1. What do you miss most about sports journalism?
- Being among the last ones in the open-air press box after a Saturday MLS game, just mellowing out for a few minutes as the only sound in the venue is the groundskeepers. Then grabbing a drink with the dudes from other outlets.
- Being one of the few journalists who showed up for practice virtually every single day on my pro beat. I like to think coaches and players see that. Even if they don't, it's a good opportunity to really get to know players' on-field tendencies.
- The challenge of staying on top of everything I needed to on multiple beats with desk shifts and such. Of course, then it became rote.
- Making fun of the prep score seekers, the old dudes who just HAD to have the local high school baseball score before their colostomy bag gave out. Get a life, shut-ins. Go to the game. Support the kids if you care so much.
- Being the guy who was called on my days off to cover for co-workers who acted like lazy jerks called in sick.
- At my last one and a half journalism jobs (long story), I miss the budget and the mandate to produce great stories.
2. What do you miss least?
- Having to act like high school sports were more important than they actually were in the particular market where I worked.
- The pay, but at the time it was OK. Just knew it would be unsustainable going forward. Gotta grow up sometime.
- The hours, I guess. But this was the life I had signed up for.
- Wondering just how important what I was doing actually was. Had told myself early on that what I did had impact on people. Questioned that as soon as the paychecks started squeaking in (a print journalism paycheck doesn't exactly "roll in"). When the verdict became "Not really, not much at all," I realized I was only doing the job because I enjoyed it, not because I was actually bringing anything people couldn't get somewhere else. I think that's the basic struggle of all media now: what can I bring that's unique, and worthwhile?
- Daily looking into the future and realizing that if I hit 30 without a plan to get out, I might never get out. And also knowing that if I hit 35 and still had to cover regular preps as part of my assignments, I would have long since burnt out. Could barely try to relate to high school kids when I first started (though they could be interesting; group of girls soccer players spent much of an interview telling me my hair made me look like either Orlando Bloom or Elijah Wood as Frodo; while they assured me that none of this was a bad thing, the interview, while fun, was largely a shambles to transcribe, and I resolved to only interview one or two people at a time from then on). Couldn't imagine being some dude in his mid-30s, possibly with kids of my own, shoving a tape recorder into teenagers' faces and acting like either of us was getting something positive out of the experience.
- Never feared a layoff. Knew they were coming. Figured I'd get out before then.
- Finally got out when I realized that the budget and "big-time" vibe at my last journalism gig would not translate to just about anywhere else I could end up. The job that was supposed to reignite my passion actually extinguished it, since I knew that anything following would be a letdown.
3. What do you do now?
- I'm in education. Academia, to be exact.
- It's my mandate to keep up on technology and the use of it, and to constantly examine more efficient ways to produce media and disseminate information to media consumers. It's a much better pursuit than constantly worrying about tomorrow's newspaper, or today's newscast.
4. Are you happier with your new career?
- Immeasurably.
- I have the opportunity to work with students and help them think more critically while not necessarily becoming cynical. I also get to learn a few things from them about the nature of how media are consumed by people who have used the Internet since they were in the womb, and who reject newspapers as a viable medium and potential workplace.
- I also enjoy learning how the use of social media has changed fandom and communication in regard to consumers creating and finding their own media rather than relying on "trained journalists!!" and official team statements.
- Based on where I thought sports media were going when I made the choice to put in motion a plan to get out eight years ago, I receive pretty much daily validation that my decision to finally walk away four years ago was absolutely the correct one.
- A couple years ago, there was an individual here who became offended when I was saying people should leave the newspaper business. This person said something to the effect of "Wow, you want a job where you're not beholden to a boss! I wish you luck, I really do." Well, that obviously insincere well-wishing proved prophetic. I largely keep my own hours, get to choose which projects I pursue, have significant autonomy, and make more money than I ever did as a journalist. Finally, I feel like I'm paid for the work I do. I feel extremely lucky.
- Also, I get to be a fan again, which is something I really underestimated. From the time I really dove into sports journalism until I got out (about a decade), it was tough to be a fan. The moment when I knew I wanted to just be a fan again and would relish the opportunity was at the U.S. vs. England friendly in Soldier Field in 2005. First national team game I hadn't drawn a paycheck to watch. Just enjoying the game, and not having to take notes . . . wonderful. I like getting there 10 minutes before the start, and leaving when I please. I choose when to go, and what to go to. I am no longer beholden to multiple schedules of events that I am expected attend and record for posterity.
Regarding the question of the choice to get out and whether the grass was greener:
The grass was not only greener, it surrounded a lush garden with tomatoes of all colors and tastes, plus red seedless grapes, a fruitful apple tree and a pristine fresh-water lake to swim in. I chose to get out because, back in 2005-06, I felt that in five years most of my peers who were forward-thinking and had the opportunity to try to get out (read: those with bachelor's degrees, either no family or an understanding family, the will to relocate if necessary, and the guts to realize that newspapers, the career they loved, were on the verge of catastrophe) . . . would do one of three things:
1. Law school. Because the skills of researching and writing translate, and because every single individual who gets out of law school makes a boatload of money. :)
2. Teaching. Two years for the teaching credential and/or master's, right?
3. Grad school. Not sure in what. Likely English, but that could lead to another dead end.
I chose what I chose for many reasons. The final nail was when I had finished my master's and was looking for the next opportunity, and a friend said he got his high school teaching credential in two years. Well, I could get a Ph.D. in a similar amount of time, have more prestige, more upward mobility, more impact, and a better standard of life as far as spending time with my family and dealing with students who could be expected to be highly motivated.
I did not anticipate the many opportunities my brethren have found in technical writing or editing for book companies. I never thought SD and PR jobs would have materialized at the rate we all would have hoped, but some have found a good landing spot there. I do think that the state of the media business now is such that most current newspaper jockeys, if they have not put themselves at the forefront of newer media (hey, whatever did happen to SoSueMe, Mr. "I'm a print JOURNALIST!!!"), will have a challenging time.
So, yes, got out, very happy, no regrets whatsoever, glad others have also landed on their feet.
