The Yang Slinger: Vol: VIII

How to get hired in this highly competitive world of journalism, five questions with Tom Passmore and the way a Notre Dame student journalist perfectly explained Brian Kelly's departure.

I have not had a job interview in nearly two decades.

My last one took place inside the offices of Newsday, the Long Island-based newspaper that (at one time) was outstanding. The year was 2002, and I was tired of covering baseball at Sports Illustrated. Somehow, I learned Newsday was seeking a long-form features scribe to roam New York City, find cool stuff and write about it. There would be little-to-no sports—this was talking to the homeless guy; chilling with the Naked Cowboy; finding a building that smelled of olives. On and on. It was, truly, the job I wanted.

So one day, after applying, I was invited for an interview.

Even though I knew Newsday was an informal place, I wore a suit.

Even though I usually used a recording device to track things, I only brought a pad and pen.

Even though I had no questions, I asked plenty.

Even though I was uncertain whether I wanted the job, I made it very clear I really wanted the job.

I was offered the position.

I took it.¹

My point? I’m not sure. Approaching my 50th birthday, odds are pretty strong I’ll never again go on a job interview. But as a professor at three colleges/universities through the years (Manhattanville, Purchase, Chapman), I’ve advised plenty of aspiring scribes on the steps to take (and not take) when it comes to the hunt. I’ve actually kept a list inside a drawer, which I printed out many moons ago. It’s been updated a few times, and now—for the first time—I present it here.

I call it the HOW TO GET HIRED IN JOURNALISM list—but it can also be called IGNORE THIS LIST AND YOU’LL NEVER WORK ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL THINK YOU SMELL LIKE MOLDY OLIVES.

You decide …

• Dress the part: When I was a young intern at the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, an editor pulled me aside. He noticed I’d been wearing boat shoes without socks. “Wear socks,” he told me. “You represent the paper.” I’m a slobby day-to-day dresser, but you can never go wrong dressing well and, worst-case, overdressing. First day of an internship. First day on the job.

• Hide your cell phone/turn it off: You’re on an interview. There’s someone sitting in front of you. She’s in charge of hiring. The moment you check your phone … hell, the moment the phone makes a noise—you lost.

• Take notes with a pad and pen, not your phone: Again, you’re on an interview. Have a pen with you. A pad, too. Even if you don’t use it, it says something. Not the phone. Put it away.

• Ask questions: Again-again—you’re on an interview. The person says, “Do you have any questions?” Whatever you do—have questions. More than one. Good questions. Not, “When do I start?” or “So, how much will I make?” Ask about the job, the company. Show your interest.

• Be honest about your weaknesses: "My biggest weakness is that I work too hard" is BS and the interviewer knows it. Think of something small-ish you know you need to work on, bring it up, and talk about what you've done/are doing to correct it.

• Make the older person in front of you think you know shit they don’t: This is one of my favorites. If I’m 22 and interviewing for a media job in 2021, I have a podcast, a blog, a Substack, a TikTok, an Instagram feed, a HerkyMaloo, a Slider6, a forkhead. Those last three don’t actually exist, but if they did—I’d have them. Why? Because the one advantage of being young is older folks (like myself) will presume you can tap into something beyond their reach. So … make sure you can tap into something beyond their reach.

• Ask questions about your interviewer: Where is she from? How long has she worked there? If she has a photo of her children on the desk, find out how old they are. It breaks down barriers; shows you’re a human.

• Apply everywhere—no matter what: You wanna be a journalist. You’re a junior at, oh, South Carolina State. You’re not sure if you could spend the summer in New York at SI; or in San Diego at the local radio station. You’re not sure if the paper in Tulsa pays. You’re uncertain if you’d enjoy 2 1/2 months in Indianapolis. IT DOES NOT MATTER. Apply. Apply everywhere. Place yourself in the position to have a decision. When I was in college, I applied to 150 places after my sophomore year. Champaign-Urbana was the only yes. It paid $5 per hour. It was far away. The logistics made it impossible. Somehow, I made it work. It changed my life.

• Don’t be presumptuous: Nobody likes people who presume. Don’t presume you have a gig. Don’t presume you can call the boss by his first name. Don’t presume it’s OK to leave the internship a week early.

• Don’t brag (you’re not great): You’re the best writer at your student newspaper! Congrats—it means shit. I was one of the best writers at my student newspaper. Greg was one of the best writers at his students newspaper. Sue was one of the best writers at her student newspaper. Then 5,000 of us are thrust upon the real world—where 500,000 former best-writers-at-their-student-newspapers roam. Be humble. Realize you’re unaccomplished and green. Take advice. I nearly ruined my career early on by thinking I was the shit. I wasn’t.

• Thank you notes: Write thank you notes. Not e-mail. Not text. Get a notecard. Get a pen. Thanks for taking the time to meet with me. Thanks for speaking to my class. Thanks for the advice. That stuff matters. It sticks. I’ve saved tons of letters people have written me. They’re keepers.

• Your strength is your hard work and doggedness: Interviewers will ask what you consider to be your strength. There’s one answer here: Hard work and doggedness. You’re not going to arrive somewhere as the best. But you can be the hungriest. That’s what people want to see—humble hunger and drive.

• Compliment people: It never hurts. Tweet writers when their stuff is great. If you go on an interview and so-and-so has a beautiful picture hanging—say so. Positive energy carries far. But mean it.

• Show up early: Always. Tardiness brands you on the quick. It says, “I care—sorta.”

• Be authentic: From Daynabelle Anderson: “I was a nurse manager for 4 years & at every interview I conducted, I looked for authenticity. I could tell who Googled "interview questions" & decided to give the sample answers from said search. Don't tell me what you think I want to hear. Tell me what you want me to know.”

• Do your research beforehand: You’re up for a job at the biggest radio station in, oh, Delaware. Know everything about the place. The history. The personalities. The signal strength. Then drop that knowledge throughout the interview.

• Your cover letter is an audition: I’ve never understood why people throw away their first chance to be noticed. The vast majority of cover letters follow the standard blah-blah-blah pattern of “I’m very interested in the position” and “I believe my skills are a good match for …” No. No. No. No. The best cover letter I’ve ever seen was written in 1995, by my pal Greg Orlando. He was applying for a summer internship at The Tennessean, and it was along the lines of: “Dear Ms. Mayhew. I cannot play the drums. I cannot recite the lyrics to Styx’ greatest hits. I can’t make my bed neatly, I can’t tell you the three biggest cities in South Dakota. I can’t …” He went on and on—before noting that one thing he could do was work hard and learn; that he’d love the chance for a summer with the paper.

He got it.

• Be a whore: What I mean is, ask for favors and more favors and more favors. Your dad is friends with a guy whose brother writes for the Daily News? Fuck—talk to him. Your sister knows the sister’s aunt’s brother’s cousin of ESPN’s football editor? Get on it. It’s oftentimes weird, uncomfortable, cumbersome. But try and cash in on every available tie.

• Never, ever, ever, ever assume stereotypes: Nobody wants to hire a bigot, a sexist, a homophobe. So avoid any stereotyping. Just because the man interviewing you is a young African-American doesn’t mean he gives two shits about Jay-Z. Just because the woman interviewing you is named Julie Lu doesn’t mean her mom is Chinese.

• Don’t talk shit about people: It gains you nothing. Best-case scenario, you merely sound like an asshole. Worst-case scenario, that former journalism professor you hated happens to be best friends with your editor’s wife. It just never pays.

• People are paying attention to your mannerisms: Body language is enormous. Don’t slouch. Don’t groan. Don’t pick your nose. Don’t burp. Don’t look down when someone’s talking to you. When you shake hands, shake firmly. When you thank someone for their time, be sincere. Feel it.

• Network long before you start applying anywhere, let alone showing up for an interview: From Eric Townsend, journalist: “Some of the students where I work found great opportunities not because of a stellar cover letter or resume (though they certainly are important), but because they introduced themselves to classroom speakers, met with alumni back in town for career programs, chatted with professionals who were in the building on other business, etc., and then they stayed in touch. I was never good at networking as a student and sometimes wonder what doors might have opened if I'd realized earlier the benefits to developing the skill/mindset.:

• Don’t be an idiot on social media: I’m 49-years old and self-employed. I can bash Trump if I so choose. You can’t. You also can’t post pictures of chugging beers; of making out with your boyfriend; of wearing a T-shirt that says FUCK THE WORLD. Everyone Googles everyone. I’ll repeat that: Everyone Googles everyone. And this stuff doesn’t vanish. Even when you think it does.

• Use social media wisely: Despite what I just wrote, social media is a gift from the Gods. When I was in college, applying for a job at the Miami Herald meant, literally, letter writing. Now you can find two dozen editors and writers on Twitter and Facebook—and reach them directly. That’s amazing. Don’t be afraid to Tweet at a writer, “Am planning on applying for a summer internship this summer at the Herald—mind if I ask your advice?” Generally, people like helping other people.

• Bust your ass: There will always be more talented people. Always. But you can be the hardest worker.

The Quaz Five with … Tom Passmore

Tom Passmore is a reporter for the USA Today network in upstate New York. He is a scribe dedicated to local journalism—and wears the passion on his sleeve. You can follow him on Twitter here.

1. You're a longtime sports writer who now covers food and drink? Why?: Unfortunately that was not by choice. When my newspaper (The Leader in Corning) became a Gannett property, there were too many sports writers in the area. Out of all of them, they said I was the best equipped to handle a new role. My heart will always be with sports, but I think it’s just about having the right mindset for whatever beat you’re on. When I first switched beats, I remember tweeting you and asking on how to make the transition and you said at the end of the day, it was still just writing stories. I think that’s helped me out a lot as I’ve switched roles. I do still get to help with sports occasionally, which is nice. I like to think that in some way reporting on food and drink will help me become a better sports journalist in the long run.

2. Is there any hope for local newspapers?: The optimist in me says yes. I can see through online metrics that there is interest in the content we produce. I think local journalism is important and should be celebrated and I believe some of the people that view our content believe that. I say some because obviously you’re going to have those people that comment we’re fake news every chance they get. I just think there will be a time in the future that local newspapers are an online only subscription based service. Now a days, we do a lot of stories that we may not be first to report, but we got a lot more in depth. I think there’s a place for that, especially locally.

3. What do big newspapers not understand in the importance of local sports coverage?: I don’t think big newspapers understand how important local sports coverage really is. I think covering local sports is really important. No, I’m not saying cover junior varsity or anything like that. I’m saying low-profile sports like cross country and bowling need to be covered. As well as smaller schools. Some of the best sports content I’ve ever produced has come from not super well-known sports and schools that had like 250 kids total when the biggest high school I covered had over 2,000. I think you get to cover a vast majority of personalities from different backgrounds which can add to and enhance the overall coverage.

4. What’s your dream gig?: Ironically, my dream gig when I was a kid was to work for my hometown paper. When I got older and became obsessed with sports journalism, my dream gig became covering the Knicks for the New York Times. Over the years, my dream gig has now evolved into just covering a pro sports beat anywhere in the world.

5. Rank in order (favorite to least): turkey bacon, kevin bacon, Daniel Jones, Posh Spice, animal crackers, Randy Moss, the DH, "Manchester by the Sea," foot massages: Animal crackers, Randy Moss, the DH, Posh Spice, “Manchester by the Sea”, foot massages, Kevin Bacon, turkey bacon, Daniel Jones.

Yet another story of one of my myriad career fuckups …

In the summer of 1992, I interned in the sports department of the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette. I was 20-years old and horribly immature. I thought I was the world’s greatest writer. I thought no one offered reasonable advice. I thought I was Washington Post-ready, and that this stopover in Bumblefuck, Illinois was more punnishment than gilded opportunity.

In short, I was a dick.

One day, I decided it’d be a good idea to get a press credential for an upcoming Cubs game. So I called the team’s media relations department, identified myself as “Jeff Pearlman, a reporter with the News-Gazette” and requested the X date game against X team (I remember neither detail).

I wound up attending the game and enjoying the hell out of myself. Look! I was Jeff Pearlman! In the Big Leagues!

Only, eh, I never told any of my bosses at the newspaper.

When they found out I’d “covered” a Cubs game on behalf of the News-Gazette, they chewed me out in ways I’d never before been chewed out.

I had it coming.

This week’s college writer you should follow on Twitter …

Colin Capece, Notre Dame senior and assistant managing editor of The Observer.

In the aftermath of Brian Kelly’s departure for LSU, I was curious how the student newspaper would handle things. Well, Capece stepped up with a piece of opinion writing, headlined DEAR BRIAN, that absolutely sizzles.

Wrote Capece: “I know, for a fact, that you don’t feel sorry about this. In your Monday press conference 10 days ago, you said it would take a fairy godmother, a $250 million check and your wife’s approval to leave the Notre Dame job. LSU signed you for a heck of a lot less than that, but still the richest contract for a head coach in college football history. As someone who serves as a leader, it’s disheartening to know that all you’ve ever cared about is yourself, and that at the end of the day, you’ve let money and status be your guides rather than what’s best for the young men you serve. I understand you said you wanted to explore a new opportunity, but you sure didn’t give your best effort to see the one you had already started to fruition. Not only did you quit on the program you helped resurrect after the miserable final three seasons of Charlie Weiss, but you’re taking the ship down with you. Trying to poach defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as bowl season approaches is a classless move that can only be made by someone with no moral compass like yourself. Your legacy won’t be the coach who surpassed Knute Rockne. Instead, it will be the guy who tried to self-destruct the program on his way out the door.”

Colin in on Twitter here. Bravo, kid …

Random journalism musings for the week …

Musing 1: Back when I was a youngin’, there was a fun debate about which American newspaper had the best sports section. It usually came down to the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, Newsday, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Philadelphia Daily News and a couple of others. This was the sort of discussion that quickly turned heated, and led to many fiery exchanges.

In 2021, however, there’s no argument. The Washington Post is, hands down, the nation’s top sports section. And while the paper has plenty of neon-named scribes (Sally Jenkins, Jerry Brewer, Dave Sheinin, Chuck Culpepper, Candace Buckner, etc), the go-to guy this week is Michael Lee, whose new Michael Vick profile is nothing short of exceptional.

Lee may well be listed as the Post’s fourth starter. But that makes him (in 1986 Mets speak) Sid Fernandez. Who was awesome.

As is Lee.

Musing 2: I am really troubled by the number of inaccurate political headlines printed these days. This one, from the Washington Post, speaks loudly …

What the Republican Party is doing right now isn’t reshaping the election landscape. No. It’s pure, easy-to-see election subversion in the name of the Big Lie. And while I understand the desire to tiptoe dangerous terrain, reporters (and editors) have an obligation to print the truth—even if it’ll lead to a bunch of MAGA Twitter trolls letting loose the hounds.

Musing 3: I want to thank the geniuses at Lineup Mag for the greatest headline ever written …

Musing 4: Chris Cuomo will never work in media again—and he 100 percent should not. The New York Times’ reporting tells the story of a “journalist” (quotes intended) who was employed by CNN and reported on politics while secretly helping his brother “as he faced a cascade of sexual harassment accusations.”

Frauds like Cuomo do so much damage to people who actually practice hard-nosed, authentic, legitimate journalism. We wind up being roped in with him when (truth be told) we share as much in common as an emu does with a can of black cherry seltzer.

It sucks.

Musing 5: Fox News isn’t journalism. And I’m not saying CNN is particularly great. It’s not. But, again, Fox News is not journalism.

Heartland Signal @HeartlandSignal

Fox News hosts suggest coronavirus variants are made up to help Democrats: CAIN: “Always a new variant.” HEGSETH: “Count on a variant about every October, every two years.” CAIN: “You’re probably right…” HEGSETH: [mimicking phone call] “We’re gonna need a new variant here.”

Musing 6: This week’s new Two Writers Slinging Yang features Justin Tinsley of The Undefeated. Give a listen here.

Quote of the week …

"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you."
— Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing

1. It would up being a pretty mixed bag. For about a year, all I did was roam the streets of NYC and profile folks. I rarely went into an office. Fun! Fun! Fun! Then the newspaper changed editors, and I was told they wanted me at a desk three-to-four times per week. I thought, “Um, no.” And left to exclusively write books. Here I sit.