Journalism people

[Post Count Padder]

It seems there are a lot of journalist and future journalists on this board (me being one of them). Just wanted to see how many there are and what everyone does. Edited June 12, 2008 by Post Count Padder

[erik316wttn]

I currently have done squat with my journalism degree. I was a semester away from graduating once I decided I didn't want to do it anymore, but wasn't about to go further into debt and stick around for another 3 years while I change majors. I got the degree and got out. I'm looking to go into a retail management program now.

[Andy]

I want to be a sports reporter but I'm willing to take anything else and work my way into it. I interviewed for a position at the Lafayette Journal and Courier that would've had me writing obituaries.

[CubbieBum]

well the poll isn't perfect. I am still a student (graduate in Dec.) but I write for the student newspaper which technically owns itself as well as announce and hose a show on the student radio station that is a real station that broadcasts in town not just campus. So I would say I am a journalist already (I do get paid on the paper) but I am also a student.

[dew1679666265]

I want to be a sports reporter but I'm willing to take anything else and work my way into it. I interviewed for a position at the Lafayette Journal and Courier that would've had me writing obituaries.

 

Writing obits is a terrible, terrible thing. At the paper I work at (granted, a small community newspaper), the obits are paid for and, thus, people get even more pissed off when even the slightest of mistakes is made. They're also extremely tedious to put together, thanks to the nuemrous names people want typed out exactly.

 

They are the source of comedy from time to time (I know, I feel bad for laughing about the dead). Our obit writer once mistyped part of an obit from an extremely religious fellow. The obit was sent in as "He is now present with the Lord." It printed in the paper as "He is not present with the Lord."

 

Needless to say, the widow was not happy when she called in to complain.

[dew1679666265]

I got real lucky getting into the sports writing business.

 

After graduating from college with a political science degree, I was looking around for a job before I entered the Masters program for public administration. I decided randomly to send in a resume to a newspaper looking for a sports writer - having no experience whatsoever in journalism I figured I'd have no shot.

 

Lo and behold, they called me in for an interview and the publisher of the paper said he started the same way as me - a guy who loved sports but had no journalism experience. He offered me the job on the spot.

[Sarcastic]

I'm not sure I quite fit in this poll, but I'm a student considering journalism as a career. I didn't want to do get a pre-professional degree for undergrad, so if I do go into journalism, I may end up getting a masters degree after I graduate. Considering the limited job opportunities and pay in the field of reporting though, I'm not sure that's where I'll end up. I'd rather do something I enjoy and make less than do something I hate just for the money, but I have no idea whether I'll be able to get a half-decent job even if I get an advanced degree in journalism.

[CubbieBum]

I'm not sure I quite fit in this poll, but I'm a student considering journalism as a career. I didn't want to do get a pre-professional degree for undergrad, so if I do go into journalism, I may end up getting a masters degree after I graduate. Considering the limited job opportunities and pay in the field of reporting though, I'm not sure that's where I'll end up. I'd rather do something I enjoy and make less than do something I hate just for the money, but I have no idea whether I'll be able to get a half-decent job even if I get an advanced degree in journalism.

 

just an fyi most papers care more about how many years of writing experience you have than what degree you have

[OleMissCub]

Where is the option for "Poor one".

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Where is the option for "Poor one".

 

He already said "journalism people".

[CuseCubFan69]

I got real lucky getting into the sports writing business.

 

After graduating from college with a political science degree, I was looking around for a job before I entered the Masters program for public administration. I decided randomly to send in a resume to a newspaper looking for a sports writer - having no experience whatsoever in journalism I figured I'd have no shot.

 

Lo and behold, they called me in for an interview and the publisher of the paper said he started the same way as me - a guy who loved sports but had no journalism experience. He offered me the job on the spot.

 

All you ever write about is the Vols! Fulmer stinks and can't win with all that talent! Another Vol was arrested last night! How many Vols can fit into a VW bug?

[dew1679666265]

I got real lucky getting into the sports writing business.

 

After graduating from college with a political science degree, I was looking around for a job before I entered the Masters program for public administration. I decided randomly to send in a resume to a newspaper looking for a sports writer - having no experience whatsoever in journalism I figured I'd have no shot.

 

Lo and behold, they called me in for an interview and the publisher of the paper said he started the same way as me - a guy who loved sports but had no journalism experience. He offered me the job on the spot.

 

All you ever write about is the Vols! Fulmer stinks and can't win with all that talent! Another Vol was arrested last night! How many Vols can fit into a VW bug?

 

I don't just talk about the Vols! Sometimes I talk about how much the Big East sucks in football. :D

[CubbieBum]

I got real lucky getting into the sports writing business.

 

After graduating from college with a political science degree, I was looking around for a job before I entered the Masters program for public administration. I decided randomly to send in a resume to a newspaper looking for a sports writer - having no experience whatsoever in journalism I figured I'd have no shot.

 

Lo and behold, they called me in for an interview and the publisher of the paper said he started the same way as me - a guy who loved sports but had no journalism experience. He offered me the job on the spot.

 

All you ever write about is the Vols! Fulmer stinks and can't win with all that talent! Another Vol was arrested last night! How many Vols can fit into a VW bug?

 

I don't just talk about the Vols! Sometimes I talk about how much the Big East sucks in football. :D

 

well that's just the truth right there

[Flames24Rulz]

I'm trying to be a sports reporter in either the radio or TV end.

[dew1679666265]

I got real lucky getting into the sports writing business.

 

After graduating from college with a political science degree, I was looking around for a job before I entered the Masters program for public administration. I decided randomly to send in a resume to a newspaper looking for a sports writer - having no experience whatsoever in journalism I figured I'd have no shot.

 

Lo and behold, they called me in for an interview and the publisher of the paper said he started the same way as me - a guy who loved sports but had no journalism experience. He offered me the job on the spot.

 

All you ever write about is the Vols! Fulmer stinks and can't win with all that talent! Another Vol was arrested last night! How many Vols can fit into a VW bug?

 

I don't just talk about the Vols! Sometimes I talk about how much the Big East sucks in football. :D

 

well that's just the truth right there

 

Somebody's gotta say it. :wink:

[dew1679666265]

I'm trying to be a sports reporter in either the radio or TV end.

 

Ultimately, I want to end up in sports on TV or radio... but for now I'm sticking to print journalism.

[CuseCubFan69]

I got real lucky getting into the sports writing business.

 

After graduating from college with a political science degree, I was looking around for a job before I entered the Masters program for public administration. I decided randomly to send in a resume to a newspaper looking for a sports writer - having no experience whatsoever in journalism I figured I'd have no shot.

 

Lo and behold, they called me in for an interview and the publisher of the paper said he started the same way as me - a guy who loved sports but had no journalism experience. He offered me the job on the spot.

 

All you ever write about is the Vols! Fulmer stinks and can't win with all that talent! Another Vol was arrested last night! How many Vols can fit into a VW bug?

 

I don't just talk about the Vols! Sometimes I talk about how much the Big East owns college football. :D

 

Well that certainly is nice of you!

 

It sounds like you love your job, that's wonderful.

[Post Count Padder]

Edited the first option a tad.

[dew1679666265]

I got real lucky getting into the sports writing business.

 

After graduating from college with a political science degree, I was looking around for a job before I entered the Masters program for public administration. I decided randomly to send in a resume to a newspaper looking for a sports writer - having no experience whatsoever in journalism I figured I'd have no shot.

 

Lo and behold, they called me in for an interview and the publisher of the paper said he started the same way as me - a guy who loved sports but had no journalism experience. He offered me the job on the spot.

 

All you ever write about is the Vols! Fulmer stinks and can't win with all that talent! Another Vol was arrested last night! How many Vols can fit into a VW bug?

 

I don't just talk about the Vols! Sometimes I talk about how much the Big East owns college football. :D

 

Well that certainly is nice of you!

 

Darn you and your magical editing skills... [-(

 

It sounds like you love your job, that's wonderful.

 

I love the line of work I'm in...not necessarily this particular job. This is far better than most jobs I could be doing, but this level of journalism is the lowest paying with probably the most (or close to it) work.

 

Most sports writers only have to research and write their stories. I have to not only do that, but also paginate all my pages - I'm the only sports guy at the paper and I routinely have to fill and put together three pages without the use of a wire service - plus whenever we do any special sections, I'm involved - whether they're sports related or not.

 

My future is definitely in sports writing/broadcasting/etc., though.

[imb]

Wait a minute, you're a one-man shop and you have three page sections with no wire? that sounds like hell.

[Guest]

Wait a minute, you're a one-man shop and you have three page sections with no wire? that sounds like hell.

 

I'm trying to figure out how that's possible.

[dew1679666265]

Wait a minute, you're a one-man shop and you have three page sections with no wire? that sounds like hell.

 

I'm trying to figure out how that's possible.

 

Most small, non-daily newspapers actually work this way. Obviously there are others in the newsroom, but I am indeed it when it comes to sports (save for one stringer who sends me stuff off and on).

 

Summer's the toughest part of the year when there are very few organized sports going on. Football, basketball and baseball seasons are much easier.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Wait a minute, you're a one-man shop and you have three page sections with no wire? that sounds like hell.

 

I'm trying to figure out how that's possible.

 

Most small, non-daily newspapers actually work this way. Obviously there are others in the newsroom, but I am indeed it when it comes to sports (save for one stringer who sends me stuff off and on).

 

Summer's the toughest part of the year when there are very few organized sports going on. Football, basketball and baseball seasons are much easier.

 

Do you end up writing about the local softball leagues or something to fill space?

[dew1679666265]

Wait a minute, you're a one-man shop and you have three page sections with no wire? that sounds like hell.

 

I'm trying to figure out how that's possible.

 

Most small, non-daily newspapers actually work this way. Obviously there are others in the newsroom, but I am indeed it when it comes to sports (save for one stringer who sends me stuff off and on).

 

Summer's the toughest part of the year when there are very few organized sports going on. Football, basketball and baseball seasons are much easier.

 

Do you end up writing about the local softball leagues or something to fill space?

 

Yep, exactly. My publisher loves seeing the little league baseball coverage in the paper, so I'll spend the first month or two of summer filling nearly my first page with shots of little kids. It's very tedious not actually covering competitive sports, but it sells papers, I guess.

[Roast]

Student. Going for sports, but will likely start somewhere else as most everyone does.