UNC beat writer - The (Durham) Herald-Sun

The Herald-Sun in Durham, N.C., is seeking a reporter to cover UNC-Chapel Hill athletics. The candidate we are looking for will be comfortable reporting news related to sports, writing features on players and coaches and covering games. This reporter also assists with covering the Triple-A Durham Bulls. Some travel is required. This position requires some desk work for the sports department. The schedule will include night and weekend hours. Send your resume and cover letter to news@heraldsun.com.

The link: http://www.journalismjobs.com/job-listings/1614241

This is where most people say "Could be a good opportunity for someone just out of college or looking to make the leap from preps to a major college (basketball) beat."

 

The Herald-Sun went through some serious trouble recently, right?

 

It is a Paxton paper, but the fact it says "negotiable" is reason for hope. (Shrugs)

 

To a Paxton paper, "negotiable" means "here's what we're paying -- either take it, or we'll find someone who will" ...

 

Only four full-timers in the sports staff — a former preps editor who's now the "acting editor", a UNC reporter (the opening), a Duke reporter, and an NCCU/preps reporter. The H-S relies heavily on stringers for a ton of things, including Durham Bulls coverage. The paper prints in High Point and is experimenting with a 10pm deadline after having a 7-7:30 pm deadline of the past few months. It's really a shame.

 

Hasn't this paper's circulation dropped in half over the last 6 or 7 years?

 

The good news is that if you get this job, you'll get to cover a coaching search pretty soon, if not two.

 

From 50,612 to 21,367 from 2003 to 2012, according to Wikipedia. They cited ABC stats, but those aren't accessible anymore. That's a tremendous decline.

 

What do you think this pays? Mid-30s? 40s?

 

That circulation decline, especially for a city that size, is making me shy away from this. Should it? I'm 23 and a year out of college.

 

Completely guessing, but $28K to $35K.

This does not sound like a "UNC beat writer" job. It sounds like a GA job where part of the gig is covering UNC. You also have to love a gig like this that goes straight from college basketball season into covering minor-league baseball and working desk.

 

Not a good situation to get involved in. Pass.