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Topic: First full-time job
| Author | Message |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 11/21/2007 8:44:42 PM | show profile I've been out of college about a year and a half and after bouncing between a few publications freelancing but never staying steady, I've landed that first 'real job' at a local daily. What I wanted to ask was, what is a typical starting salary at a small daily (our circ. is 10,000). I know it's not much but I'm wondering now if I should have asked for more money. As I needed a job--and this was better than what I was doing before in the meantime--I took it without negotiating. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 11/22/2007 4:10:10 AM | show profile COngratulations on landing a job. The amount depends on where the publication is (what part of the country, small town or big city) and what company its part of. My experience was that small family-owned groups paid poorest. Outside of that, it seems like guidelines for what teachers make in different states kind of correlate to media salaries. Negotiating up front is challenging because it requires patience when you're eager to sign on the dotted line. However, once they've offered you a job (but before you've accepted) you can assume you have them on the hook as long as you're not too extravagant. Often that first counteroffer is where you can pick up extra hundreds of bucks if not thousands of bucks. Generally, there is some wiggle room. That said, your next opportunity to negotiate could come at a six-month review or when you're asked to assume more responsibility. My first job at a daily was a fantastic experience for me -- I lerned so much. I will always be grateful to that editor for giving me a shot. And I didn't disappoint him, either. |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 11/22/2007 2:23:09 PM | show profile "My experience was that small family-owned groups paid poorest" Well that explains it then. I always thought the teacher thing as true as well...but that is not the case here. However, like you said, it's a good experience |
| writesonwater | Posted – 11/22/2007 4:41:41 PM | show profile I worked for a small family-owned group of newspapers and the publisher of the paper I worked for came in with a mission to trim costs. That meant paying less to the next candidate than the last editor that left; lowballing new writers (and meaning it); even going so far as not replacing writers who left right away in order to pare expenses. It was not good for the paper, but it made the profit margins look good, at least for a year or two. Different newspaper chains are known for different things -- some for brief articles, some for low salaries, some for sucking up to advertisers. Start a thread and ask for the good names on here and other boards, to get some ideas for your next move up the chain after you've made the most of your experience where you are. What I found to be the best use of my time at 2 substandard chains was to do superior work, which was really noticeable and won awards, which also looked good for my resume. I learned to work hard, even if it wasn't expected. Then my resume read about the ways I'd improved the paper -- and improvement is something prospective employers are interested in. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 11/22/2007 4:49:49 PM | show profile Most little chains pay poorly. It's the nature of the beast -- they are nickel and diming because their advertising is hand-to-mouth. The teacher thing I've noticed in the South, where I am. States like Arkansas and Texas and Oklahoma don't pay teachers very well -- but generally cost of living is low. Many papers pay particularly poorly as well. My first newspaper job I was about 26. I came to a daily that had much potential but there was a laissez-faire approach at the editorial level. I felt old and was anxious to catch up to my peers -- so I wrote my heart out, came up with great stories on and off my beat, and taught myself all kinds of lessons. I didn't write like those around me -- I wrote like I was working at the kind of paper I'd like to be working at. Within a year I was the lead reporter and the one my editor counted on. I developed a work ethic that stood me in good stead over the next two decades and with subsequent editors and publishers. As mentioned before, kick butt and take names -- and exceed expectations and you will do well. Good luck to you. |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 11/23/2007 1:07:58 PM | show profile Much thanks, writesonwater. I will particularly take this piece of advice: "I didn't write like those around me -- I wrote like I was working at the kind of paper I'd like to be working at." Writing like others is the biggest trap I find myself falling into at newspapers, as the writing style is so formulaic. If I'm going to be there, I might as well make the most of it. Thanks again. |
