Changing room chat: Phil hits a bullseye in editor's chair

Published on Thursday 17 March 2011 13:40

SPORTS journalists need no reminder that the rest of the world considers them to be lucky bleeders who earn a living from not having to pay to get into the football. And for having a loose relationship with factual accuracy.

It's an image that other departments in some newspapers are keen to perpetuate. The sports editor here at The Scotsman recalls life at another title where the sports desk was referred to as the 'toy department'. It was fair game in an office where the pages produced by the features desk were called the 'knitting patterns' and the photographers were known as 'monkeys'.

And some would say that the suggestion that anyone can do this job was proved this week when the Scottish Sun brought in 15-times world darts champion Phil Taylor to edit its sports pages the other day.

The Port Vale fan must have an unusual interest in the SPL, because the pages looked much the same as they should do. But his verdict was chilling.

"I could get used to this," said Phil. "You seem to just sit around and watch sport on telly then argue about headlines. It's not a real job, is it?" Gulp.