TV or print journalism?

[Rufino]

So much depends on where you're doing this. ESPN goes through research drones like some folks do tissues - several folks I know have gone that route and been miserable, a couple are quite happy. If that's what you're talking about, be wary. On the other hand, if you're involved in researching and putting together specific magazine type stories, it might be great.

At least you're not talking about local TV sports, it appears. That's good, because the consultants keep pushing stations to cut, cut, cut sports until eventually there's not going to be anything left. Some stations have already gone that route.

 

[Ace]

The way this business is headed, it's probably to your benefit to have as much experience with an many different media as possible.

True.

And, Dan, construction managers are at the whim of the economy, often have to travel for weeks on end and work long hours. Other than that, it's a great job.

 

[spup1122]

So much depends on where you're doing this. ESPN goes through research drones like some folks do tissues - several folks I know have gone that route and been miserable, a couple are quite happy. If that's what you're talking about, be wary. On the other hand, if you're involved in researching and putting together specific magazine type stories, it might be great.

At least you're not talking about local TV sports, it appears. That's good, because the consultants keep pushing stations to cut, cut, cut sports until eventually there's not going to be anything left. Some stations have already gone that route.

Wow. Maybe it's my market, but here, sports gets almost as much time as news some days. Three or four days a week, they get more.

 

[Rufino]

Wow. Maybe it's my market, but here, sports gets almost as much time as news some days. Three or four days a week, they get more.

It's definitely your market. I have a pair of friends working in NFL cities who get two minutes at 6, 2:45 at 11 at this point.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Wow. Maybe it's my market, but here, sports gets almost as much time as news some days. Three or four days a week, they get more.

It's definitely your market. I have a pair of friends working in NFL cities who get two minutes at 6, 2:45 at 11 at this point.

At my shop it's 2:15 at 5:30pm and 2:30 at 10pm, and this is a city with all 4 major sports and a major D-I university.

One station in town eliminated sports a few years ago but brought it back within months. I think the backlash was pretty severe. The average viewer doesn't care much about sports, but you look like a Mickey Mouse organization if you don't have a sports department.

 

[spup1122]

Our guys get 3 at the lowest end and 5 at the top end. On big prep or D-1 nights, they get half the show.

 

[BigSleeper]

I say follow your heart. If it works out, more power to you.

But consider what Dan said.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

And I would tell you not to listen to Dan.

"TV is just full of bullshirt" is the stupidest statement I've ever seen on this board, which is saying something. EVERY job is full of bullshirt. The best wade through it, and succeed in spite of it.

All my life, I wanted to be a sportswriter. I chose my university because it had a student paper that sent generations of journalists into the newspaper world. When I left -- without a degree -- I couldn't get a job. It was 1993, the economy was in the toilet and I couln't get an internship. I fought and scratched and freelanced for a year, but realized it wasn't going to happen. That's when I moved into sports radio.

Now, a lot of people laugh at sports radio. And, much of that laughter is deserved. I was fortunate that I work in Toronto, which has a real good station. But that was my last chance. I knew at that moment, that what I did there would make or break my career. Three years later, I was in television -- a total neophyte, almost completely untrained for the medium.

Again, I knew there were plenty of people with Dan Rydell's attitude towards TV. But what he -- or anyone else -- thinks shouldn't matter to you. What do you think? If you want to do newspaper, radio or TV -- and do it well, you can. Yes, there's a ton of bullshirt. Yes, there will be people you can't stand. Yes, there will be ridiculous decisions made that affect you negatively. All of those things wil make you want to kill someone.

But, at the end of the day, if you outwork people, if you come up with good ideas/good stories, if you listen to the people who will help you, if you keep a positive attitude -- you can succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

I know because I did. Good luck.

 

[forever_town]

One station in town eliminated sports a few years ago but brought it back within months. I think the backlash was pretty severe. The average viewer doesn't care much about sports, but you look like a Mickey Mouse organization if you don't have a sports department.

I think it'd be like a newspaper that didn't have a sports section or even a sports page. I remember a faculty advisor telling me that some people buy the paper just to read the sports section. If she was right, if that's not there, there's no incentive for some people to buy the paper.

I wonder who had the idea to eliminate sports and how he/she ended up having to eat crow?

 

[mediaguy]

"EVERY job is full of bullshirt. The best wade through it, and succeed in spite of it."

Well said. Couldn't agree more.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

One station in town eliminated sports a few years ago but brought it back within months. I think the backlash was pretty severe. The average viewer doesn't care much about sports, but you look like a Mickey Mouse organization if you don't have a sports department.

I think it'd be like a newspaper that didn't have a sports section or even a sports page. I remember a faculty advisor telling me that some people buy the paper just to read the sports section. If she was right, if that's not there, there's no incentive for some people to buy the paper.

I wonder who had the idea to eliminate sports and how he/she ended up having to eat crow?

That's the beauty of TV management. No one ever eats crow. They blame it on the consultant, and consultants are fired every two years so nothing is ever a manager's fault.

 

[Cansportschick]

I have always had an affinity for print journalism but a friend of mine is trying to pull me over to the television side. I would primarily work off-camera, write, research etc. Should I stick with print or try something new? At 25, I wouldn't mind trying something different. But if I made the career move, I don't know how easy it would be to get back into print journalism. Any feedback would be great. Thanks.

Hoops, I think you should give it a shot. You have nothing to lose. I was considering moving over to the broadcast side after a couple more years of print, but now I am not so sure because of the job market where I live. I can tell you that broadcast professors have told me that the transition back to print from television is very easy.

My opinion to you is to give broadcast a try and if it is not your cup of tea in a couple of years time, go back to print.