A little lost

[silvercharm]

Well, after damn near 30 years in the business, it looks like the end is coming in the form of a layoff. I figure I'll take a few weeks to regroup and refresh, but after that, I'll have to start looking for something.

Problem is, it won't be in newspapers, as you well know. Anyone have ideas as to where a seasoned journalist might think about working next?

 

[Angola!]

I don't have any ideas, but good luck silvercharm. I'm sorry it ended this way.

 

[gingerbread]

Huge sympathies, silvercharm.
Do you live in a city with a media bistro chapter? With your experience, maybe you could teach one of their many classes? The pay isn't great, but the journalism connections are worth it.

 

[Ace]

Sorry to hear that, silver. I bet you land on your feet.

Best wishes.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Good luck there, Silver. Take a few moments for yourself to be proud of spending nearly 30 years in this industry.

 

[Joe Williams]

One more reason to resent the hell out of this business: A lot of other jobs, if you get 30 years in, you're already walking off with a pension, reward for a job well done. Cops, teachers, military, other government jobs -- traditionally, ones in which you provide some service to the public good and don't necessarily earn big bucks. Journalism fits those last two criteria, but still leaves you with a gap until you're 55 (for a piddly pension), 62 or 65 (for slightly less piddly pensions). If you're fortunate to have a pension at all.

Sure, we all knew what we were getting into, in that department. But for a lot of us, it was nearly a guaranteed-for-life sort of job, the tradeoff you made. Now the back end terms of the deal have been forever changed, but the front end remains as chintzy as ever.

 

[jfs1000]

When I read this, I wish someone discouraged me when I got in. We ahve to do a better job of discouraging young writers. It's not worth it.

 

[Stone Cane]

Best of luck to you.

 

[slappy4428]

Well, after damn near 30 years in the business, it looks like the end is coming in the form of a layoff. I figure I'll take a few weeks to regroup and refresh, but after that, I'll have to start looking for something.

Problem is, it won't be in newspapers, as you well know. Anyone have ideas as to where a seasoned journalist might think about working next?

Tell me and we'll both know. Three years after my paper folded, I'm still looking for answers.

 

[EE94]

corporate writing
it's not so much communications - doing the pr crap
it's putting all their gobbledy-gook into something a little less aromatic
year-end reports, press releases, website stuff, hell, even instruction booklets
seriously, its shocking at what level most execs and business types write.
they think anyone who can make something interesting has magic in their fingers

 

[shockey]

so very sorry, silver. i hit the 30-year mark in november. love the life i've led thus far, no regrets. and i'd never, ever dissuade ANYONE from giving it a whirl. sure, the pay sucks and there will be fewer and fewer papers as time goes on. but it's still great work if you can get it.

sorry to go against the grain. i mean, i fear for my life-expectency on the job like everyone else. but i love the bizm shrinking as it is. i'm a romantic, follow-your-dream kind of guy 'cause it worked out well for me.

and when/if my career ends, if i'm not close to retiring, i haven't a clue where i'd turn. cross that bridge when it comes. i get that it's different for those starting out, but that's also when you can best give it a whirl, without family/mortgage attachments, etc., ain't it?

but job-searching is for the young, not we geezers.

 

[zebracoy]

When I read this, I wish someone discouraged me when I got in. We ahve to do a better job of discouraging young writers. It's not worth it.

Yeah, that's right right attitude to have. Whatever happened to passion?

 

[silvercharm]

The last six months has sucked dry whatever passion I had left for the business.

 

[Sean Smyth]

The last six months has sucked dry whatever passion I had left for the business.

Good luck landing on your feet, silvercharm, particularly in another field.

You have a lot of knowledge built up. Don't let it get tossed aside. You definitely can do something with your skills -- corporate/tech writing, teaching, PR, whatever. Not saying it'll be an easy landing for you, but if you have talent, someone in some field will see those skills.