Sports Editor, The Natchez Democrat

The Natchez Democrat, a 10,000-circulation daily surrounded by nine high schools and one university, is currently recruiting its next sports editor. Ideal recruits will have sports experience at a weekly or daily, Quark or InDesign experience and an eye for the story behind the game. Although much of our coverage is of preps and Alcorn State University, we branch out to LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Southern Miss and the New Orleans Saints when pertinent. Editor duties will include writing, managing the sports staff, page design and, most important, a desire to learn and grow while making a difference with your work while you hone your knowledge and skills. For more information contact Managing Editor Julie Finley at julie.finley@natchezdemocrat.com or 601-445-3551.

 

I don't know Julie. I hear she's good to work with. But you won't find two better people than Todd Carpenter (publisher) and Kevin Cooper (Asst. Pub).

Oh, and the community writer, Joan Gandy. She's a hoot.

Her husband (who was in bad health and I don't know if he's still alive) is a pioneer in restoring old photographs. Simply amazing what that man has done.

Good folks from top to bottom. They'll work your ass off (it's a Boone paper, whatdya expect?), but I enjoyed my time there.

Great for a kid just out of school. Not much there, save bars and antebellum homes. But it's a good 1-year gig for someone to cut teeth.

 

The people there are great, and it's a wonderplace to cut your teeth.
As an aside, Dr. Gandy passed away, but Joan is one of the most wonderful people you will ever meet. The Democrat also has one of the best photographers in the county, bar any circulation size.

Adam Daigle did a great job there for several years, and he went to Oklahoma City (I think?!) last year, so this is a place that will allow someone to move up. Other former sports staffers from Natchez have worked in Birmingham, Mobile and other strong papers throughout the Southeast.

And, hey, there's a casino in town!

 

I think Cooper can take him.

 

Daigle actually went on to Tulsa. He did do a bang-up job in Natchez, though. Seemed like he was working 14 hours a day, every day. Not sure what they have in the way of sports writers now, so whoever lands this job can probably expect to do the same if they want to do a good job. Tough gig, because of the workload, but there is some stuff to write about and it'll give a young writer a good introduction to the business.

 

Kevin Cooper is now publisher at Natchez:
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/articles/2007/04/06/news/news39.txt

 

Nice. He's done well and deserves it. I guess it was time for Todd to focus more on the Boone side of the house.

Congrats to Kevin.

 

The current sports editor, Tim Cottrell is leaving to take a job at the Auburn-Opelika paper. He said it's a good place to work, but his wife is expecting their first baby and they wanted to move home to Alabama so the baby can be closer to both sets of grandparents.

 

Fixed

 

I did it many-a time during my days in Natchez. Write two stories, lay out the entire PAPER by myself. Proof it myself. Send it. Update the Web site. Then, catch papers off the press. Then, hit the sports bar and stay till 5 a.m. -- 9 a.m., once.