Journalists: Share What’s New With You
One of the most popular posts of 2008 was “What Comes After a Career at a Newspaper?” If you’ve found a new role or started a new business after taking a buyout or being laid off last year, leave a comment to let people know what you’re up to. We’ll also add you to the list.
In other housekeeping news, you can now keep up with Ricochet on Facebook. We’re looking for ways to start and integrate discussion in two places at once. If you’ve got some ideas, please share.
And finally, where do you and other local journalists hang out before, between and after hours? Last March, Marketwatch ran a fun video about the closure of famous watering holes for scribblers that, ironically, has itself disappeared.
In today’s age of being socially connected all of the time, is there any value in having a local hangout? If so, where do you and your cohort gather?
Photo: ChrisMRichards/Flickr
Journalist? Searching? Here’s Where to Find Work
2008 has been a tough year for news. In addition to massive layoffs as documented by Erica Smith at her Paper Cuts map, advertising revenues tanked last quarter.
Nevertheless, news companies still need content. And they’re still looking for people. Do you have the right skills and are you willing to be where the work is?
Webb Media is offering free training sessions for journalists who want to understand how their skills fit together with tech trends. Space is limited and you must sign up by Dec. 15.
Several people have asked where to find job listings. Tapping your network is best, as a personal recommendation or an “in” will often put you ahead of other candidates.
In addition to JournalismJobs.com, Mediabistro and UC-Berkeley’s J-Jobs, here are some other places to look:
- ACES Job Board. The American Copy Editors Society list includes openings for editors of all stripes.
- Copy Editor Job Board. Posted by McMurry Publishing, the jobs aren’t necessarily in the news business and aren’t limited to copyediting positions, but all require editorial skill.
- Ed 2010 Whisper Jobs. Ed 2010 caters to people in their early to mid-20s who want jobs in the notoriously insular magazine industry. In addition to combing through their job list, attend meetings in your city if there’s a chapter. Network, make friends, find work.
- Gorkana Alerts. If you’re interested in the business and finance beat, sign up for email alerts from Gorkana PR. You’ll get word on job changes, freelance opportunities and more.
- IRE Job Center. The list is a bit thin, but there are a few openings for investigative reporters.
- Journalism Next. The site is targeted toward people of color and includes fellowship opportunities in addition to jobs listings at various outlets and wire services.
- Lost Remote Digital Media Jobs Have you set your sights on TV? Look here.
- Magazine Publishers of America. Want to join a magazine? Check here.
- Jade Walker’s NYCWriters group. The list is part discussion group, part job list. Most of the gigs are in New York, many of the ads are culled from other sources, including Mediabistro and Craigslist.
- Poynter Online. The people who bring you Romenesko’s blurbs of doom also, maybe ironically, have an extensive list of jobs. As you can imagine, many are in academia.
- RTNDA Job Postings. RTNDA has been reshaping itself as an online news trade association, though its members primarily come from broadcasting. Check it out for jobs in TV, radio and online-only outlets.
How to Jump Ship Because You Want To
John Zhu has some thoughtful advice for those who are thinking about leaving the journalism profession. If you’re on the fence, his entry, “How to (Voluntarily) Become an Ex-Journalist” is worth a read.
Hat tip to Kiyoshi Martinez for pointing out that link.
Apologies for not writing more in the last few weeks. Between work, preparation for the upcoming ONA conference (I’m speaking on a panel about fact checking), and trying to cram Django and Rails, I’ve not had as much time as I’d like to write original material.
I have, however, been bookmarking like crazy on Delicious. I’ve also had the opportunity to interview two bright lights in journalism: freelance writer and author David Hochman, and Erica “Graphic Designr” Smith.
They both had some insightful things to say about fearlessly forging your own path in the news business. I hope to post their interviews on Labor Day, so be sure to check back.
What Comes After a Career at a Newspaper?*
A lot of journalists are losing their jobs due to the extreme measures news organizations are taking to preserve their business. It’s painful to read about, and harder still when they’re people you know from an organization you really enjoyed working for.
On Monday, the Los Angeles Times slashed 150 people from the editorial staff and 250 total in a second round of layoffs.
It’s been covered all over. There’s been a lot of anger, much heartache, and some glee.
But journalists by nature are resourceful people, so despite feeling very badly for my former colleagues, let’s look at where they’re headed next.
If you’d like to be included on the “Landing on Your Feet” list below — and you don’t have to be a former Times person to be included — post a comment or drop me a line with your name, where you were and what your plans are.
Update, Oct. 21: The American Journalism Review is conducting a survey to find out where journalists leaving the newspaper business are going. If you haven’t taken it yet, do so.
Update, Aug. 19: The Newspaper Escape Plan was unveiled on Facebook earlier this week. If you’ve been forced out of the business or are thinking of leaving, this discussion group might be for you.
Update, July 24: Thanks to all who’ve emailed privately about this post and asked for places to rant. You’ll find some recommendations here.
InkStainedRetch, who blogs at TellZell, posted the Times severance package on Scribd.
Tom Paegel, former LAT night city editor, is offering financial coaching to Times staffers who’ve recently lost their jobs. Contact him by email to make an appointment.
- LAT environmental reporter Marla Cone will lead a foundation-funded environmental reporting organization TBA.
- *Copy editor Karin Esterhammer is going to Vietnam to teach English, according to a post on LA Observed.
- *Bill Lobdell will blog about Orange County, Calif., at Lobdell’s O.C.. His opening salvo, “42 Things I Know,” was picked up by LA Observed and Romenesko. HarperCollins will release his book, “Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America,” in February. Lobdell, a former LAT Orange County edition reporter, is doing freelance work and can be contacted by email.
- Assistant sports editor Alex Kimball becomes senior editor covering the NFL at ESPN.com.
- Graphic designer Amy Martin is offering to redesign laid off colleagues’ resumes while she decides her next move, she tells graphicdesignr.
- Legal reporter and editor John Spano will be an associate at the law firm of Kiesel, Boucher & Larson in Beverly Hills, Calif., according to a post in LA Observed.
- Henry Weinstein joins the law faculty at the University of California-Irvine. An earlier version of this post had erroneously named Larry Stewart. Stewart is looking for freelance work, according to a July 17 “AirTalk” interview on KPCC.
Photo: mattlogelin/Flickr
