Starting at a weekly vs. a daily

[Bob Loblaw Law Blog]

I'll go ahead and throw my hat in the ring as well. I started out at a tri-weekly and am currently at a weekly. Some days I think I'd like to move up to a daily and just focus on writing or page design (instead of doing everything, one-man-band style), but other times I just enjoy the freedom my current gig affords. Sure, the pay is shirt, but I can set my own hours, pursue whatever stories I want and spend more time with my family. Those are great perks.

Of course, the flip side is that by having such loosely-defined boundaries and job requirements, I have a much bigger tendency to procrastinate and generally fork off when I should be working. If you're serious about eventually moving up to a daily, then take your responsibilities at a weekly just as seriously. Like HejiraHenry said, set deadlines for yourself, stay organized and be proactive.

Either way, if you're talented and dedicated, you'll get where you want to go.

 

[bballscribe]

I'll go ahead and throw my hat in the ring as well. I started out at a tri-weekly and am currently at a weekly. Some days I think I'd like to move up to a daily and just focus on writing or page design (instead of doing everything, one-man-band style), but other times I just enjoy the freedom my current gig affords. Sure, the pay is shirt, but I can set my own hours, pursue whatever stories I want and spend more time with my family. Those are great perks.

Of course, the flip side is that by having such loosely-defined boundaries and job requirements, I have a much bigger tendency to procrastinate and generally fork off when I should be working. If you're serious about eventually moving up to a daily, then take your responsibilities at a weekly just as seriously. Like HejiraHenry said, set deadlines for yourself, stay organized and be proactive.

Either way, if you're talented and dedicated, you'll get where you want to go.

Yup. I desire to get to a daily again, but working as an SE at a weekly has helped immensely. I've learned page design, managed stringers, learned how to work beats, built a more thorugh portfolio, and write 6-8 stories per week. I treat it as if I was working at a daily, never letting stories linger, researching and getting legwork in a reasonable amount of time, and editing precisely. In theory, working at a weekly is a lot more lenient than working at a daily, but only if you let it. If you take it seriously, it can be tougher and more stressful.

 

[Jor El]

At many weeklies you'll wear many different hats, from writer to editor, from copy editor to page designer, from photographer to typesetter. Be aware that many weekly publishers are insane, and may require you to be in the office from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. and then you're expected to cover games and sports on your "free" time.

There's been a weekly or two in my past where I got one day off per month, and usually fielded a few phone calls on those days off.

Certain small dailies can be the same way. so watch out.

Certain mid-sized dailies can be the same. I had one who said to a few managers that a 40-hour week and two days off a week were for "pussies who can't handle being a real journalist and that's how we'll weed them out."

I bet he made sure to take his weekends, though.

 

[Taylee]

For the most part. He'd swing in for a cameo after his Saturday morning workout at the Y. We all thought it was so he could do head count. He'd usually call in Sundays to ask about front pages of news, sports and metro ... like we didn't have a meeting Friday about the same shirt. Sometimes turds get what they deserve because he was exiled to a Gannett island where he could do no harm to a paper, but more importantly, the big company itself.

 

[redsox99]

Personally I think everyone should spend six months at a weekly. Gives you a better understanding of community and you will work your ass off doing every kind of reporting imaginable from great features to the 8-incher on the old guy who grows the 3-pound tomato. That allows you to have some career options -- news or sports, managing or not managing, etc. I spent a few years at weekly and twice-weeklies and the experience was invaluable in that it greatly broadened my scope. Nothing like covering a heated city council meeting on Monday, a prep game on Tuesday and run like heck back to the office to finish building the section, JUCO on Wednesday, 3 interviews for weekend features on Thursday, more preps on Friday and Saturday and getting hammered at the grocery store on Sunday from the parents of the players you didn't cover earlier in the week. Toughens you up and prepares you for all kinds of situations later in your career.

 

[Rosie]

I'll agree with the well-rounded experience working at a weekly can offer. I've covered everything from the death of a US Senator to taking pictures at the local elementary school Christmas production and everything in between. Design, layout, proofing, photography, writing, ads -- you'll do it all at most weeklies.

 

[Sxysprtswrtr]

Depends on the weekly. If you're at a weekly that is distributed nationally or one that has a high circ (over 100K), then the workload can be comparable to daily experience.

 

[shotglass]

Personally I think everyone should spend six months at a weekly. Gives you a better understanding of community and you will work your ass off doing every kind of reporting imaginable from great features to the 8-incher on the old guy who grows the 3-pound tomato. That allows you to have some career options -- news or sports, managing or not managing, etc. I spent a few years at weekly and twice-weeklies and the experience was invaluable in that it greatly broadened my scope. Nothing like covering a heated city council meeting on Monday, a prep game on Tuesday and run like heck back to the office to finish building the section, JUCO on Wednesday, 3 interviews for weekend features on Thursday, more preps on Friday and Saturday and getting hammered at the grocery store on Sunday from the parents of the players you didn't cover earlier in the week. Toughens you up and prepares you for all kinds of situations later in your career.

The sword cuts both ways.

One of the dangers of getting used to work at a weekly is that you can get caught up in your small corner of the world, and it can affect your news judgment. If you can walk out of there and into a daily and understand Podunk High School's small place in that world, OK. But it can be difficult.