How to Be an Editorial Assistant in a Newspaper's Sports Department

Whether you're an interning college student or a part-timer at a newspaper, editorial assistants play a major role in the sports department. The work ethic of an editorial assistant can make or break a night in the newsroom, especially when the deadline pressure is on. During my college career, I had the opportunity to take on this responsibility and would like to share key points of the experience with you, sports fans and newspaper employees alike.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Be able to work alone on projects, and also to be a team player. Some nights (or days, depending on when you work) will be slower than others and you may have time to complete tasks on your own, while other times will be fast-paced and stressful and it will take more than just you to get the job done.
2. Step into a leadership role even if it is temporary. Such responsibilities may include dividing up work among other assistants and yourself to make sure scores get typed in, training a new employee on computer programs or the job in general, or being in charge of high school and college results lists.
3. If the sports department you work in relies heavily on fax machines, check them regularly! Faxes can spit out paper quickly on a busy night and piles can get difficult to deal with. If piles are inevitable, keep them organized and make sure they are all taken of in a timely fashion.
4. If you are answering phones during your shift, be courteous in conversation. Coaches, athletic directors, athletes, and even parents are calling in to give you scores or to ask you questions. Answer questions to the best of your ability and take down accurate information about games and matches. Go the extra mile to answer a question; callers appreciate it even if they don't say "thank you."
5. If an editor asks you to do something, do it when he or she asks you to do it. Most of the time, editors will be asking you for assistance during crunch time, a.k.a. when a deadline is fast approaching. Provide help when needed, even if it's something as mundane as fixing a paper jam in the copier machines. (See warnings below for more on paper jams and the like)
6. Keep track of what's going on in professional sports. If televisions are already in the sports department, you're in luck - glance up every now and again to check scores. Check up on web sites even if you have access to the live game.
7. When you are assigned a story to cover, do your homework prior to game day. Research teams, rivalries (if applicable), statistics, histories, and other information.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask the spelling of every name even if it is a common name. Remember, some people spell it "John" while others spell it "Jon." Don't be afraid to ask for accuracy's sake! It is better to ask and get it right over the phone than to assume and get it wrong in a publication.
• Timing is everything in the world of journalism. Make your deadlines!
• If there is a severe paper jam or other mechanical malfunction that you cannot fix, don't panic and don't try to fix it yourself. Call the appropriate department or professionals for help.
• Some callers will be people looking for information that your department forbids you to convey (e.g., betting information, partial scores, trivia information about topics other than sports). Kindly tell them that you cannot give them the information that they are looking for and, if you have the resources, point them in the right direction.

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