Breaking into an NFL gig?

Batman · Jul 19, 2006

Idaho said:

Bat,

Start low and work up. Cover a high school beat and ask your editor to let you do some sidebar work on the college beat. You may end up with the college beat eventually. That will help you get noticed more. Do some college stringing if possible for visiting team papers.

get the clips and keep sending out the resumes
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I was just curious about this whole thing, not trying to be a whiny little wannabe or anything. The paper I'm at now is small, but in a good area that lets us cover a lot of stuff -- even college and pro on occasion. We're just not close enough to do it on a regular beat basis.

Boom_70 · Jul 19, 2006

Ace said:

I'm reading all these NFL beat writer openings over on the jobs board, and noticing that they're pretty much snapped up within a couple days by guys already covering NFL beats. Most of the time it seems like there's already a candidate in mind. Yes, most sports editors always have an idea who on their staffs or outside might be a good candidate for a key beat.

So my question is, if you haven't covered an NFL beat (or any pro team, for that matter) how in the hell do you break in? Obviously it happens or else there'd never be any fresh blood. But what kind of career path do you follow to prepare yourself? Is it possible to break into that gig as an outsider? Do you more or less have to work your way up through the ranks at a paper and take advantage of an opening? Yes, work at a larger paper and do what you can to impress the boss is a good way.

And, for the SEs out there, if a resume like mine came across your desk (a few years at a 15K paper) how long would it take to type up the rejection letter? 30 seconds? 90?Â ;DWhen you fill a major beat, you want someone with beat experience. Covering preps or GA for a smaller paper ain;t gonna raise the eyebrows.
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Ace - I'd like to apply for postion of NFL beat writer at your paper. I have no experience by I think that I would do a good job for you. 21 could help me with spelling and eiditing in her spare time.

Please keep me in mind.

thanks

Boom

Precious Roy · Jul 19, 2006

Buck said:

... experience in cutlery sales preferred ....
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An ever-classic throwback

pressboxer · Jul 19, 2006

Idaho said:

Batman said:

And, for the SEs out there, if a resume like mine came across your desk (a few years at a 15K paper) how long would it take to type up the rejection letter? 30 seconds? 90?Â ;D
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It's not typing on a rejection letter that stops them. It's typing up 200 of them.
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I thought most of them just kept a form rejection letter on file and printed them out as needed.

There have been times it seemed like I got the same letter from multiple places, just a different letterhead and signature.

CentralIllinoisan · Jul 20, 2006

Inky_Wretch · Jul 20, 2006

Buck said:

... experience in cutlery sales preferred ....
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Nice post, d_b.

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Breaking into an NFL gig?

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Breaking into an NFL gig?

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