delivery driver

project designer

warehouse associate

reporter

editor

The-Villages-Daily-Sun

My experience at the Daily Sun was one of mixed emotions. Landing a job there enabled me to continue doing what I loved despite the newspaper industry’s downsizing. The paper, at least for now, is immune from the readership declines and financial pressures that have devastated most newspapers. Layoffs aren't an issue. It's owned by a family instead of a hedge fund or a conglomerate. Seems great, right? The first thing to be aware of is that the "family" is the archconservative multi-billionaire Developer (always capital "D" in print) of The Villages, and the newspaper's main reason for being is to sell homes and fuel growth. So stories that might reflect negatively on The Villages are downplayed, or ignored. Same with political stories that run counter to the family’s beliefs. That's too bad, because several top newsroom leaders -- especially the executive editor and top visual editor -- have superb journalistic instincts. When it comes to the rules and The Villages' "core values," reporters and editors must learn them, know them and live them, no questions asked. I always had an independent streak, marched to my own drummer and didn’t like having to occasionally check my integrity at the door, so my chances of moving up in the newsroom hierarchy were nonexistent in such an environment. You'd think the paper's solid financial picture would make for a stable newsroom, but the opposite is true. The workload often is horrendous, turnover is high, and many reporters and lower-level editors see their roles change three or four times a year (mainly a function of the executive editor, who seems to enjoy chaos despite her considerable journalistic savvy). This is a drag on morale. The newsroom also tends to be very social – which is fine as it helps relieve the tensions that come from the constant state of flux – but less extroverted employees who work quietly and efficiently tend to be overlooked (I never considered myself talented enough to spend a lot of time socializing at work, so I maintained a laser-focus on doing my job and making deadlines – and it probably hurt instead of helped). On the other hand, there’s a solid core of veterans who are capable mentors, and if you raise your hand and express a willingness to take on new responsibilities, chances are you’ll be rewarded for it. Bottom line: No matter your journalistic experience level, you will learn a lot there. And if you play by the rules, you might even advance quickly and carve out a comfortable niche. If not … learn as much as you can, use your work to build a brand and a network of contacts “on the outside,” and move on, as so many others have done.

This newspaper has all the resources in the world to be a great asset to the local communities. Instead, it is mostly used as a marketing tool to make The Villages look good and to attract more people to purchase homes there. Their teams of writers could be government watchdogs, local experts and community servants but are instead loaded down with work to produce good PR for the development. I was actually told verbatim once in a meeting that "selling homes and making people feel good about their decision to move to The Villages" was tantamount to my journalism ethics and standards.
The newsroom has a very toxic culture and is a hostile workplace. Most people are on edge because of the newsroom leadership. I felt as though I was very good at my job and it was a place that could afford to let me and my peers produce quality journalism, but it was so stressful because of the needless drama from the newsroom leaders. There was so much needless shifting of roles for no apparent reason except for the whim of the editor. Roles in which people had learned, felt comfortable and productive and developed relationships were dashed, and they were forced to start all over again in a new role, frequently. It contributed to high stress levels and the lowest morale of any place I've ever worked.
It is a shame that when so many journalists wish they could work in a robust, financially secure newsroom that one of the only places you can do this is like this.
The company completely bungled the response to COVID-19, resulting in many people getting sick. People were mandated to return to the office full time much too early and shamed for taking precautions like masks. Any role I consider in the future, I will ask how they handled the pandemic because it tells you a lot about what it will be like working there.

The staff and fellow media employees at The Daily Sun were welcoming and did as much as they could to educate and involve new employees into the fold.
A typical day started between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. beginning with a meeting of all the reporters and two managing editors to discuss what was expected, needed and being achieved for the day. The rest of the day was left up to the reporters to fill out photo shoots and conduct interviews and meet deadlines for stories.
I learned a great deal from fellow reporters about the basic flow and production of a newspaper story. It was the reporters and photo crew that showed me the ropes when I first arrived.
During employment, the management was negative, harsh toward staff and uninvolved in the reporters.
The hardest part of the job was maintaining clear communication between staff and management.
The most enjoyable part of the job was learning from reporters, photographers and videographers. Being involved in sharing important happenings, events and stories for others to learn from or enjoy was also a great reward.

It's a fast paced newsroom and your workload will triple time to time due to constant turnover. However, if you enjoy working (very) hard, I'm happy to report most of management acknowledges and rewards you for it. I advise you get ready for mandatory side work and mandatory story grabs because the Daily Sun wants you to be a well-rounded journalist and a team player at the expense of your sanity (sometimes). Also, the structure of their newsroom is ever-changing - which will always affect your personal workload (there's always more to do, no matter how busy you think you already are). It can be stressful but rewarding. It's a great place to learn how to hone your writing and reporting skills and develop good time management. But it's definitely not for the weak hearted.

This company offered raises, promotions and the latest in technology thanks to its readers -- you're serving a giant retirement community and they still read newspapers. 
Ultimately, however, it wasn't a newspaper at all in the truest sense. The developer of the retirement community also owned the newspaper, so we couldn't report on drought conditions, the toll the community was taking on the water table, the rampant spreading of STDs, and a number of other things. It was like Pleasantville.
Also the management had little to no experience as journalists and played favorites with staff.

I moved to Florida on my own dime- even though they recruited me and are worth millions. They were not honest about their ability to teach me my position even Ed n though they said they considered themselves " like a teaching hospital." 

Management is not honest.  And they have a lot of in ordinary rules and procedures. They are not a newspaper. They are a propaganda paper promoting the Villages lifestyle. 

It's all a scam to get people to buy property here and make the Morse family rich. Or should I say richer. 

I wish I never took the bait. 

When I was employed here, the Daily Sun had an incentive program that was said to be optional. It had goals -- that to be clear, did not make you better at your job -- employees could meet each quarter that they would then be rewarded for in bonus pay. While the idea on the surface sounds great, the goals skewed toward workers who had shifts during they day (I did not). Workers who did not complete the supposedly optional goals were not seen my management as deserving of promotion.

On bosses day it was a great day, to give back they are the best. All other work days are good 👍 . I have to say if I could go back I would but at this time I was looking for change . I live in the Villages with my husband of 47 years. I remain a highly energetic, motivated professional, with a wide variety of skills. I’am an honest and dedicated leader, with the ability to multi-task and assist others to increase the profits of anyone’s business.  

Good attitudes with coworkers and the facility is kept very clean, equipment is well maintained. While you do work and stay productive, they don't grind you into submission and destroy your body. When you get off work, you can go home and enjoy time with your family. You aren't beat tired at the end of your shift. The core values principals really do make it easier to come back each day. Phenomenal job overall. 

The Villages Daily Sun gave me more experience than I was ever prepared for. With the Sun I wrote front page stories, worked on large investigative reports, hosted the nightly news show, and even got my own daily radio spot. All of which was achieved from an entry level position. My career has taken a sky-rocket-like start because of The Daily Sun.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Delivery driver 8 salaries reported	$528 per week
Project designer 3 salaries reported	$20.00 per hour
Warehouse associate 1 salary reported	$20.50 per hour
Reporter 1 salary reported	$20.00 per hour
Editor 1 salary reported	$52,500 per year

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