You're in charge

[silentbob]

Reading the Klosterman story on changing the industry got me thinking. If given the chance, how would I change our sports coverage and section?

So let's say your editor calls you into his office. Tells you he thinks the sports section is underachieving. He promotes you. Tells you to change whatever you want. Take chances. Develop the sports section of tomorrow.

Same staff, same resources, same space.

What do you do?

 

[HandsomeHarley]

1) Fire the piece of **** he has as sports editor.

2) Spend the rest of my time trying to undo the stupid **** the ****head implemented -- not because it was a good idea but because it was his department.

3) Get rid of the in-office dress code. Everybody in the ****ing building can wear tennis shoes and jeans except the newsroom, who are in the back of the building, where anyone who visits them would have to walk past dozens of people in tennis shoes and jeans. And if it's 100 degrees outside and my reporters have to cover a game, they shouldn't have to drive home and change into shorts first (especially when two of the venues are about a half mile from the office).

4) Return to normal.

 

[Some Guy]

People have a dress code? They still make those?

 

[BillyT]

I will not comment on the dress code, because we have those discussions on at least a monthly basis.

In terms of running the shop.

We strengthen the web presence, have staff members blogging on various local sports (no one needs to hear what local guys think about the Red Sox, Yankees, etc.), set up a message board people have to register for.

Meet with each member of the department and ask him/her what changes we should make.

 

[Dangerous_K]

I like Billy T's ideas. The website should feature more exclusive content, and perhaps "Premium" content accessible to subscribers for the print edition. Having a FREE webpage that's the same information as the print edition, and can be updated throughout the day, makes your own for-pay product useless. But when you differentiate the two, but have them work as a package, then it benefits both sides.

 

[Songbird]

Run the department the way you want it run. And give the people what they want. And have fun doing it.

 

[Write-brained]

Hawaiian shirt day every Friday.

 

[pallister]

I think you'd spend the first few days realizing half the **** you complained about is out of the sports editor's control.

 

[forever_town]

The dress code at my shop is: "We expect our employees to wear clothes." I'm the only one who's ever formalized that.

 

[hockeybeat]

The dress code at my shop is: "We expect our employees to wear clothes." I'm the only one who's ever formalized that.

Killjoy.

 

[mike311gd]

Hawaiian shirt day every Friday.

So, you know, if you want to, go ahead and wear a Hawaiian shirt and jeans.

Shove it, Lumbergh.

 

[Write-brained]

At an old paper, we had a female copy editor who every day wore revealing spaghetti strap shirts without a bra. It was completely inappropriate but not even the top male editors would do anything about it until a female reporter finally complained ...

 

[mike311gd]

My first stop's dress code was a button-up shirt or polo -- jeans were kosher. My second didn't have one, and my third is shirt and tie for guys; business casual for gals.

 

[forever_town]

The dress code at my shop is: "We expect our employees to wear clothes." I'm the only one who's ever formalized that.

Killjoy.

You're the one who removed the Ovechkin goal from your avatar.

 

[wickedwritah]

At an old paper, we had a female copy editor who every day wore revealing spaghetti strap shirts without a bra. It was completely inappropriate but not even the top male editors would do anything about it until a female reporter finally complained ...

I've noticed it's usually the women who complain about other females' revealing clothing. FWIW.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

3) Get rid of the in-office dress code. Everybody in the ****ing building can wear tennis shoes and jeans except the newsroom, who are in the back of the building, where anyone who visits them would have to walk past dozens of people in tennis shoes and jeans. And if it's 100 degrees outside and my reporters have to cover a game, they shouldn't have to drive home and change into shorts first (especially when two of the venues are about a half mile from the office).

We have one of those too. Can't wear shorts in the office, so if us sports guys are having to cover something outside when it's 95-plus, we have to run home and change or bring something with us and change away from the office.

My big thing with that is if we're not going to be seen by the public if we stay at the office that day, what the **** does it matter if we're wearing shorts or not?

 

[mike311gd]

Sorry, people. I believe this guy's in charge. And he likes suspenders.

 

[Mayfly]

At an old paper, we had a female copy editor who every day wore revealing spaghetti strap shirts without a bra. It was completely inappropriate but not even the top male editors would do anything about it until a female reporter finally complained ...

Where do you work, Southwest Airlines?

 

[forever_town]

My big thing with that is if we're not going to be seen by the public if we stay at the office that day, what the **** does it matter if we're wearing shorts or not?

Be lucky I'm not an asshole who believes everyone should wear a shirt and tie every day to work or that women should wear high heels.

My caveat on the dress code issue is that if you're going to cover an event or do an in person interview with a source, I expect you to dress at least business casual. If I've got an important person coming to the office, I'll require you to dress at least business casual.

 

[The Last Boy Scout]

If I am promoted to SE, I know it's time to get out because the ME has lost his mind. I have my opinions on matters. I know my strengths and weaknesses as a journalist, so I'm nowhere near ready to run my own department.