Friday, October 2, 2009

McClatchy looking for reporter at community newspaper in Florida

McClatchy is looking for a reporter for the Florida Keys Keynoter newspaper. From the announcement:

Description:

Reporter to cover municipal beat, GA and enterprise journalism for The Florida Keys Keynoter, a McClatchy Co. community newspaper published in the Florida Keys.

Whoever fills this position will cover a wide spectrum of beats, from municipal to lifestyle to enterprise and everything in between. You'll break big stories, but you'll also do rewrites -- everyone gets ownership of all content.

The Keys' No. 1 economy is tourism; many issues spin off from there. And The Keynoter’s backyard includes the largest national marine sanctuary in the continental U.S. and North America's number one dive destination, with proximity to the Everglades and Florida Bay -- both big eco-tourism destinations.

This is not a job for those looking to merely kick back in Paradise -- though we offer many opportunities for that after hours and on weekends; we are looking for committed news-hounds who enjoy a competitive media marketplace.

Salary is competitive in an area where the cost of living is high, but the tradeoff is a community surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Outdoor activities here are year-round and famous for world-class diving, sportfishing and backcountry kayaking.

Requirements:

Knowledge of how government works at all levels, of environmental issues and of growth management is essential, and enterprise reporting is expected. Photography is part of the job.

The successful candidate must love community journalism; be able to explain complicated issues in an easily understandable way; thrive on multiple tasks while having fun; know the language and AP style; accept the changing face of the news business; and recognize that reporters are the face of the newspaper in the community.


Click here for more info.

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2 comments:

Bradley J. Fikes said...

As a reporter, I can decode this typical journo ad for the uninitiated:

Reporter to cover municipal beat, GA and enterprise journalism for The Florida Keys Keynoter, a McClatchy Co. community newspaper published in the Florida Keys.

"Community newspaper" = As close to minimum wage as you'll accept.

Whoever fills this position will cover a wide spectrum of beats, from municipal to lifestyle to enterprise and everything in between. You'll break big stories, but you'll also do rewrites -- everyone gets ownership of all content.

Did we say everyone gets ownership of all content? Silly us, McClatchy gets to own everything. But we'll let you put your name on it.

This is not a job for those looking to merely kick back in Paradise

That's for McClatchy brass to do.


-- though we offer many opportunities for that after hours and on weekends; we are looking for committed news-hounds who enjoy a competitive media marketplace.

You get psychic income from living in paradise, and we deduct that from your paycheck.

Salary is competitive in an area where the cost of living is high, but the tradeoff is a community surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Outdoor activities here are year-round and famous for world-class diving, sportfishing and backcountry kayaking.

See above.

Requirements:

Knowledge of how government works at all levels, of environmental issues and of growth management is essential, and enterprise reporting is expected. Photography is part of the job.


We want everything the New York Times wants, and will pay you 10 percent of what they do, or 0.1 percent of Gary Pruitt's salary. Did we mention you'll have to empty the trash cans?

The successful candidate must love community journalism; be able to explain complicated issues in an easily understandable way; thrive on multiple tasks while having fun; know the language and AP style; accept the changing face of the news business; and recognize that reporters are the face of the newspaper in the community.

You're supposed to have all the qualifications of a dream journalist, but be so desperate as to accept starvation wages, or be independently wealthy.

Anonymous said...

Newspapers now get to tap a new vein of journalists. They're trained to write stories, edit, code HTML, throw together a database, shoot and edit a video, write JavaScript...

All the while being paid a fairly lousy wage.

That's the key.

But will the readers care? No.