Sports writer, Killeen (Texas) Daily Herald

There are two kinds of publishers in this business, newspaper people and business people who don't have a clue how to run a paper and put out a good product. Killeen sounds like it falls in the later group.
For anyone who is considering these jobs as a resume builder, think again. It could mess up your resume, not enhance it.

 

Well I guess everyone that's posted on this board can agree on one thing about this place. Stay far, far, FAR away!!!!!!

 

The pawn shops and pizza joints are still there, as are the ladies. The town is different. Hard liquor is available...or at least it is closer than Gatesville (a nice drive from Killeen) They likely have more nightclubs there and the surrounding two towns than any other town in Central Texas next to Austin. I wouldn't go in over 90 percent of them though.
The town has grown and is trying to improve it's image. There are lots of new eating establishments which have popped up in the last 10 (mainly five) years. And yes, the income there is primarily because it's military, but when the war started Killeen made a big effort to keep military families in town. During the first gulf war in the 90s, the town took a huge hit and lot's of places died because wives and families separated from military husbands all went back to their own extended families (parents, sisters, etc...). So Killeen took charge this last time and made sure they'd have reason to stay, and jobs/funds/help to be able to stay. Thus the economy there has continued to grow while the base gradually empties wth soldiers in Iraq.
Of course, the new military alignment means Fort Hood will be losing close to half (I think this is right), it's people in the next few years, so not sure what will happen then.

But, none of that makes the paper any better. Waco, Temple, even the weekly rags around there put the Killeen paper to shame on a daily basis. That won't change if you get the job.

 

You know you stink when Temple is putting you to shame. That outfit is still using the same page design it did during World War II.
Come to think of it .... that's about the last time its sports staff won an AP award. Or have they ever won an AP award?
But yes...Temple is the better fishwrap, now that Killeen has lost 90 percent of its people.
For you would-be applicants, don't forget that Temple is owned by the same company as Killeen -- the only two newspapers the company owns -- so that should tell you something.
Temple is the better destination, but that's like comparing an outhouse with a porta pottie.

 

Well, we all knew this was coming, didn't we? Posted on Journalism Jobs yesterday:
Did I tell ya? Or did I tell ya?

Company: Killeen Daily Herald
Position: Sports Reporter
Location: Killeen, Texas
Job Status: Full-time
Salary: Not Specified
Ad Expires: October 17, 2006
Job ID: 630797
JOB DESCRIPTION: Duties include but are not limited to: covering local & regional high school and community sports for the Killeen Daily Herald, Fort Hood Herald, Cove Herald and web sites as well as all new ventures. This candidate will also be responsible for performing all other duties as assigned by management.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFCATIONS: This individual must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. A college degree in communications or a sports related field is preferred. The qualified applicant will have strong writing skills, and a through understanding of sporting events and recreation activities. We are the 2005 Class AA Newspaper of the Year in Texas.

;D... I have to laugh at the fact that these people are STILL bragging about being AA Newspaper of the Year. What you won't read in their ad is that the General Manager fired the Managing Editor who helped them win it. They've also lost EVERY award-winning writer they had since winning Newspaper of the Year.

Why are they looking for sportswriters again? Because this company has been caught with its pants down. The General Manager tried to play it cheap (as usual), now they've got three sportswriters at a five-beat paper. But hey ... look at the money they're saving. I'll guarantee you, Captain Squeaky, the General Manager, is pleased about that. He's so friggin' cheap, he throws pennies around like they were manhole covers. :-X

If you get a call from these tightwads, print up the list of employee departures I posted earlier, and question the General Manager about it (not the Managing Editor). Then try to detect a shred of honesty in his answer.
I'll bet you can't.

If you do take the gig, remember: A trailer park can be a great place to live when your salary is less than $23,000.
By the way, while the General Manager pays his people peanuts, he's driving around in a Mercedes... that's no B.S.

 

Let this be your last battlefield. If you are going to take this job, then just go in with eyes wide open. You have been kindly and duly warned.

 

It's kind of obvious to me that this board has done a great job in deterring people from either taking this gig or applying for it all together, as the they've posted the AD about three times in the past couple of months.

 

I certainly hope so.
However, the reason they've posted the AD three times, is because they've lost four sportswriters in five months. These postings have had nothing to do with it.
The reason they've lost four sportswriters (and a total of 14 copy-side employees this year), is because they have a General Manager who is not only journalistically clueless, but who also takes the bottom line to an extreme.
If you don't believe me, feel free to take the next redeye to Killeen and learn the hard way. It's your career, sir. We're just giving you and everyone else fair warning.
This isn't a smear campaign. These are public service announcements.

 

Oh don't worry. I wouldn't go no where near this train wreck. I'm quite comfortable with my current gig and definitely wouldn't take 100 steps back to go to this hell whole.

 

A wise decision, grasshopper.
Here's another thing you won't see in their ad:
The Herald sportswriter who was fired some months back, had, during the previous year, saved the life of one of the assistant managing editors.
The guy had a heart attack and croaked right on the golf course, and this sportswriter sprinted and actually found some paramedics ON THE COURSE who managed to revive him.
Well, after this sportswriter put in his two weeks notice this year, he wrote a "good-bye" column in which he criticized the pay and the respect sportswriters in general receive. The tightwad General Manager "Captain Squeaky," took it as a personal attack, fired him the next day and banned sports columns in the paper. But instead of doing the firing himself, who does he send? He sends the guy whose life was saved by the sportswriter!!!!!
That's right!!
Can you imagine that?
So, the Assistant Managing Editor gets his marching orders, and fires the man who had saved his life, all because Captain Squeaky didn't have the stomach for it.
As for the Assistant ME who did this.....I'd say his actions speak for themselves.... wouldn't you? Regardless, this little rodent is still there too, and any new hires would be wise to take everything he says with a grain of salt -- especially females (he just got popped for sexual harrassment).
Again, that is 100% accurate, and if you don't believe me, ask what's left of the Herald sports staff about it during your interview process. Also, feel free to hit the General Manager with this question: Did you REALLY send one of your assistant managing editors to fire the man who saved his life?
I'd pay money to see that SOB squirm while trying to answer that, and I'd wager that the company owner, Mrs. Mayburn, has no idea that he did it.
I'd call and tell her, but I doubt that she'd care -- Captain Squeaky saves her too much money.
Anyway, there's another example of why 14 people have left the copy side this year. It isn't all about the poor pay ... it's also about creeps.

 

Wow Cactushead, calm down. I given my thought on what a rag this place is, but sounds like you're irked. You're a newbie with 12 posts, 11 of them about how bad Killeen is, the other inquiring about an Wisconsin job which makes me wonder, which one of the 14 people you listed above were you?
All I'm saying is calm down, people have seen the thread and the horror that awaits them if they apply, if they take the job now they have been warned. The job board is mainly a place to place ads, inquire about them and share what you know, good or bad. But you don't have to keep beating a dead horse. Just be happy you aren't there (unless your main problem is that you actually ARE there), say your peace and move on with your life.

 

Come on, Joe. Let the guy vent. He isn't doing anyone harm. And, no, I'm not one of the 14.