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Topic: Various ways to climb the ladder?
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| gagner25 | Posted – 11/20/2007 7:38:10 AM | show profile I'm beginning to feel like I am reaching the end of my rope with searching for journalism jobs. Please let me know if you can advise on this. I graduated with a degree in journalism four years ago, but I feel like I've spent as much time looking for work as I've actually spent working. I have worked in the business news section of the Associated Press in New York. I have worked as a freelance fact-checker for magazines. I left New York because I couldn't afford it, and because I was tired of constantly applying for magazine jobs and not getting one. The AP would not be a back-up plan for many journalists, but it was for me. My dream was to work for a magazine. When I left New York, it was to edit the production of medical journals. I thought that at least a journal was sort of like a magazine. I was wrong. It's not that I hated my job. It was okay. I didn't love my new city because it was a lot more boring than New York (isn't any place, really?), and a lot more dangerous. I learned a lot about copy editing at my new job, and got to have a lot of authority. But I developed severe stomach cramps, and had to take a lot of time off of work to have tests done. After getting a diagnosis and returning to work, I was let go, but without a decent explanation. I believe it had something to do with the medical leave, which my company encouraged me to take. Since that time (last June), I have tried to apply for jobs at local newspapers. Although I have interviewed at places like Conde Nast and The Wall Street Journal in the past, I doubt that a NYC publication would want to hire someone who lives so far away. Also, I'm really tired of dealing with the NYC competition. At this point in my career, I really do not want to be an editorial assistant again, and my magazine experience would place me at that level. Once I started applying at newspapers, I learned that my clips from the AP are not quite newspaper experience. And my clips from college are rather dated. I've signed on to be a freelancer at a major newspaper in my city, but they've yet to give me any assignments (that was a month ago). Why have I not come up with any ideas for stories in my city on my own? Well, what with it being rather dangerous and my being on unemployment, I don't get out much these days. I'm less than enthused to be living there. But the recruiter at the local newspaper said that the clips would help update my portfolio, and that would help me find a reporter job at more papers. Right now, I am waiting to hear back from an extremely small, local newspaper where many recent graduates from my college start out. If I do not get this job, I will probably feel pretty dejected, because after all I've experienced so far, how could a recent grad beat me to the punch? Also, the writing quality is not fabulous at the paper, so I'm sure my clips are fairly good in comparison. I've even applied for a freelance position at the state magazine where I interned in college, hoping that they might be interested in employing me full time. Am I going backwards in my career? Or is it smart to try to start over at the bottom in this way? I know I am lucky to get any job and I don't believe that I have entitlement issues like many people my age. I have lived on very little money for years with short bursts of entry-level incomes, and interviews here and there. I guess if I don't get this job at the small, local paper, I am going to feel really stuck. I do not want to do public relations or work on some kind of newsletter or company memo. |
| Metro Writer | Posted – 11/20/2007 11:43:59 PM | show profile Newspapers are suffering from self-inflicted wounds. If you still want to work for one, you may have to backpedal for a litlte while. Yes, it totally sucks, but consider yourself luckier than people who are 45 or 50 and had to take early retirement. It's going to be harder for them to find other jobs at the pay they were used to. You can always pitch to magazines or write your book during off-hours. That's what Mark Bowden did while he was at the Philadelphia Inquirer until he became a nationally known author. |
| Potluckcraft | Posted – 11/21/2007 11:48:38 PM | show profile I wish I had some magical advice for you, but I just want to say, this will pass. In a few months, a year, whatever, you'll find yourself employed, happy, and relieved to have made it through a rough patch. Look around you closely and see that many people are in unusual, less-than-perfect situations. Have faith that we'll all work it out somehow. On a more practical note, keep trying all kinds of avenues. Keep writing. Keep applying. Do what you can to think creatively about your job search. If you let up on your worry about the situation, more inspiration will surely come. Don't lose hope yet....you're way too young! Good luck! Hope this helps in some small way. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 11/22/2007 3:10:08 AM | show profile In creative fields, most people's careers tend to go up and down. From your description, it sounds like you are grappling with the tradeoffs of life. Yes, if you want a consumer magazine job in NY, you have to face that you have tons of competition. Yes, if you go for an easier job to get in another city, it probably will be less interesting work and a less interesting place to live. Yes, if you want to switch to newspapers, you might need to freelance some to prove yourself. I have been writing professionally for 25 years now for every type of media and level of publication you can imagine, and you know what -- the specific issues change, but the tradeoffs and balancing is no less now than before. With time and experience, you develop the self-confidence to not be bothered by it. Rejection is simply a part of the journalist/writer's life. Once you accept that, and sometimes it takes years to accept that, it's liberating. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 11/22/2007 4:33:34 PM | show profile | email poster Sounds like one of your issues is a slightly spotty resume. A bit of experience here and there -- short bursts. I'll give you some advice from where I'm coming from, which is that I used to write resumes for a living (for a short burst! ;) and I have been both a writer and an editor in newspaper and regional mags, and I'm now a fulltime freelancer and author. Sounds like you're fairly young, so not too late to get back on track -- perhaps aim to stay a few years at the next couple places you work, if not longer. Doesn't always work out -- the medical thing was out of your hands; I'm curious -- did you conclude from that incident that you didn't like all that responsibility? Sometimes it's not a good fit to be at the top. Many people can look back at one or two things that haven't worked out. Don't despair -- just move forward. You can do this, and you will be able to say "this too shall pass." Look at your assets -- a J degree, experience with AP, some mag work and journal editing. If I were you, I might look into regional or trade magazine work. Start with freelancing if necessary to get clips. They pay better than newspaper. If you need to make money and you want to be in newspaper, you might look at editing a weekly, which will often involve a lot of writing and jack-of-all-trades skills -- which you have. The AP thing is fantastic background for newspaper. If you're willing to relocate, there are some very cool good daily newspapers that take on promising people as staff writers -- I will activate my email and if you want the name of one or two, email me. On the freelancer at the major newspaper thing, you might need to make an acquaintance with a regional editor there in order to get some assignments. That's how I began doing pieces for the major daily I live nearest to, and from there other introductions followed. Now I could get my living solely from that if I wanted to. Find out which editors/sections are needing the freelancers. While I occasionally do a metro cover piece (which pays better), most of the demand for freelance (in a tightened newspaper budget) comes from editors for regional pages. Even if you don't like the pay, regional work for a big name paper will look fantastic in your clips and on your resume. One thing to look at is living in a place that you perceive to be dangerous. This may be your best reason to relocate, period. I remember living in the inner city of a midwestern city (with my husband's job) and being terrified to go outside, which was isolating and bad for me in many ways. It can keep you from socializing, which most of us need, from exercise and fresh air, and from working. Sometimes new grads are picked over older candidates because they are perceived as cheap and trainable and easy to blow off if it doesn't work out. Don't worry -- there should be a publication out there that values your experience. Quick tips: pare down your resume. Cover gaps by using years (2001-2003), (2004-2005). Regardless of how you're feeling, remain upbeat, competent and confident when talking to prospective employers. Consider taking posts at a greater distance -- with the exception of NYC, you can often procure interviews by saying something like "I'm going to be in the Seattle area on business in the next two weeks and would love to drop by to learn more about your company and discuss this position." This covers you with companies that are worried about the distance and won't pay for you to go interview, or for relocation, and most won't. |
| seeattleme | Posted – 11/23/2007 1:02:05 PM | show profile Call some of the research directors and get a job freelance fac-checking at the health magazines or the magazines that do a lot of health. You'll be in the office, make contacts with editors, have a chance for some one on one with them, have a chance to talk about your experience, and if and when a job opens up you ll hear about it first. You might even get an assignment that way. It's not going to be a traditional route so forget about the resumes, etc. Just get your foot in the door. |
| seeattleme | Posted – 11/23/2007 1:04:07 PM | show profile i don't know what city you are in, but try the regional publiation. Sorry, I misread and thought you had moved back to NYC. Either way, you might want to consider it--at least for a few years until your career is more solid underfoot. |
