Sports Editor - Washington Times

Mizzougrad96 · Feb 20, 2011

Moderator1 said:

OK, so here's the deal-io. Though we don't officially start until March 1, we're settling in and starting to get things organized. Dan Daly (columnist) and Patrick Stevens (colleges) are returning and will start tomorrow, so we'll have an online presence in advance of our section launch date of March 21. I'll have a couple of other hires to announce soon. We're off to a terrific start in that department.

It is an interesting situation, building the staff. I've never done mass hirings before and it isn't as simple as going out and finding the 10 or so people I'd like to have aboard. We feel a little like a GM, working with a salary cap. I have a good range of salaries but can't place everyone at the high end or low end. And since we aren't going to have a huge staff to start, we have to find reporters who can handle pro beats in the nation's capital at entry-level salaries.

What is that? I'll let you know if we get to that point. It's not bad at all for entry level but it IS entry level.

This is not an age thing. I'll consider anyone of any age who can fit into that salary slot. Is this you? Send me a PM here and keep it very brief. Just enough to tell me why it is you. I'll get back to you with an address to send some stuff. And do it quickly.

Do not e-mail. Do NOT call. Do not Facebook. Please. Follow the direx and we'll see where it may go.

(ps - The Times will use a universal desk. I'm not hiring the desk people and I'm not sure what the expansion plans on the desk are, but I will try and find out and let any interested people know)
Click to expand...

I think we should start a "Who should Moddy hire?" thread.

I would go the Lynn Hoppes route and call around to those you know in the business and find out who the best interns are and hire them. Most kids straight out of school would sacrifice money to be able to skip the paying dues phase and won't have a problem having roommates and doing what they have to to live on little money in an expensive city.

Moderator1 · Feb 20, 2011

Chances of me reading that thread are somewhere below zero. I've been in touch with lots of my contacts, have lots of names. This is one way to get a few more - there's a ton of talent out there. Finding the right combination is the key.

And it isn't little money. It just isn't a lot of money. My kids live up there and work in this price range and do pretty well. They have roommates because they're young and choose to do it that way. Both share very nice houses with some of their buds.

But, yeah, your overall point is correct. It's a good chance to start a little higher up the chain than normal. Again, I'm not ruling out veterans for these or any slots.

totally_crossed_out · Feb 20, 2011

any stringer budget/oppys for those young folk who wanna make some extra cheese?

Moderator1 · Feb 20, 2011

Some.

BrianGriffin · Feb 20, 2011

I would guess there are a lot of veterans who are in a similar salary situation as this job would put them in (not necessarily in terms of pure dollars, but what their dollar buys them in their market), but this job would be a good career move in terms of getting into a pro beat and working with good people in the business.

So I'm sure there will be interest from veterans who want the opportunity to cover a pro beat and have a better chance of landing it because you won't be up against some of the heavy hitters that make other similar jobs less attainable.

If I was where I was around 2007-2008, I'd be all over this. And in 2007, I was no beginner.

Mizzougrad96 · Feb 20, 2011

I think if you took the top writers coming out of J-school and said, "OK, you can go to the Washington Times for $35K and cover the Redskins, or you can go to the St. Pete Times for $45K and cover preps and GA." I think most would go to Washington.

Mizzougrad96 · Feb 20, 2011

One of the top SEs in the business once told me the smartest thing anyone ever told him was to hire single people. They bitch less about money, bitch less about travel and typically work harder.

BrianGriffin · Feb 20, 2011

I'm married and I bitch and I admit much of the bitching comes from feedback from home. "I get a raise every year, why don't they give you annual raises?" And the answer is "because you're in health care and I'm in journalism," but that's not an answer a spouse wants to hear.

dkphxf · Feb 20, 2011

Moderator1 said:

OK, so here's the deal-io. Though we don't officially start until March 1, we're settling in and starting to get things organized. Dan Daly (columnist) and Patrick Stevens (colleges) are returning and will start tomorrow, so we'll have an online presence in advance of our section launch date of March 21. I'll have a couple of other hires to announce soon. We're off to a terrific start in that department.

It is an interesting situation, building the staff. I've never done mass hirings before and it isn't as simple as going out and finding the 10 or so people I'd like to have aboard. We feel a little like a GM, working with a salary cap. I have a good range of salaries but can't place everyone at the high end or low end. And since we aren't going to have a huge staff to start, we have to find reporters who can handle pro beats in the nation's capital at entry-level salaries.

What is that? I'll let you know if we get to that point. It's not bad at all for entry level but it IS entry level.

This is not an age thing. I'll consider anyone of any age who can fit into that salary slot. Is this you? Send me a PM here and keep it very brief. Just enough to tell me why it is you. I'll get back to you with an address to send some stuff. And do it quickly.

Do not e-mail. Do NOT call. Do not Facebook. Please. Follow the direx and we'll see where it may go.

(ps - The Times will use a universal desk. I'm not hiring the desk people and I'm not sure what the expansion plans on the desk are, but I will try and find out and let any interested people know)
Click to expand...

What beats will there be? I imagine Nationals, Redskins, Wizards and Capitals. Preps? Orioles? Colleges?

Moderator1 · Feb 20, 2011

(I will not ask your marital status or hold it against you if I notice a band - some of the hardest workers I know are married. And some are single).

Mizzougrad96 · Feb 20, 2011

BrianGriffin said:

I'm married and I bitch and I admit much of the bitching comes from feedback from home. "I get a raise every year, why don't they give you annual raises?" And the answer is "because you're in health care and I'm in journalism," but that's not an answer a spouse wants to hear.
Click to expand...

"Why don't you tell (NFL GM) that you're eating dinner and that you'll call him in 30 minutes?"

Mizzougrad96 · Feb 20, 2011

Obviously there are exceptions to every rule, but I think most reporters lose their edge when they get married and have kids.

Your priorities change. Your life was once about the job and now it's not.

Log in or Sign up

Sports Editor - Washington Times

Mizzougrad96 Active Member

Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

totally_crossed_out New Member

Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

BrianGriffin Active Member

Mizzougrad96 Active Member

Mizzougrad96 Active Member

BrianGriffin Active Member

dkphxf Member

Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

Mizzougrad96 Active Member

Mizzougrad96 Active Member

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Sports Editor - Washington Times

Mizzougrad96 Active Member

Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

totally_crossed_out New Member

Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

BrianGriffin Active Member

Mizzougrad96 Active Member

Mizzougrad96 Active Member

BrianGriffin Active Member

dkphxf Member

Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

Mizzougrad96 Active Member

Mizzougrad96 Active Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches