Any journalism folks here?........>>>>>

[Johnny SixPack]

My sis graduated from the University of Washington this year with a degree in journalism, and after having finished up a stint with the Seattle Times she's looking for the next step.

I have gotten some info from Strato about the happenings over at the S.F. Chronicle, but would be greatly indebted to anyone here who may work at/have ties to any of the major newspapers around the country.

She's really pushing for NYC, Chicago and S.F., but I know she'd appreciate any info.

Thanks for reading!


Johnny

[Headrope]

If she's interested in staying in Washington she might contact Hunter George at The News Tribune (in Tacoma). His phone number is 253-597-8530.

[bull]

I used to be a journalist. Most of them would be pretty stoked to work for a big paper in Seattle but it's a very transitory business so even when someone gets a job at a major paper they quickly feel the need to move on. I worked for three small newspapers over the course of about three years (all three at once for a while) and I can tell you right now you aren't going to be able to scratch out much of a living at one of those so she's doing well if she's working 40 hours at the Seattle Times. Was she doing an internship? If so she might not have enough whiskers to move on to another big paper yet. If she was doing an internship I would encourage her to stay put for a while until she gets more real experience.

[Johnny SixPack]

I used to be a journalist. Most of them would be pretty stoked to work for a big paper in Seattle but it's a very transitory business so even when someone gets a job at a major paper they quickly feel the need to move on. I worked for three small newspapers over the course of about three years (all three at once for a while) and I can tell you right now you aren't going to be able to scratch out much of a living at one of those so she's doing well if she's working 40 hours at the Seattle Times. Was she doing an internship? If so she might not have enough whiskers to move on to another big paper yet. If she was doing an internship I would encourage her to stay put for a while until she gets more real experience.

Yeah, it was an internship.

She's just worried that Seattle isn't going to have the opportunities a larger city would.

That and she's looking to stay away from 'newsroom' stuff (i.e. murders, crime in general) and work towards politics (she also interned with the Kitsap Sun, covering the WA state government), music, art, or something along those lines.

Covering the death of a police officer tipped her off to that.

I know she's gonna have to cut her teeth on whatever she can find for a while though.

On a positive note she did land a freelance jig with The Stranger doing music reviews.

[Shakey]

Washington D.C. is where she autta be!   

If that is a tough nut to crack, which I assume it would be, start off in Baltimore, MD so she is close and tell her to keep her ear to the ground.

Sorry, I have no leads for her.

[Brock Samson]

She could start a blog,..
bloggers are being absorbed by media that want the eyeballs...
the stats are simply increadable!
try google blog search
the "billboard chart"
Daypop
sphere

politics are well represented...

[Johnny SixPack]

Washington D.C. is where she autta be!   

If that is a tough nut to crack, which I assume it would be, start off in Baltimore, MD so she is close and tell her to keep her ear to the ground.

Sorry, I have no leads for her.

For sure!

D.C. would be a good spot, but like you said, it ain't easy to cold call that sort of position.

Thanks though, man!

[Johnny SixPack]

She could start a blog,..
bloggers are being absorbed by media that want the eyeballs...
the stats are simply increadable!
try google blog search
the "billboard chart"
Daypop
sphere

politics are well represented...

She's one step ahead of you there, Strato. 

Also trying to do some harp recordings and more painting.

Anything to help her stand out.

Eventually she wants to write books, but still finds journalism to be very rewarding.

[Brock Samson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv5XBENPzf8&mode=related&search=

[Johnny SixPack]

I always prefered, "I Got You". 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQqnZyj2jaM

[Brock Samson]

oh Johnny your such'a
  Hard Act To Follow...   

[bull]

If I were her I wouldn't bail on Seattle yet. Especially if she is looking toward the smaller markets because Seattle would look a lot better on a resume than the Backwoods County Gazette. Seattle is one of the biggest markets in the US and you don't get to be very picky when you're fresh out of school. IMO she's getting a little too big for her britches by turning her nose up at the Times and it might burn her later if/when she needs something to fall back on.

[Johnny SixPack]

Her stint with the Times was strictly as an intern (and has now ended).

She's hoping to freelance with them, but hasn't gotten anything concrete from them so far.

Trust me, if she had a solid paying position with them I'd be the first one telling her to keep her ass put!

[CaptMarvel]

All good advice I'm sure...The only thing I would say is for her to keep her political beliefs to herself if she has any traditional ones or any based in morality. Most of the newspapers in this country have an ever so slight "bias" toward leftist beliefs. Argue with me if you want, but it's irrefutable truth....

[451-74Charger]

Check your PMs you may like what you see (No promises though)

[Brock Samson]

sounds like journalists arn't the only ones with a "bias".. 

[Johnny SixPack]

Check your PMs you may like what you see (No promises though)

Got it!

I'll get that info from her, plus anything relevant, and get it sent off to yah!

Thanks for the help!

[73dodge]

I used to be a journalist. Most of them would be pretty stoked to work for a big paper in Seattle but it's a very transitory business so even when someone gets a job at a major paper they quickly feel the need to move on. I worked for three small newspapers over the course of about three years (all three at once for a while) and I can tell you right now you aren't going to be able to scratch out much of a living at one of those so she's doing well if she's working 40 hours at the Seattle Times. Was she doing an internship? If so she might not have enough whiskers to move on to another big paper yet. If she was doing an internship I would encourage her to stay put for a while until she gets more real experience.

So you used to be a journalist? Is that the reason for your screen name? Bull?

[PocketThunder]

I used to be a journalist. Most of them would be pretty stoked to work for a big paper in Seattle but it's a very transitory business so even when someone gets a job at a major paper they quickly feel the need to move on. I worked for three small newspapers over the course of about three years (all three at once for a while) and I can tell you right now you aren't going to be able to scratch out much of a living at one of those so she's doing well if she's working 40 hours at the Seattle Times. Was she doing an internship? If so she might not have enough whiskers to move on to another big paper yet. If she was doing an internship I would encourage her to stay put for a while until she gets more real experience.

So you used to be a journalist? Is that the reason for your screen name? Bull?

No, thats his HS football nickname.

[Headrope]

I used to be a journalist. Most of them would be pretty stoked to work for a big paper in Seattle but it's a very transitory business so even when someone gets a job at a major paper they quickly feel the need to move on. I worked for three small newspapers over the course of about three years (all three at once for a while) and I can tell you right now you aren't going to be able to scratch out much of a living at one of those so she's doing well if she's working 40 hours at the Seattle Times. Was she doing an internship? If so she might not have enough whiskers to move on to another big paper yet. If she was doing an internship I would encourage her to stay put for a while until she gets more real experience.

Yeah, it was an internship.

She's just worried that Seattle isn't going to have the opportunities a larger city would.

That and she's looking to stay away from 'newsroom' stuff (i.e. murders, crime in general) and work towards politics (she also interned with the Kitsap Sun, covering the WA state government), music, art, or something along those lines.

Covering the death of a police officer tipped her off to that.

I know she's gonna have to cut her teeth on whatever she can find for a while though.

On a positive note she did land a freelance jig with The Stranger doing music reviews.

Your sis (it was your sister, right? Sorry if I got it wrong) might want to aim a little lower. "Newsroom stuff" is usually what young reporters cut their teeth on; they pay their dues by being the nightside G.A. - usually shootings, crime and the like.

Considering the ad revenue situation at papers across the country (read: Craigslist has killed classifieds) there are not as many papers hiring as in the past; they have positions open but no FTEs to fill them with. Further contributing to the competitive nature of the beast are seasoned reporters looking for work or trying to position themselves because of non-compete clauses and perceived uncertainty due to McClatchy's purchase of Knight Ridder.

Someone mentioned that blogs are important. They are. I'd argue they aren't the future so much as reverse publishing is. That's the practice of publishing stories online first and then into print. Jack Keith, a j-school prof at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. is a good person to talk to about that.

Good luck.

[DarkAngel0816]

I am not finished with my Journalism degree yet, but I have been doing paid freelance jobs already.  I figure it is a great way to built up a portfolio...while at the same time I do now that journalism is a hard way to make a living.  So...I just want to wish your sister good luck!  She might want to look at Indianapolis too...the Indy Star.

[bull]

I used to be a journalist. Most of them would be pretty stoked to work for a big paper in Seattle but it's a very transitory business so even when someone gets a job at a major paper they quickly feel the need to move on. I worked for three small newspapers over the course of about three years (all three at once for a while) and I can tell you right now you aren't going to be able to scratch out much of a living at one of those so she's doing well if she's working 40 hours at the Seattle Times. Was she doing an internship? If so she might not have enough whiskers to move on to another big paper yet. If she was doing an internship I would encourage her to stay put for a while until she gets more real experience.

So you used to be a journalist? Is that the reason for your screen name? Bull?

No, thats his HS football nickname.

Good memory, PT. And no, my screen name would be BS if that career had anything to do with it.

[bull]

One other thing, I'd be sure to tell this young lady to try getting her first job at a daily paper because that also looks very good on a resume, even a smaller daily. If she starts out at a weekly or bi-weekly she'll  have trouble later getting a job at a large paper, if that's what she wants. I tried getting a job at a daily in Vancouver, WA and they weren't too excited about the fact that I had only worked at weekly and bi-weekly newspapers. You CAN do it but it's not as easy.

[Brock Samson]

if your sis want's to talk to me about what little i know after 24 3/4 years at a major metopolian daily i'm willing to oblige,..
she's gonna need the hide of a rhino and a rapier sharp galllows humor...
the turnover of stories, & having to operate on deadline seperates the wheat from the chaff pretty quick...
the daily califorinan has been a training ground for many a cub reporter,..
I belive i said before but internships and playing up her gender and any ethnisisity are her ticket to the fast track,...
second launguages are a tremendous help too...

[bull]

if your sis want's to talk to me about what little i know after 24 3/4 years at a major metopolian daily i'm willing to oblige,..
she's gonna need the hide of a rhino and a rapier sharp galllows humor...
the turnover of stories, & having to operate on deadline seperates the wheat from the chaff pretty quick...
the daily califorinan has been a training ground for many a cub reporter,..
I belive i said before but internships and playing up her gender and any ethnisisity are her ticket to the fast track,...
second launguages are a tremendous help too...

What do you do at the paper? Are you a reporter?

[Brock Samson]

editorial assistant for the metro desk since march 11th 1982.
actually Bull i pretty much grew up at the chron as my late Father, RIP, was a sports reporter for more then 40 years.

[Headrope]

I too am an editorial assistant - almost 10 years.

[bull]

So what do editorial assistants do exactly? I never worked at a paper big enough where they could afford assistants for the editors.

[Brock Samson]

everything the reporters and editors don't do, and sometimes surf the web too..