Help wanted: We’re hiring a new OU football writer
We’re hiring a new University of Oklahoma football writer, again.
Travis Haney is leaving to become a national college football writer at ESPN. We’ll miss Travis. Like our readers, I appreciate the job he did covering the Sooners.
Travis caught ESPN’s eye in the one season he spent with us because of his talent, the visibility of the Oklahoma football beat and the tools and platform The Oklahoman and NewsOK affords our reporters. The amount of newspaper space we devote to college football is second to none, as are our video and multimedia platforms. And the content we produce is strong.
Recently, the Associated Press Sports Editors judged The Oklahoman to be among the top 10 for daily, Sunday and special sections. We’ve also been judged among the top 10 for websites with more than 2 million unique visitors. We are one of four papers in the country to achieve the so-called APSE “grand-slam,” joining the New York Times, the Boston Globe and Omaha World-Herald.
This is a good place to work and one of the most visible college football beats in the country. You can read the job description below.
I’ll have more to say on this opening later, and I’m also interested in your feedback on what you look for from our OU coverage.
OU FOOTBALL WRITER
The Oklahoman is hiring a strong storyteller and passionate journalist to cover University of Oklahoma football for our award-winning sports section and website, NewsOK.com. Our next OU football writer will engage readers across all platforms by:
– Breaking news on the No. 1 reader-interest topic we cover;
– Writing memorable features, enterprise, project and game stories;
– Making our OU blog a must-read throughout the day, every day;
– Building deep relationships with sources and readers using social media and old-fashioned tools like conversation;
– Being as comfortable in front of a camera as behind one;
– Contributing to and collaborating with a team of journalists to serve a readership captivated by sports and how we cover it.
If you’re committed to all this and helping us get better, please send a cover letter, writing samples and examples of your best digital work to:
Mike Sherman
Sports Editor
The Oklahoman | NewsOK.com
9000 N. Broadway Ext., Oklahoma City, OK 73114
msherman@oklahoman.com
@MikeSherman | Facebook
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Comments
As a native South Carolinian, we feel the pain you feel at the departure of Mr Haney. We were all very happy for Travis as we all knew moving to your publication was a step forward in his career. We knew that we would miss him and we have.
While I do not want to minimize the fact that Travis’ position with you was a big part of what enabled him to catch the eye of ESPN, Travis was able to have an article published by the New York Times while still in Charleston. Travis’ hard work and talent should be celebrated.
The good news is that those of us who like Travis will still be able to read his words.
The state of South Carolina is proud of Travis, as we know you are proud of him. I know I speak for everyone when I wish Travis all the best!
Jim:
I sure hope I didn’t give the impression that I thought the visibility of this job and what he covered were the only reasons Travis got the job with ESPN. Far from it. He was in the Best American Sportswriting long before he ever thought about The Oklahoman. Travis is a top-notch talent and person, and clearly we aren’t the only ones who are aware of that.
Thanks for the comments.
Was great to meet Travis in my time in Norman and still amazed to get an article about it. Good luck on yOUr next venture and to whoever is next to get this job… Don’t think I can think of a job I would rather have!
Travis! You’ll be missed.