Nike Seeks Young Female for Promotional "Journalism" Job

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Nike wants to employ a “reporter” to interview sports stars and is offering to pay their expenses for travel and “gear.” The stories found by the reporter will appear on NikeWomen.com.

The “Nike Field Reporter” must be female and aged 18-24. She must also be “sassy, smart and sports savvy.”* The job ad Nike posted on MediaBistro.com (click image to enlarge) is riddled with typos (either that or the writer has a religious objection to the apostrophe). A rep for MB said that was the site’s fault, not Nike’s, as its software stripped the ad of punctuation.

The company does not want to see your resume — it wants a video. Here’s a sample:

Who Were Lookin For

One lucky lady between 18-24 whos sassy, smart and sports savvy. If youre in the know and on the go, its time to take your shot at being the first-ever Nike Field Reporter.

Heres What You Need to Do

Send us an audition video and show us that youve got the skills. In 3 minutes or less, tell us why youd make the perfect Nike Field Reporter. Give us insight into who you are and why youre right for the job.

Eyeballs are doubtless rolling at the agency that handles Nike’s recruitment advertising.

Although Nike advertises the job under the “Sports/Entertainment Journalism” heading, it’s really a branded content gig. Actual journalists need not apply, especially since the conflict of interest would prevent you from accepting anyway.

The successful field reporter will have their videos uploaded onto NikeWomen.com, where they will be given the usual laborious Flash animation treatment and a headache-inducing jump-cut edit. Good luck, “sassy” girls!

*Why does everyone in advertising have to be sassy, smart and savvy? Wouldn’t it be more interesting if they were normal?

Jim Edwards, a former managing editor of Adweek, has covered drug marketing at Brandweek for four years, and is a former Knight-Bagehot fellow at Columbia University's business and journalism schools. Follow him on Twitter or send him an email.

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1

rderox

05/29/09 | Report as spam

RE: Nike Seeks Young Female for Promotional

omg! y the upror? we r so caught up with txtng and tweeting, who has time 4 grammr & speling. innovation is breeding a nation of illiterates and maybe nike is recognizing if you cant educate them, join them :))
2

deeae

05/29/09 | Report as spam

RE: Nike Seeks Young Female for Promotional

Language was designed as a tool to foster and enhance the possibility of understanding between people.

Misunderstandings happen so easily and reguarly during conversations that take place informally, in day to day contexts. When they occur in contexts of heightened risk, sensitivity and tension, they can cause offences that lead to confrontation and, unless those negotiating have talent and wisdom (something more than strength, strategic smarts, tolerance and patience), wars can result.

To ignore the inherent rules in language and corrupt the primary tool we have for building peace, i.e. safety and security for you, me and our neighbors in this world is either stupid, arrogant and/or irresponsible - analogous to blowing holes in the house you live in. Eventually, depending on the climate, your health and life will suffer, even to the point of death.

Education, in not teaching the value of language and its components consistently from grade to grade, taught us that lazy or care-less was OK, breeding limited thinking and ignorance.