What to do with a lot of sports writing experience that's NOT sports writing.

[bl67550]

So I'm in a predicament and thought I might get a few thoughts from you guys if any of you might have some insight.

I'm in an area that I don't want to move far away from and the local papers are pretty full up. Therefore, I am considering making a slight change to my long-term plan and avoid a start at a newspaper right out of the gate (just finished college).

My first thought was the obvious one - PR - but where do I look. I am near Charlotte, NC and have searched the area for such opportunities but have so far found very little, mostly scam pyramid scheme type deals.

I am not altogether abandoning the thought of newspaper work, it is still where I would probably prefer to get my start, but I would take almost anything around the Charlotte/321/I40 corridor that would even slightly line up with the considerable freelancing/college paper experience I've picked up. That includes Boone, Statesville, Hickory, Morganton, Lincolnton, Lenoir, etc.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RickStain]

Cry?

 

[MonsterLobster]

Cry?

I don't think there was anyone could have said anything funnier to that question.

But seriously, good luck. Before I landed where I am now, I was at a pretty bad paper and trying to find anything else I could, like PR stuff, marketing writing, advertising. I managed to get a few interviews, but every one of the interviewers was pretty clearly turned off when they found out I had "only" covered sports.

Based on conversations I've had with angry or confused readers and those job interviews, I think most people who have never worked at a newspaper imagine news reporters diligently calling their secret sources 24 hours a day to get some big scoop while sports writers sit in the office and write about whatever games they happen to be watching on television that day.

 

[bl67550]

I might have mislead you with my subject. By 'not sports writing' I mean, 'not newspaper sports writing'. I would be very, very eager to find something along the lines of writing content for a local minor league team. I want to be in sports, I have no desire whatsoever to be in anything else. My question is more about what businesses...such as the minor league team idea...I should be looking at as possible resume receptors.

 

[bl67550]

By the way just to make the picture clearer, my major in college was English and I concentrated in professional writing. I would think that makes me ideal for work inside the business.

 

[MonsterLobster]

Most minor league teams have someone writing up press releases and stuff, but from the few friends I have in that industry, I've heard it's as low paying as sports writing, involves similar hours and requires doing things like organizing birthday parties for kids, calling around for advertisers and going to local businesses and trying to sell them corporate ticket packages.

Pro teams seem to have a small staff of writers/new media people, but with little work experience you're probably going to have a tough time getting one of those jobs. That doesn't mean you shouldn't apply if you see one you like (There's an Atlanta Falcons posting in the jobs board if you don't mind the prospect of moving a little out of your range for it).

If you're looking for sports but not at a newspaper, that's about your best bet. Otherwise, you might find a non-sports gig and supplementing it as much freelance as you can pile on.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

You want to write sports? Write sports. Just know that you're going to stay broke.

 

[sportsguydave]

You may need to alter your expectations a bit ... If you want to work bad enough, there's a job out there. You just may need to travel a bit further than you want.

It may not be a place where you want to stay for a long time ... but you don't need to. Most smaller papers understand that you'll get your feet wet and move on. Some places, you'll be lucky enough to find a good SE who will help you get to the next level.

Good luck.

 

[Screwball]

the considerable freelancing/college paper experience I've picked up.

Have you asked everyone you have met on these assignments -- editors and writers at these papers and competing ones -- for job leads?

My question is more about what businesses...such as the minor league team idea...I should be looking at as possible resume receptors.

Have you walked into the front office of every team in the Carolina League and hand-delivered your resume, preferably to the general manager? Not sure exactly what you mean by "resume receptor," but I hope you don't mean simply e-mailing a resume. Minor league teams might get hundreds of applications for each job. Many positions are filled at the job fair at the winter meetings (see www.pbeo.com). Go hard for a job, or sit passively and remain unemployed.

By the way just to make the picture clearer, my major in college was English and I concentrated in professional writing. I would think that makes me ideal for work inside the business.

Actually, it's irrelevant. Sorry about that, and I don't mean to be harsh, but no one cares where you might have gone to college or what your major might have been. Got a fancy degree from a journalism school? Doesn't matter. Can you show me you can deliver a clean game story in 20 minutes? Now you're talking.

 

[flexmaster33]

By the way just to make the picture clearer, my major in college was English and I concentrated in professional writing. I would think that makes me ideal for work inside the business.

Problem is PR-wise you are fresh out of college and competing in a tough market against (in most cases) much more experienced applicants...those jobs are getting flooded not just with Media Relations people, but also with frustrated newspaper writers (trust me, I'm one of them).

Just a tough market in many fields, but especially in this one. Saying you're an "ideal" candidate based on what classes you took is overstating your worth -- in a big way. Not trying to be offensive, just giving you a wake up call...keep at it, but don't be afraid to start low on the ladder somewhere to gain experience.

 

[RickStain]

Long story short: You want to write about sports for a living. Good luck, so do several million other people. Find something that makes you different from them (and a degree ain't it).

 

[Stitch]

Working for a sports team pays less than a newspaper job. Usually, you start out as an unpaid intern handing out water bottles and keychains, then get to write a press release stating "the hard-working Podunk Braves put up a fierce challenge before losing to the Backwater Pirates 11-0."

To be honest, you need to be more clear in your posts, because if you're not clear here, an employer will have a hard time as well.

 

[Ace]

If I were you, I would hit the job sites looking for jobs in communications, media relations, PR, etc. Also try technical writing.

Not a lot of these jobs out there, by the way.

 

[Stitch]

If I were you, I would hit the job sites looking for jobs in communications, media relations, PR, etc. Also try technical writing.

Not a lot of these jobs out there, by the way.

Craigslist has a lot of ads for Web work. A lot of TV stations use Craigslist to post web editor openings, at least from what I've noticed recently.

 

[stix]

So I'm in a predicament and thought I might get a few thoughts from you guys if any of you might have some insight.

I'm in an area that I don't want to move far away from and the local papers are pretty full up. Therefore, I am considering making a slight change to my long-term plan and avoid a start at a newspaper right out of the gate (just finished college).

My first thought was the obvious one - PR - but where do I look. I am near Charlotte, NC and have searched the area for such opportunities but have so far found very little, mostly scam pyramid scheme type deals.

I am not altogether abandoning the thought of newspaper work, it is still where I would probably prefer to get my start, but I would take almost anything around the Charlotte/321/I40 corridor that would even slightly line up with the considerable freelancing/college paper experience I've picked up. That includes Boone, Statesville, Hickory, Morganton, Lincolnton, Lenoir, etc.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Get a regular joe-schmoe job that doesn't require you to think but that you can make money off of.

In your free-time, blog about sports. Write on message boards, start your own blog, talk to yourself about sports in the shower, whatever it takes to write/talk about sports as much as possible.

Sure, you won't make any money off it. But look at the bright side: You could write about ****ty sports for 70 hours a week and not make much more than you will writing about sports as a hobby. And on the bright side, you'll have time for a job that actually pays a decent wage and a family.

That's my cynical, hardened advice. But good luck. For the record, I'm covering a bowling tournament for 50 bucks tomorrow night, right after I get done cashiering for 6 hours. Living the dream!

 

[Stitch]

It's not easy to get into sports PR. You either work your way up from an unpaid intern, or you work for a paper or TV station for low pay, and make the move.

 

[Mark2010]

So I'm in a predicament and thought I might get a few thoughts from you guys if any of you might have some insight.

I'm in an area that I don't want to move far away from and the local papers are pretty full up. Therefore, I am considering making a slight change to my long-term plan and avoid a start at a newspaper right out of the gate (just finished college).

My first thought was the obvious one - PR - but where do I look. I am near Charlotte, NC and have searched the area for such opportunities but have so far found very little, mostly scam pyramid scheme type deals.

I am not altogether abandoning the thought of newspaper work, it is still where I would probably prefer to get my start, but I would take almost anything around the Charlotte/321/I40 corridor that would even slightly line up with the considerable freelancing/college paper experience I've picked up. That includes Boone, Statesville, Hickory, Morganton, Lincolnton, Lenoir, etc.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

As noted, there are a lot of jobs with various agencies (sports and otherwise) that utilize many of the same skills that newspaper reporters do. It's relatively simple to transition back and forth over the years.

Obviously the broader you cast your net -- both geographically as well as in types of occupations --- the greater the likelihood of landing something. Many of us have faced the decision to leave home, family and friends behind to pursue a certain opportunity. Others have decided it wasn't worth it. That's a decision only the individual can make. Good luck.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

I know a little about your area, having family in Morganton. I know the News-Herald has had openings in the recent past, and there's a lot of turnover there. It's a tiny paper, so not having experience works in your favor because you're cheaper.

There's also a couple of openings your way from ncpress.com, if you haven't been there yet:

Sports/News Reporter (posted 05/03/10)
The Tryon Daily Bulletin, an award-winning small daily in Western North Carolina, is seeking a full time sports and news reporter to cover two high schools and various news beats. Applicants should send a resume and cover letter to Jeff Byrd, Tryon Daily Bulletin, 16 N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782.

Sports Copy Editor/Page Designer (posted 05/03/10)
Media General Inc. has an immediate opening for a talented sports copy editor/page designer to join our expanding copydesk in Hickory, N.C. One year of professional experience preferred, but we will consider recent graduates with solid internships. Send your resume and samples of your bests work during the past six months to [email protected].

Hickory always has desk openings because they just went the regional hub route, so they're doing copy editing/designing for all the Media General papers in North Carolina, and I believe Florence, S.C. as well.

Never heard of Tryon as anything other than a street in Charlotte, but it's apparently a tiny town on the NC/SC border. Looks like haven't had anyone doing sports for them lately: http://www.tryondailybulletin.com/

 

[MonsterLobster]

It would be a dream job for me to work at the paper in Hamer, S.C., where I imagine I'd spend my days covering the strange goings-on in all the South of the Border junk shops.

So if you see that job, don't apply for, but instead send me a PM.

 

[forever_town]

Blog in your mother's basement or get as far away from this business as you can.

On a serious note, if you haven't already made the rounds of internships and freelance writing for local papers, you're going to be behind the eight ball when you start looking for full-time work.

It's sad to say this, but even if you've taken every conceivable internship AND you have a boatload of clips from local papers, you might still have a hard time getting in. And that's no jaded, sarcasm-laced rant.

I'd recommend getting a job -- any job -- even if it has nothing to do with journalism. Try to freelance on the side and save as much money as you can.