Media writer Jim Romenesko reported there is a "good story brewing at USA Today," where the online managers "are in control and all reporters AND editors of the print sports section were told in a meeting Thursday they will have to reapply for their jobs." That is some 90 or so people, and even the managing editor of the section has to re-apply for a job "if he wants to keep it" (JIMROMENESKO.com, 3/2). GANNETTBLOG.com's Jim Hopkins noted any restructuring would "follow the parallel growth of the USAT Sports Media Group, a separate entity launched" in January '10 under President Tom Beusse. One reader wrote on Sunday, "Sports guys have been completely marginalized by the Beusse team. Why they have two sets of senior management is beyond anyone's guess" (GANNETTBLOG.com, 3/2).
OFFERING MORE MATCHES: In DC, Steven Goff noted if you look at MLS DC United's schedule, you will "notice no TV designations for nine of the 34 regular season matches," and that is "quite a few." But Goff wrote he has been told that by the end of the season, you "will have been able to watch all but two or three." DC United and Comcast SportsNet yesterday announced the renewal of their partnership and "plans for coverage of 15 matches." The club is "also set to appear exclusively on national outlets nine times." Comcast will produce a 16th match, but the platform "hasn’t been determined" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 3/5).
CAREER CHANGE: In California, Dan Hayes cites a source as confirming that former MLBer Mark Sweeney has been "hired as a television studio analyst for the Padres' pregame and postgame shows on Fox Sports San Diego." Sweeney spent 14 seasons playing in MLB. He worked as a special assistant in baseball operations for the Dodgers until yesterday (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 3/6).
BROADCAST RIGHTS: The Packers and Journal Broadcast Group on Friday announced they have reached an agreement on a multiyear partnership for the broadcast group to lead the Packers Television Network. Journal Broadcast Group, with WGBA-NBC in Green Bay and WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee, will air Packers preseason games and the "Mike McCarthy Show" (Packers).
