Sports Editor, Elk City, OK

This is like my first job out of college where I was hired as Sports Editor and three months into it found myself at City Council meetings and school board meetings. It was made known that I was expected in the office 9-5 and attending sports events in the evening was also expected. So much for having a life...I was out of there quick.

Going into my 14th year at my current job where they understand what hiring a Sports Editor means.

 

Maybe this is Frederick's job. And if it's true that you are working 9-5 and then covering games, I wish the publisher a heart attack since he/she is wishing that on their SE.

 

I love these bosses that delegate sports to some also-ran category, as if we don't attract plenty of readers largely for our section alone.

Nothing like being treated as though going to high school games five nights a week is a job "bonus." I love sports, but wouldn't be in the local high school bleachers just for the fun of it. We sports writers have lives, too

 

In the current environment, it's a bit of bad karma to besmirch any opening.

But, jeez!

 

Even if I wanted to apply for this job, I couldn't give this guy such a portfolio. Our camera isn't good enough to shoot these sort of things. We use a stringer who used to work for us full time and has his own professional camera equipment to shoot those things for us.

 

The first paper I worked at ... in Oklahoma, no less ... the ME always referred to us as "the sports guys.." It was kind of funny... like we were from another planet or something. We were a PM paper, so we'd work split shifts.. put out the paper in the morning, then go home until evening. The other reporters would always give us dirty looks...

But yeah, there's a sense that sportswriters don't work. I wish I had a dollar for every time I've been asked, "So what are you going to do when you grow up?"

 

Yes, as if sitting in City Council meetings makes you a grown-up...I like to think it puts them well on their way to being Grumpy Old Men

 

I want to learn how to do sprots photography.

 

Lot of turnover going on right now at this place. They're also looking for a news reporter/photographer and an advertising rep. In other words, they're looking to fill 95 percent of their staff.

 

With 1 person?

 

An added bonus: You may get to cover City Manager Gary Dumas:

City Manager Gary Dumas' recommended purchasing practices
See Story in this week's Elk Citian.

 

Another bonus: Softball in the fall in Oklahoma. So if your team makes it to state, you get to shiver.