Prep Network editor helps rookie writers get their start
Jared Nelson started working at Prep Network when it was just starting up. The network has grown tremendously, and he now oversees hundreds of new writers.
By Kaden Lamb
Minnesota native Jared Nelson edits and oversees all content published on Prep Network’s about 140 websites. The Bethel University graduate finds purpose in providing exposure for high-school athletes that might fly under the radar of bigger sports networks.
As the editor, Nelson spends most of his time managing reporters throughout the United States, supporting their needs and helping boost their careers. It’s one of his favorite parts of the job.
Q: What has been the career path for you?
A: I actually started with Prep Network, the company that I’m at currently. I started as a freshman at Bethel, 2012, doing internship work, writing and publishing through college. Made some dough, had some good gigs. I wrote for the Clarion, and eventually was editor in chief. I also worked for Pioneer Press and for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coming out of college I started full time with Prep Network. I was employee №3. It was a tiny, tiny company. I was the marketing manager, and I did a little bit of everything. The company kept growing and I took on an editor role. Now, we have about 300 writers around the country, and I oversee all of that. It’s pretty cool.
Q: What are your responsibilities as an editor? What is a typical work day like for you?
A: My job is overseeing all the content we publish on our site. We have about 140 websites publishing a total of about 3000 articles a month. I was editor-in-chief for the Bethel Clarion, but my job now isn’t really a lot of line editing. It’s more people management: helping writers solve problems, data analysis to find which articles are performing the best. We have over 40 full time employees, and I spend a lot of my time managing the content team, which consists of five full time members. I also run events like tournaments and showcases. My role is to establish a plan for coverage of those events. If we have five writers per tournament, who writes what. It’s a little different every day, and it often comes down to what the writers need. Another big part of what I do is set up compensation plans to determine how best to pay the writers.
Q: What is your favorite part about your work as an editor?
A: One of my favorite parts honestly is working with young writers who are hungry and want to get their foot in the door — taking that kid and helping elevate them so they can become the №1 person in their market for that content area. It’s so fun and fulfilling to help a kid that’s just starting out. I actually know a little about each of the 300–400 writers all over the country.
Like I said, when I first started, we had one website and now we have 140, so stepping back to see the work that we’ve put in to get where we are is motivating. There’s something special about being a part of a team and something bigger.
Q: What are some challenges that you face as an editor?
A: There are a lot of unknowns, like why some pieces of content do better than others. We try to make it a science as much as we can, but it really isn’t. We could have two people working on the same kind of project, and the success of those articles can differ drastically. It’s challenging to look at the data, especially when it’s not what we want it to be. The other challenge is just working with people. Every day is a new challenge. The same goes for the audience; dealing with feedback. It can be rough.
Q: What are some memorable anecdotes in your time as an editor?
A: A common thing that I hear when I’m talking to writers, especially in their mid to late 20s, is the player analysis we do, focusing on player visibility. It’s crazy how often we hear from folks who say they wish this was available when they were in high school. It’s been fun for us to fill in the gap. I know I wish there had been this kind of media coverage when I was a high school athlete.
Q: What is something interesting that you are working on right now?
A: Recently, we launched a network of college team networks. We always want to be more inclusive with our coverage. In the last quarter, we’ve really wanted to extend that to college teams. Big schools like Alabama and Oregon and the University of Minnesota have great sites, but we want to provide that for smaller schools as well.
Q: What advice would you give to students who aspire to become an editor?
A: There’s no such thing as an entry level job, so go do the work. Go write. It may not be the sexiest or highest paid thing, but it’ll pay dividends. So much in journalism is who you know, so go do the work for them. What our top guys do is no different from what the 18-year-old freshman is doing for the Clarion.
Also, the level of curiosity needed is huge. If you’re able to ask the right questions, then take that curiosity and go answer them. Those are the people who rise, the people who make a difference. They can formulate curiosity and solve it in their writing. It makes a big difference.
If there’s one thing Nelson has learned about the journalism industry, it’s that ambition is the most important asset to have: pitching stories, meeting sources, taking every opportunity that’s given. Nelson has a strong passion for the sports journalism profession, and it’s clear to see that he’s doing his part to ensure the next generation of sports writers are in good hands.
[Editor’s Note: Answers were lightly edited for clarity and brevity.]
