Sports reporter -- Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal

Hey everyone,

I apologize for not getting this posted sooner, but if anyone has any questions about the job, don't hesitate to fire me a PM. You couldn't ask for better bosses than Bob and Jason - you'll work very hard, but the 1+ year with both on staff was without a doubt my best and most productive time as a writer. They are also NOT that difficult to beat on the golf course when you do have time to play, which is another obvious plus.
Their work is the reason that our sports staff stayed in tact through last week's layoffs and they're the reason why the person who gets this job will have plenty of great and rewarding coverage opportunities.

If anyone has any questions, again, just send 'em my way.

 

Some points from someone who worked in that market a few years back:

--There is an INSANE amount of talent that comes out of the high school ranks in the Panhandle, especially in football and baseball. And since there isn't a college football program in the Central Time Zone portion of Florida, there is a lot of fan investment in the high school programs.

--There is the Gannett factor. You probably won't be travelling much on the company dime. But the Northwest Florida Daily News, which competes with the PNJ in part of Santa Rosa County (the county between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach), was hit hard during Freedom's bankruptcy. I believe they might be down to two people in sports after running with six a decade ago, and they are in the process of moving into a smaller office after closing down the press and moving much of the operation to Panama City. There is no competition with the Mobile Press Register ... unlike the area's TV stations, which consider Mobile, Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach to be in the same market, the Press Register stays in Alabama while the News Journal sticks with Florida.

--There are a lot worse places to be than the western Panhandle. Yes, the place gets red quick the farther you get away from the beach, especially once you get north of I-10. But the bars stay open late, you can buy adult beverages on Sunday (even in Santa Rosa County, which was dry until a couple of years ago), and you can find nightlife on both Pensacola Beach and in downtown Pensacola. There is a decent network of young professionals in Pensacola, so having a life shouldn't be an issue. And a new baseball stadium is being built to house a Southern League (Double-A) team there next year.

--Road trips: Destin is an hour to the east when US 98 isn't tied up. Mobile is 45 minutes to the west. Biloxi's casinos are an hour and 45 minutes to the west. New Orleans? Three hours, tops.

Bottom line: This is a worthwhile gig. Haven't seen the paper since Bob took over as SE, but it sounds as if good things are happening there. And Bill Vilona is one of the best people you'll ever run across in this business.

 

What's salary range for a gig like this...

 

I think the only other daily newspaper located in the Panhandle is the JC Floridan out of Marianna. I don't know if the PNJ goes to Jackson County or not in the preps coverage.

 

We overlap with the NWF Daily News a little. We cover Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. NWFDN covers only one area in that zone, the Navarre area. Its printing and copy editing have been in Panama City for quite a while. We have no overlap with any other paper, including Panama City. Tallahassee also is in the Panhandle and is a Gannett paper. That about covers the Panhandle.

 

Hearing at least one interview taking place this week for someone from a fellow Gannett newspaper.

 

From what I'm hearing this job is now off the market. I'll let the involved parties share the specifics.

 

We have in fact filled this position and I'm happy to announce that Brady Aymond from the Lafayette (La.) Daily Advertiser will be joining our team. We received well over 100 resumes for the position and I truly appreciate the interest and time that everyone gave during our search. I, obviously, came to Pensacola from Lafayette, and when Brady showed interest, that became a priority. I wish everyone that sent us a resume best wishes in their job search. I understand the challenges in this business.

 

Bob, you said you'd take resumes until the end of last week but you've already made a hire. This came about four days after you said you'd stop taking resumes.

How open was this process, really, to external candidates? Was your search process limited to just Gannett candidates?

 

He filled it the Gannett way. Don't take it personal. It's Gannett.

 

Doesn't the phrase "When Brady showed interest, that became a priority," answer that?

 

Gee. He found the candidate he wanted and chose him.
Last I looked Lafayette, La., wasn't in Pensacola. I guess that made him an external candidate.
Gannett just laid off a shitpot of people chainwide and dkp is calling out an editor for hiring someone else in his chain? Jesusfuckingkeyristgetagripkid. You didn't get hired; it won't be the first, it won't be the last. Welcome to the club.