, that was sort of always the case: do a good job with the stuff in your own backyard and then you can go cover the pro/college teams as time allows if you want to.

But in recent years, quite a few papers even began nixing that after some yahoo filed wage and hour lawsuits. So managers responded by cracking down on what employees were doing. Once, several years ago, I was even suspended because I got a press pass and went to an event and wrote something ON MY OWN TIME. (Needless to say, I was outta there pretty soon afterward.)

I do see both sides of the argument. But if you're going to cut out what some consider the most attractive parts of the jobs, then what is left is going to be less attractive.

Damn workers wanting to get paid for doing work. I'm sure you're a real trooper, though.

 

[Mark2010]

Yeah, that was sort of always the case: do a good job with the stuff in your own backyard and then you can go cover the pro/college teams as time allows if you want to.

But in recent years, quite a few papers even began nixing that after some yahoo filed wage and hour lawsuits. So managers responded by cracking down on what employees were doing. Once, several years ago, I was even suspended because I got a press pass and went to an event and wrote something ON MY OWN TIME. (Needless to say, I was outta there pretty soon afterward.)

I do see both sides of the argument. But if you're going to cut out what some consider the most attractive parts of the jobs, then what is left is going to be less attractive.

Damn workers wanting to get paid for doing work. I'm sure you're a real trooper, though.

Hell, if you don't want to go, stay home. Since when did you get to pick and choose what you cover? The bread-and-butter of the job is never going to be that stuff. That's supposed to be the icing on the cake.