Life after journalism

[SockPuppet]

I agree that good things happen to good people. ... but then how do you explain, Mariotti, Albom and Lupica?

 

[Moderator1]

I think it varies, too, Joe, with age and station in life. I'm not just starting out. I'd risen to a pretty good place in journalism. The scale is different for 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.

I've also admitted before that I got lucky. A job that seems tailored for my skills and experience, in the town I reside, for enough money to make it worthwhile to give up a good job. I've never discounted the luck factor.

 

[Mediator]

On the money, I feel you can't do this job for a number on a paycheck. You will never be adequately compensated for all the time you put in. When I worked in the corporate world out of college, when we were out of town we were compensated for each hour. Travel time was technically work. If you worked past 8 you got a black car ride home. Meals were paid for and no one asked if you really needed to tip the cap driver $5. In contrast, at my paper anything you tip over 12-15 percent is your own money, and a day away is considered the same as an 8-hour workday at home.

So you do this job because you love it. And when the hassles outstrip the rewards you pack it in. There is no way the salary will ever reflect a writer's dedication to this job. I know there are big name exceptions to this, people who are paid like executives, but most of us will go nuts if we hold ourselves to that standard.

 

[buckweaver]

Some of us are doing OK for ourselves, Joe. Really. I know that doesn't fit your message here, but it's true. Stands to reason that we can do better, sure -- but not all of us are in dire straits.

Yo, Buck, I was just working out the math. You might feel that I bring one overriding agenda to most of my posts, but I don't. All I was saying was, either Moddy started low and thus got a bump into the expected range of PR pay, or that Moddy started fine and got a bump to something that is beyond what most people presume to be PR pay. Without seeking specifics, I was trying to get a handle on how PR pay could be better than newspaper pay -- either the former is better than what most of us figure, or the latter is as ****ty as the stereotype portrays it. One of those things had to be true and I was curious as to which.

Nothing personal, Joe. :)

Just making the point that both stereotypes are true, sometimes, AND neither stereotype is true, sometimes. It's not "one had to be better or the latter had to be ****ty." Could be both -- could be neither.

Some newspaper jobs pay more than we think, and people can do pretty well for themselves. They can buy a house, take real vacations, and do anything they want to do. Other jobs don't even allow you to afford to rent your own apartment in that city. ... There's no catch-all to what these jobs pay, because it depends on so many factors.

The same, obviously, is true of PR. Some jobs pay $20K, especially if you're young and inexperienced. ... Others allow you to live a pretty good life.

I think holding both industries to a stereotype is misleading. Your situation is what you make of it.

 

[FileNotFound]

Did I tell you I'm happy and relatively secure with my job?

I forgot. :)Now if I got axed tomorrow, I might not feel this way.

I'm just one that feels for those who feel they're stuck.

You're only stuck if you think you're stuck. Yes, sometimes a better/different job requires moving; sometimes it requires stepping out of your comfort zone; sometimes it requires thinking of your skills in a different light than the one to which you are accustomed.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: I have thrived in my "post-journalism" job because the same skill set that allowed me to succeed in journalism -- research skills, accuracy, speed and a sense of urgency -- translates very nicely to many other careers, including the one I've chosen.

 

[WaylonJennings]

Don't ever rule out law or business school. Yes, it can be insanely expensive. But the LSAT is a great equalizer (the GMAT is not AS important to MBA programs, but a 700-plus can pretty much send you on your way), and conquerable. If you get into the right 15-20 schools, or the major player in your region, you can pretty much set yourself up for life, first financially and then by using your credential and contacts to move into the financial sector, start your own business, maybe teach, maybe even work your way back into journalism (Jeffrey Toobin of The New Yorker is a Harvard Law grad; so is the Memphis C-A's Geoff Calkins).

I think a lot of people eschew these paths because they don't want to take the time away from work, or can't afford it. But do the long-term math. If you're young enough, like 35 or younter, it's worth scratching by for three years.

PM me if you have any questions about the LSAT or are exploring the idea of law. I put an insane amount of research into my impending jump.

 

[[email protected]]

Pay Websites. And not those run by newspapers. There are some good ones in sports. After 40 years in the biz and going through layoffs and downsizing about four times, I bailed and I'm as happy as I have ever been. As a matter of fact, I've done some studying on the subject and I suspect most press boxes will be half full of Internet people in a couple of years -- including the big events where they are just realizing this is the future.

 

[pressmurphy]

Pay Websites. And not those run by newspapers. There are some good ones in sports. After 40 years in the biz and going through layoffs and downsizing about four times, I bailed and I'm as happy as I have ever been. As a matter of fact, I've done some studying on the subject and I suspect most press boxes will be half full of Internet people in a couple of years -- including the big events where they are just realizing this is the future.

I think this might be the aspect of the business in which the next thinning of the herd takes place. Just as the dot-com bust of 2001-2002 eviscerated a number of dot-com start-ups, I'm beginning to be of the opinion that more than a few sites are overpaying a bit for content (i.e., writers).

To be sure, online ad growth is a real phenomenon and much welcomed, but the rate of expansion by a few of the bigger players doesn't seem sustainable. I can't back that with hard, cold numbers, but I think there's some connection to the newspaper industry's online challenges these days . . . some chains that two years ago were expecting 20 percent year-over-year web revenue growth to continue through 2010 and beyond have already seen that number fall back to the 12-15 percent range.

 

[ScribePharisee]

Sometimes I wonder about this daily. Most of the time it's hourly.

I have tried forever to get a job at a college or university. For the last 2 1/2 years, I've probably applied to 85 jobs (PR, communications, athletics) at roughly 30 colleges in our region.

I've gotten only four interviews. Finished second in all four.

Sometimes I wonder if 10 years at one shop is not a good thing, that I should have gone to other jobs so it would show that I have been to different places. But then I ask, how in the world would that matter, considering I've written and copy edited for every section of our newspaper, everything from sports to fires to a dead body in the park at 10 p.m.? The frustration level is off the charts...especially when I see friends at other papers in our area get laid off.

One last thing: Is there someone on here who could take a look at my resume? It's the same template I've used, essentially, since I applied for my current job 10 years ago out of college. Thanks.

At any rate, for those of you in the same boat as I am: Hang in there. Good things happen to good people. That's what keeps me going. Something will fall into place and it won't be too late. It'll make this time period, even though it is frustrating as ****, seem that much better when you're doing what you want to do.

And bad things happen to good people. A car salesman told me that the other day. I believe him.

 

[Sheri]

Perhaps it's different in America, but we can't find good help in the newspaper business up here.

Of course, many of the available jobs are in smaller markets, but that's about the only type of outfit you can work for these days and still be permitted any freedom of the press.

Move to Canada. I need another reporter, post haste.

 

[Joe Williams]

Perhaps it's different in America, but we can't find good help in the newspaper business up here.

Of course, many of the available jobs are in smaller markets, but that's about the only type of outfit you can work for these days and still be permitted any freedom of the press.

Move to Canada. I need another reporter, post haste.

Coming out of school, I wanted to work in Toronto or Vancouver in the worst way. But I kept hearing that I had to have a job if I wanted to move to Canada, and I had to live in Canada if I was going to get hired by a newspaper there. Had no chance of being classified as an indispensable talent or whatever it was that allowed a Canadian firm to reach to the States to hire a non-resident, where you packed unique skills, allegedly.

Besides, I'd have gotten fired for writing about centers instead of centres.

 

[Screwball]

As to PR deadlines:

A friend had gotten out of sportswriting and started a job as a PR guy at a hospital. He starts on a Tuesday, and his boss assigns him to do a 20-inch profile of a cardiologist. He talks to the cardiologist, a colleague and a couple patients, and he turns the story in by the end of the day.

"Oh," his boss said. "We were just hoping you could do this by Friday."

 

[Joe Williams]

As to PR deadlines:

A friend had gotten out of sportswriting and started a job as a PR guy at a hospital. He starts on a Tuesday, and his boss assigns him to do a 20-inch profile of a cardiologist. He talks to the cardiologist, a colleague and a couple patients, and he turns the story in by the end of the day.

"Oh," his boss said. "We were just hoping you could do this by Friday."

Dork should have asked the deadline up front. Now he's ruined it for himself and potential fellow gold-brickers. Next thing you know, the PR boss will be counting column inches to measure his annual productivity. ;)

 

[ScribePharisee]

Perhaps it's different in America, but we can't find good help in the newspaper business up here.

Of course, many of the available jobs are in smaller markets, but that's about the only type of outfit you can work for these days and still be permitted any freedom of the press.

Move to Canada. I need another reporter, post haste.

Coming out of school, I wanted to work in Toronto or Vancouver in the worst way. But I kept hearing that I had to have a job if I wanted to move to Canada, and I had to live in Canada if I was going to get hired by a newspaper there. Had no chance of being classified as an indispensable talent or whatever it was that allowed a Canadian firm to reach to the States to hire a non-resident, where you packed unique skills, allegedly.

Besides, I'd have gotten fired for writing about centers instead of centres.

Yeah, but Sheri seems like a nice boss to have.

 

[BrianGriffin]

As to PR deadlines:

A friend had gotten out of sportswriting and started a job as a PR guy at a hospital. He starts on a Tuesday, and his boss assigns him to do a 20-inch profile of a cardiologist. He talks to the cardiologist, a colleague and a couple patients, and he turns the story in by the end of the day.

"Oh," his boss said. "We were just hoping you could do this by Friday."

Dork should have asked the deadline up front. Now he's ruined it for himself and potential fellow gold-brickers. Next thing you know, the PR boss will be counting column inches to measure his annual productivity. ;)

Dr. Zell does the counting. And he wants to announce that oncology and child delivery will be merging with all non-essential employees being offered a buyout. Try not to give the babies chemo or stick the cancer patients in incubators though...

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

BUMP... Big Bump ...
Glad my old password and ID still work.
Sorry, if I got dust in your eyes resurrecting this ....
Been curious about this place for a while, and today, I have a little free time (not of my own choosing) today.

Been out of journalism for almost a decade now. Not gonna lie, I miss writing. I miss reporting. I miss how things used to be. But life goes on, and you gotta go with it.
Post-Journo career: A few years doing stuff with a Chamber of Commerce and a Development Board (funding ran out). Then latched onto a job as a delivery driver, then a desk job with said delivery company.

That ends this month ... In two weeks, I jump full-time into my appliance repair business. Been doing this part-time for almost a year, launched my own company in January and this month my phone has been ringing off the hook!
I'm free today, because my truck (my beloved 2012 Ford F150, Lilly) threw a heater hose and left a trail of coolant in her wake. So my appointments all got moved to the rest of the week. And I am awaiting an email on the 2026 Masters tickets lottery (fingers crossed).

Want to share how I got started:
About 18 months ago my dryer crapped out. Guy who came to fix was 66 years old and had been in the business for 50 years. We started talking (I've been on the lookout for my own opportunity for the last several years). I come to find out there he's about the only guy in town (in the area) who does these repairs. And he's looking to slow down. So for the last year (delivery company is part-time, until noon) I have been OTJT with this guy.
He's been helping me out, showing me the ropes. And when he goes out of town (which is pretty frequent) my number is on his voicemail. He tells everyone I'm the guy to call as he prepares to go part-time. I've got a long way to go before I get even close to good at this, but I like it. A LOT.

And ... Not gonna lie the "Handyman" episode of South Park also helped germinate this little brain seedling. LOL.

Long-story short: I never, ever, in my wildest dreams envisioned working for myself in a blue-collar setting. Especially starting from scratch at age 53. But here I be.

Anyway, hope all's well you old guard guys and gals.
I'll poke around a bit and try to hang out here now and again.
This will prolly be as close to writing again -Facebook posts aside - as I get.

 

[dixiehack]

**** yeah baby! Getting the band back together to turn goat **** into gasoline.

 

[FileNotFound]

BUMP... Big Bump ...
Glad my old password and ID still work.
Sorry, if I got dust in your eyes resurrecting this ....
Been curious about this place for a while, and today, I have a little free time (not of my own choosing) today.

Been out of journalism for almost a decade now. Not gonna lie, I miss writing. I miss reporting. I miss how things used to be. But life goes on, and you gotta go with it.
Post-Journo career: A few years doing stuff with a Chamber of Commerce and a Development Board (funding ran out). Then latched onto a job as a delivery driver, then a desk job with said delivery company.

That ends this month ... In two weeks, I jump full-time into my appliance repair business. Been doing this part-time for almost a year, launched my own company in January and this month my phone has been ringing off the hook!
I'm free today, because my truck (my beloved 2012 Ford F150, Lilly) threw a heater hose and left a trail of coolant in her wake. So my appointments all got moved to the rest of the week. And I am awaiting an email on the 2026 Masters tickets lottery (fingers crossed).

Want to share how I got started:
About 18 months ago my dryer crapped out. Guy who came to fix was 66 years old and had been in the business for 50 years. We started talking (I've been on the lookout for my own opportunity for the last several years). I come to find out there he's about the only guy in town (in the area) who does these repairs. And he's looking to slow down. So for the last year (delivery company is part-time, until noon) I have been OTJT with this guy.
He's been helping me out, showing me the ropes. And when he goes out of town (which is pretty frequent) my number is on his voicemail. He tells everyone I'm the guy to call as he prepares to go part-time. I've got a long way to go before I get even close to good at this, but I like it. A LOT.

And ... Not gonna lie the "Handyman" episode of South Park also helped germinate this little brain seedling. LOL.

Long-story short: I never, ever, in my wildest dreams envisioned working for myself in a blue-collar setting. Especially starting from scratch at age 53. But here I be.

Anyway, hope all's well you old guard guys and gals.
I'll poke around a bit and try to hang out here now and again.
This will prolly be as close to writing again -Facebook posts aside - as I get.

Damn, man. That’s incredibly awesome.

 

[waterytart]

A job that can’t be outsourced to AI or a human in India. Smart move, Evil.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Please turn this into the Where Are They Now? Thread.