Career Day is a day once a year where we get to go out of school and shadow a professional in a field we would like to know more about. This really gives us insight on what that job is really like, and whether we would enjoy doing it in the future or not. For my career day this year, I shadowed two people. The first was a journalist from the LA Times. We went to the Stub Hub Center and watched an LA Galaxy training. LA Galaxy is a professional soccer team located in Los Angeles, CA. After the training ended, we were able to interview the players, coaches, and team trainers. It was neat to see all the time journalists put into their jobs, and what it was actually like. I then had time to interview him and ask him about his career as a journalist, since he had been one for 30 years. After that, I went to the LA Times office and shadowed the head editor of the sports section. We went into multiple meetings. The first one was discussing the budget for the week and what articles should make it onto the paper for the next week. The second was about the next day's paper and the placement of the articles. Basically what stories were more important and which ones should make the cover or the second page. In between the two meetings I was able to ask him questions about his whole career, from where he started to where he is now. Below are 5 questions and responses I asked the two people I shadowed.
- Matias: How many hours are you working in a week? Journalist: Right now I am working about 80-90 hours a week, but that is unusual. With the World Cup coming up, I am busy with extra work and interviews I have to do. I am also leaving for Russia in 3 weeks where I will stay for 6 weeks. Normally I only work 45-50 hours a week but that is because I cover soccer.
- Matias: How many hours does an average sports journalist work? Journalist: It depends a lot on the sport. I only work 45-50 hours a week because in the MLS (Major League Soccer), there is only one game a week. For major sports, the LA Times covers every game of every season, both home and away. This includes the Lakers, the Clippers, the Kings, the Dodgers, the Angels, the Rams, and the Chargers. There is a lot of traveling, especially baseball, which has 162 games in a season.
- Matias: What is a piece of advice you'd give someone who wants to pursue a career in journalism? Journalist: Be open to do anything. When I was in Miami, I was actually an art editor even though I didn't know anything about art. I did some freelance sports writing on the side and luckily the editor there saw some of my work. It was because of that that he moved me to a sports position that I loved. You don't know what you're gonna get, so you gotta take what you are given.
- Matias: Why do you like being an editor? Editor: I like the consistency. You might not get all the glamour and fame but it's nice to have a regular job. I can go home every night and come back to the same job the next day without having to miss weeks at a time. You are still doing important work but there is more regularity in your schedule. There is also a lot of managerial work that goes on. If you have a lot of leadership qualities, this would be a good position because you are responsible for making sure everyone else is doing their work.
- Matias: What kind of education prepared you for this job? Editor: I actually got a degree in history. There was a lot of writing involved too, but not as traditional as a journalism or English degree. After I graduated I realized that I wanted to be a journalist and I pursued multiple jobs until I wound up at ESPN. Then I went to the Washington Post and finally here at the LA Times. All those jobs were just steps to getting to where I am today. I think it is great that you already know what you want to do because that puts you a step ahead of everyone else. You have an advantage they still lack in having all this time to prepare and polish your craft to be stronger than everyone else when you graduate college.