Archives for posts with tag: jobs

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.

Exit sign

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.

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.

Los Angeles Times building by mattlogelin/flickr

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