So, there’s this job I’m after…

So, there’s this job opening that was posted not too long ago – in the local paper of all places. If this is being posted in the Fort Smith paper, I’m going to assume that there hasn’t exactly been a flood of applications put in…

From the job openings page at AETN.org (for non-local-yokels, that’s Arkansas Educational Television Network, the state’s PBS affiliate):

Television Production Manager – Programming Division

The Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) seeks a Television Production Manager who is responsible for station goals and campaigns regarding on-air promotion efforts; participates in daily operations and promotions of a multi-casting state television network; serves as copy editor for monthly Program Magazine; creates and develops promotional materials; oversees schedule and use of edit suite; trains employees; oversees equipment operations; supervises and evaluates employee performance.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors degree plus three years of experience in television production or a related field, including one year of supervisory experience. Prior public television broadcast experience is desirable in addition to excellent computer and marketing skills. Background check is required. Salary range: $39,199 – $53,264 (Grade C121).

Okay. That listing right there? That would be me.

The stumbling blocks: before I even get to the commute to Conway from here (118 miles one way), the biggest hurdle to overcome will be the degree requirement. I’d like to think that I’ve been doing this stuff long enough the experience is going to outweigh that… but I’m not going to be too cocky there, because the lack of a degree recently cost me a shot at a $9/hour entry-level graphic design gig in northwest Arkansas. Next thing you know, I won’t be able to bag groceries without a doctorate.

But this job that I keep asking everyone to keep their fingers crossed for me… that’s the one. Think good thoughts. I’m not crazy about the commute, but that’s why God gave us Big Finish Doctor Who audios, and minidisc players that can hold gobs of the aforementioned audios. Well, okay, Sony gaves us the minidisc stuff, if you’re going to be that picky. I’ve worried about the commute cutting into my daddy-and-Evan time, but I’ve also raised the possibility that if we could find a day care there that’s as good as where Evan is up here, I could just bundle him up and take him with me in the morning. Woohoo, two-hour morning rush car ride with dad twice a day! He’ll be thrilled.

What really thrills me about this gig: I can’t see it being the overtime magnet that the news promo job was. In news, you can be having a perfectly boring day, minding your own business, when someone across town who you’ve never heard of suddenly decides he’s going to grab a gun and go take some hostages or just shoot some folks, and suddenly your perfectly boring day has ten hours added to it. I admire the parents I’ve worked with in the teevee nooz biz, but – not to put too fine a point on it – I’m not willing to have to sacrifice that kind of time with my son on a completely random basis, on someone else’s whim. I’m only going to get to do this fatherhood thing once; I don’t want to be the Dad Who’s Never There.

I doubt AETN’s being flooded with applications for this job, and yet at the same time, what applications there are will be some fierce competition. Think about it, there are probably only 50 or so jobs like this in the country. The funny thing is, the fact that I’ve been at home with Evan, making the documentary DVD projects that I’ve made, may actually help me here – it’s kept the ol’ skill set sharp, and I’ve already been doing stuff that’s more similar to PBS than to commercial TV.

Wish me luck. I could really, really, really use this.