Whilst we’re on the subject of job applications
Written by duckrabbithere’s a real one that Hunter S Thompson might have been tempted by:
We want to add some talent to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune investigative team. Every serious candidate should have a proven track record of conceiving, reporting and writing stellar investigative pieces that provoke change. However,
our ideal candidate has also cursed out an editor, had spokespeople hang up on them in anger and threatened to resign at least once because some fool wanted to screw around with their perfect lede.
We do a mix of quick hit investigative work when events call for it and mini-projects that might run for a few days. But every year we like to put together a project way too ambitious for a paper our size because we dream that one day Walt Bogdanich will have to say: “I can’t believe the Sarasota Whatever-Tribune cost me my 20th Pulitzer.” As many of you already know, those kinds of projects can be hellish, soul-sucking, doubt-inducing affairs. But if you’re the type of sicko who likes holing up in a tiny, closed office with reporters of questionable hygiene to build databases from scratch by hand-entering thousands of pages of documents to take on powerful people and institutions that wish you were dead, all for the glorious reward of having readers pick up the paper and glance at your potential prize-winning epic as they flip their way to the Jumble… well, if that sounds like journalism Heaven, then you’re our kind of sicko.
For those unaware of Florida’s reputation, it’s arguably the best news state in the country and not just because of the great public records laws. We have all kinds of corruption, violence and scumbaggery. The 9/11 terrorists trained here. Bush read My Pet Goat here. Our elections are colossal clusterfucks. Our new governor once ran a health care company that got hit with a record fine because of rampant Medicare fraud. We have hurricanes, wildfires, tar balls, bedbugs, diseased citrus trees and an entire town overrun by giant roaches (only one of those things is made up). And we have Disney World and beaches, so bring the whole family.
Send questions, or a resume/cover letter/links to clips to my email address below. If you already have your dream job, please pass this along to someone whose skills you covet. Thanks.
Matthew Doig
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
1741 Main St.
Sarasota FL, 34236
(941) 361-4903
matthew.doig@heraldtribune.com
Author — duckrabbit
duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.
Discussion (3 Comments)
Damn…I want to work there.
Fantastic! I haven’t had a job for nearly four months I am up for anything. I am going to email Mr Doig right now! I will let you know the outcome!
Hi there Matthew,
i just saw your job vacancy advertisement on ‘duckrabbit’ and since I haven’t had a job in nearly four months I thought I would apply.
I picked the wildfires as the furphy in your ad and even though I have no idea where Sarasota is I have google maps and wikipedia. Talking about ‘wiki’ I also come from Australia and because its so small I probably know someone that knows someone that knows Julian Assange and as such am probably qualified for the job.
I simply would love to work for someone as bent as you and can drop the ‘f’ bomb as insouciantly.
Now while my training is predominantly in photojournalism- it appears that anyone can do that now days- though I figure that anyone that appears to employ sickos might scare off a few applicants and I might be in with a chance.
So if you are up to employing someone who speaks English, but not the sort that you know, has an incredible capacity for drinking beer and doesn’t mind roaches then I am your girl.
If you like I can send you a Resume that has nothing to do with straight journalism, but then it seems thats exactly what you want,
Cheers
Lisa