Sports Writer in Monroe, N.C.

There's a job opening for a sports writer at The Enquirer-Journal in Monroe, N.C., which is about 45 minutes SE of Charlotte. The sports section (which is the sports editor, this sports writing position, two part-timers and a couple stringers) covers eight high schools and a D-II University in the county, as well as some Panthers and Bobcats. The newspaper's circulation is roughly 10K and it comes out Tuesday through Sunday.

The job entails writing gamers, features and columns, as well as desk work. Experience is obviously preferred (be it at a college paper, internship, weekly or daily) because you'll need to do a lot of different things and do them well. But this is a good first job for a college graduate or someone looking to move up from a weekly, and you should end up with some really impressive clips, especially with the opportunities to cover professional sports a few times each season. Make no mistake, though - high school coverage is the main focus of the section. But don't worry, you won't be out doing 12-year-old Babe Ruth games or T-ball. The section is busy enough with eight high schools and everything above them.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume and clips (and references if you're so inclined) to Jerry Snow, Sports Editor, The Enquirer-Journal, 500 W. Jefferson St., Monroe, N.C., 28111.

I'm not Jerry, but PM with me any questions and I should be able to either help or pass them along to Jerry.

 

Not a bad area of the world to live. It's about 30 miles from the east end of Charlotte, and two hours from Myrtle Beach. If you want to impress the locals, it's pronounced MONroe, though over time, the pronunciation has become yankeeized. Just watch your speed on Hwy. 601.

 

It was suggested to me that I mention how the last two writers have used this as a stepping stone, because it may make the job more appealing.

The guy who is leaving worked at The E-J for two years and is taking jobs that split his time between washingtonpost.com (30 hours per week) and The Washington Post (12 hours).

The guy before him worked there for three and a half years in sports (something like two in news) and left to become the national writer for Street and Smith's magazine.

So don't discount this job because of the circulation size. If you're talented and hard-working, and you make good contacts and put in a couple years, you can definitely use this experience to move up when you move on.

 

Is this job still available??

 

Yes.

The editor has talked to a couple people, I believe, but a hire has not been made yet.

 

Hi, any idea on the salary range here?

 

Any movement on this job? Not asking for myself, but a friend who is looking to get out of a bad situation at a nearby paper ...

 

Yeah, is this job still open? Also, what is the pay grade & what are the benes?

 

Being it's a Paxton paper, I'm sure the pay is quite low.

 

Any movement on this job? Got a friend who may be interested ...

 

It has been FIVE months...