[flamesbball84]

Any truth to this? Also heard they were going to drop the VA Tech beat until one of the writers said he'd leave if they got rid of it, so N&A decided to hang on to the beat.

[Chris Lang]

We have not had a full-time Virginia beat writer since Andy Bitter left last September. I helped out a bit during hoops season last year, but with our staffing right now, we can't get to Virginia football games.

[flamesbball84]

Where did Andy Bitter go, to another newspaper?

[Chris Lang]

Yes. He's covering Auburn for the Ledger-Enquirer in Columbus, Ga.

[flamesbball84]

how's chris humphries doing these days? I know he was on the mend for a good portion of last school year with a stroke or something like that...

[Chris Lang]

He's getting better. He's been helping out with the Hillcats and will be around out at LC and high schools in the fall.

[flamesbball84]

He's getting better. He's been helping out with the Hillcats and will be around out at LC and high schools in the fall.

Nice, I know the coaches here missed the coverage he provided us in previous years.

[Liberty4Life]

How much does the N&A pay for a freelance gig (or do they)? Surely we have some young FF journalists out there...

[kel varson]

Freelance doesn't pay well. I haven't done it for a few years (and not at the N&A) but I would assume less than 40 dollars a game---plus mileage of course.

[kel varson]

I new Chris from his days at LU, I didn't know he had been having health problems. Glad he is on the mend.

[BJWilliams]

How much does the N&A pay for a freelance gig (or do they)? Surely we have some young FF journalists out there...

Yeah freelance isnt exactly something to get rich off of...but its good experience and a nice supplemental income

[Cider Jim]

And BJ speaks from experience: please read his boxing article in Sunday's fishwrap.

[kel varson]

How much does the N&A pay for a freelance gig (or do they)? Surely we have some young FF journalists out there...

Yeah freelance isnt exactly something to get rich off of...but its good experience and a nice supplemental income

For the most part you are right. However, doing baseball games isn't what I would call fun. Sure watching the games is great, but trying to write an (a good article without resorting to one cliche after another) article in less 30 minutes when the game is over 11 or 11:30 p.m. is not fun.

[BJWilliams]

Agreed...I was lucky that the main event was over by 10:30. I got stuck in traffic leaving downtown and got my article in with about 6 minutes to spare. It was good that I basically spent much of the night after the amateur fights working on the article so that I didn't have to cram a bunch of stuff together in about 20 minutes so it'd make it to press