Going from Sports to News? Is there any risk involved?

I've gone over to news twice. I think it helped me.

 

Out of college, the only acceptable job I was offered was on the news desk of a 100,000 daily. I am about the last person who would normally chase this. I read the sports page much more regularly than A-1. But I took the job to keep advancing.

After a year and picking up some layout/design experience -- and spending my entire lunch hour each night hanging out in the sports department -- I was moved into sports. And I've stayed there since.

News-side may not thrill. It may. And it will pay the bills. Sports will be there down the line.

 

RW21:
I asked a somewhat similar question this past summer when I was pondering a switch to news after 13 years in sports. I got some great responses, which may help you in addition to the good feedback you've already received here.
I will add that I have made said switch and do not regret it, not even a little bit.
Here's that thread:

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/84591/

 

Getting a social life back is great, plus you get free pizza on Election Night.

 

Oh, if you don't get free pizza on Election Night in sports, you aren't trying.

 

Good writers are good writers. Sports helped me learn to write quickly on deadline, fantastic training for news. The lack of a scoreboard may make figuring out "winners" and "losers" a little tougher to figure out, but give it time, acquaint yourself with the players (especially city staff who are typically better versed on the issues than elected officials) and you'll do fine.
Maybe start out with a "beat sweetener" - a profile of someone in a position to be a great resource (Politico does this all the time) to help you get settled in.

 

I've never heard one person complain that a sports writer knew his way around city hall and the courts too well.

Never heard anyone complain that a news writer was too fast on deadline because of his/her sports background.

 

And you never will.

 

Everyone else has said everything I would have.

You learn some great skills, and I guarantee knowing how school boards and police stations work will help in sports.

One piece of advice: Don't for a minute whine about the council meetings. Work them hard, talk to people. You oughta come out of those meetings with a couple of stories to follow up, sometimes you will pick up good features.

 

As everyone here has said, total upside. We have a big fire going on in our downtown today. When we have big breaking news like that, it makes me wish I was news instead of sports.

 

Two great posts right here.

It took me a while to realize that council meetings were a chance to get good story ideas, rather than simply a chance to file 25-inch meeting "gamers."

 

Well, I won't go that far.