Joe Grimm's News Jobs Café: Ask the recruiter

Tell My Boss I Plan to Leave?

Q: I really enjoy your column and think it addresses many issues that I have.

When you are in your next job search, how do you let your current employer know about it? Or do you at all?

I'm thinking about switching newspapers after two years and wonder how to go about doing so, especially when it comes to listing references. How do I do so without harming my relationship with my current employer?

Hope you can answer this one. Thanks again,

Amy

A: This varies from case to case.

In most cases, people prefer not to be so frank with their editors. There can be some serious disadvantages to telling the boss you plan to leave. The greatest danger is the loss of opportunities for things like good assignments, training and sometimes even raises.

An editor might figure, "Why should I give her training? She plans to leave, anyway."

If you have cultivated a frank and open relationship with an understanding editor, you can be honest and even enlist a little help. Good editors will understand your career ambitions and help you achieve them. While they don't want to lose you, they might use their network to help you move to another paper.

So, evaluate your relationship with your editor. Start by seeking advice from more experienced colleagues at your paper.

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" has moved to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Remember to change your bookmark.

An Explanation for My TV Firing?

Note: I turned this one over to Scott Libin of the leadership and management faculty at The Poynter Institute. He  graciously agreed to help. -- Joe Grimm)

Q: I was terminated two months ago by a TV station after nine years on the assignment desk.

In August, I received a good review and a modest raise. Later in the month, my wife had surgery. I asked for time off (which I was owed) to be with her during her chemotherapy and was terminated two days later.

The newscasts went off without a hitch as far as I could tell, but the next day I was told I was let go without the news director giving me a chance to tell my side of the story. I'm having difficulty dealing with this and really don't know the real reason I was let go.

The company I worked for was "self-insured" when it came to health insurance. They already paid for my wife's surgery, and was now informed of the needed chemotherapy.

The company did not fight my claim for unemployment ... and even gave me extra severence pay I did not expect.

Is there any legal remedy here? How do I deal with this when applying for other jobs?

Right now, the only work I can get is part time as an on-air announcer at a small-market radio station. I'm afraid my career may be over. I've been in broadcasting since 1981.

Any thoughts on this?

Terminated

A: You're in a tough situation personally and professionally. Your wife's health crisis would be difficult under any circumstances, and I can imagine it's a lot tougher on both of you now.

No one at Poynter can offer you any legal advice. We aren't qualified, but you might well want to consult an attorney who knows Indiana employment law. As a former news director who now trains newsroom managers, I can offer you this much:

If you are unclear about the real reasons for your termination, I think you should ask for clarification. Your August review and raise would not preclude your being fired for performance reasons in December, but your side of the story about the incident involving equipment doesn't quite add up.  If the newscasts were unaffected and the episode was a "first offense," it does not seem to me like the kind of thing that generally gets people fired. Your letter seems to indicate that you suspect your wife's medical condition had something to do with it. I hope that's not the case, and I have trouble imagining that any successful company would jettison a valued employee solely to avoid the costs involved in his wife's medical condition. (Would you really want to work for such a company anyway?)

You might consider requesting a meeting with your former news director. Ask for no more than 30 minutes. I think it's fair to seek clarification on the grounds for your termination, if only to determine how it might affect your future employment. What will the news director say if someone calls for a reference?  How can you ensure that your account and the station's do not contradict each other with any prospective employer?  These are legitimate issues for discussion, in my opinion.

Be aware that your news director and his or her bosses will be very sensitive to the possibility that you might be preparing a lawsuit, even if it turns out you don't have firm legal grounds to sue, or don't want to. They might even decline to meet with you for that reason, or without giving a reason, and I'm sorry to say I don't think you have any way to force such a meeting -- short of suing, that is, and doing that would dramatically change everything about your relationship with the station. If you can't arrange a meeting, a phone conversation or exchange of correspondence might be the best you can do.  You might well find that the station's lawyers advise it to say nothing further at all.   

Maybe most important, I think you need to answer a few questions for yourself: What do you hope to accomplish? Reinstatement? Is that at all realistic? If not, what would be a more reasonable goal? My suggestion would be to learn whatever you can about what really went wrong, so that in the short term you can adjust your job-search strategy accordingly, and in the long run, you can be even better prepared for whatever challenges might lie ahead.

Best of luck.

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" has moved to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Don't forget to change your bookmark.

Escape a Burned-Out Editor's Depression?

Q: Through various newspaper sales and staff reorganizations I have a new editor who seems suffering from burn-out. He has admitted several times that the only reason he's still doing his job is because of health insurance for a child. He frequently talks about the "death of the industry" and is just an extremely negative presence in the newsroom. He speed-edits and seems to do the bare minimum possible. He rarely gives feedback about anyone's work and I get the feeling he really doesn't care as long as it's in by deadline. I feel that I would have the same work experience if I wrote my stories from a distant bureau (and I sit next to him.)

His mantra seems to be "we're all lucky to have a job" and obviously dislikes his. It's like he wants to be a hermit in a cave somewhere but it doesn't pay as well (he ignores phone calls from readers because "they always want something," and wants to move all our workstations away from his so he can "be alone.") I've never met an editor who so dislikes being around other people.

On the plus side, he's not abusive or antagonistic but every utterance he makes seems to indicate to me that he's depressed.

I've only been here a year and it's been a rollercoaster. How can I keep my morale up and my desire to work there when my supervisor so obviously hates his job?

Thanks,

Battling Burnout

A: Let's make sure this extinguished editor doesn't put out your fire.

He may well be battling depression and I think you, as a direct report, are not in the position to suggest he get help, so let's keep this focused on the work.

First, I would appeal to him as a fellow journalist: "Look, I know you're down on newspapering -- and you have your reasons -- but I'm not and I really need your help. I need you to teach me your best lessons. Please, I need you to punch up my writing, give me feedback on my reporting and teach me everything  you can about journalism. Sure, things have changed a lot, but the bedrock principles you know are the things I need to learn. Pass what you know along to me."

If this appeal doesn't improve the editing, seek out mentors in your newsroom and the industry and start looking for a new editor. Top editors hate it when reporters "editor shop," so be careful. You also probably won't do yourself any favors by explaining what is wrong with your current editor. The top bosses already know.

Apply for positions that come open, even if they are lateral moves, that will get you working for someone better. Offer to work different shifts -- even ugly ones -- if they mean you will spend more of your time working for better editors.

Don't internalize what this editor is telling you. Burnout was not invented with publicly owned newspaper companies or new technologies. Those realities are speeding up the changes that can lead to certain kinds of burnout, but this is not a new phenomenon.

My guess is that this editor's burnout has a whole lot more to do with what's on the inside than with what's on the outside. Protect the fires that are in you.

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" has moved to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Don't forget to change your bookmark.

Reporter or Copy Editor?

Q: I hear all the time it's going to be an asset in the future to be well-rounded as a journalist. Does this apply to someone with experience in both copy editing and reporting? I have done both and enjoy both, but am always told it would come off negatively as indifference if I said that in an interview. I graduated from j-school in May and have been a reporter at a small daily for several months now. Previously, I was a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund intern and heavily involved as a reporter and editor at my college daily.

Out of the blue, I was recently contacted by a major metro paper asking me to apply for a copy editing position, and I'm torn. Colleagues tell me I shouldn't unless I'm absolutely certain I would rather copy edit. Regardless of what I decide, does it really have to be that black and white? I know the simple answer is I have to pick one, but in doing so does it sound bad to recruiters if I say I enjoy the other discipline as well? Maybe it's just me, but it has seemed like the variety on my resume in terms of copy editing and reporting has been more of a hindrance than an asset. Thanks for doing this column, and I'd appreciate any advice you have.

Dan

A: Flexibility is more of an asset once you are in a job than it is when you are looking for one.

Editors often interview trying to see where you fit into the newspaper's needs, current or future. A person who has more than one "fit" might come across as being indifferent, as you say.

Once hired, though, the person who can spring up and help in different parts of the newsroom -- or in developing ones -- is seen as helpful, adaptable and flexible.

The particular problem for the reporter/editor combo is that there are so many more reporting  resumes than editnig resumes on the editor's desk at any one time that it can be difficult for a staffer to move from the desk to the street than the other way around. Essentially, filling a reporting job with an editor make the job of hiring that much tougher.

The strategy, of course, is to be very, very good so that they'll move you rather than risk losing you.

Should My New TV Job be This Hard?

Q: I don't write for a newspaper but I am a journalist for a television station. I too am a one-man band -- bureau reporter. I shoot, write and edit my own stories. Right now, I am having several difficulties with my job -- one being that I honestly don't think I am cut out for this line of work.

I know all throughout J-school I was reminded you must have a passion for this or you will not succeed. After a couple months on the job I think I have lost that passion ...

Right now, I am still trying to figure out why. There are several elements. One, the area is very dangerous. I cannot play cop when I'm all by myself, my station doesn't know the area either so the burden of creating good quality news stories lies all on me, and lastly the frustration and stress levels of having a good story written, shot and edited by deadline. I have let the stress of it all get the best of me -- work is all I think about to the point where I can't even sleep well at night. I mean, is this normal?

I know it must sound like I'm complaining but I've tried to give it some time and I am still in the same position. The problem now is if I don't think I am cut out for this line of work -- how do I tell my news director when I have a two-year contract

Any advice would be greatly appreciated it. Thanks!

Elizabeth

A: We turned this question over to three broadcast professionals who generously took time to give some advice.

Carol Wang, health reporter, NBC-5, KXAS, Dallas

A lot of reporters will tell you in the first job of their careers -- the first few months were among the toughest of their lives. It's overwhelming to go from college to real life. You have likely moved to somewhere new, have no friends where you are now, and are learning to be completely independent while at the same time faced with a steep learning curve at work, that allows for no time to adapt.

So what do you do ...  first off, figure out how to make work as simple as possible for you. When you're talking to people, get story ideas from them and keep a running list for when you need them.  Try to set stories up ahead of time, so that you know what your day is going to be like and are prepared for it. Practice editing and shooting faster if you think those are slowing you down.  And don't set the expectations so high for yourself that you stress yourself out even more.  Keep your shots simple and clean, don't overshoot when you don't have time.

And if that isn't helping enough, talk to your news director and propose that you turn stories three to four times a week so you can have research days/planning time to get what you want done.  And seek out programs, conferences, journalism organizations that can give you skills you need.

You have evidently made a lot of sacrifices to get to this point, so I don't know that it's lack of passion that's the underlying issue -- it sounds to me like it's the exhaustion of being new.

Andrew Humphrey, meteorologist, WDIV-Local 4, Detroit:

First, two pieces of good news:

1. Success in any field, especially journalism, is a combination of three things: 1) Talent, 2) Timing, and 3) Who You Know. From what you've said, you definitely have Talent. Doing it all is the future.  Possessing the ability to write, shoot and edit is amazing, and multi-talented journalists are highly valuable and will become the industry norm. Have confidence in that, and it will show in your work.

Instead of telling your boss you've had it and have no passion for journalism, share the specific stresses and concerns of your job with him/her. Let's look at the three you mentioned.

Your physical safety is vital and paramount to getting the story.  You want to stay healthy and alive, and your news director wants that. Talk about the details of specific cases, explain how you felt threatened, and ask how to avoid harm in the future.

If lack of knowledge (of the geography, sources, communities,or cultures) of your coverage area is widespread, that is a news department problem. Without singling out individual co-workers, explain your experiences to your news director. If communicated effectively, he/she will actually appreciate you bringing this to their attention and encourage the entire staff to know the region. In the meantime, do all you can to acquire the knowledge yourself for the type of stories you cover. Proactively studying maps and calling to introduce yourself to sources will make your future work easier.

Finally, all journalists have the pressure of meeting their deadline (i.e., "making slot"). Being an all-in-one journalist it requires a great array of aptitudes, which you already know. The additional attribute is time management. This is something your news director knows about, too. So far, your stories are good and have made it on the air. Now the key is to get them on the air with considerably less rushing and stress. If you ask your news director for the best ways to get a story done in a timely fashion, they should be able to give you advice and even take you under their wing. It's also good to seek guidance from veteran journalists at your station.

Bottom line, look at your news director not just as a boss demanding the job to be done but as a guide to help you get it done.

Al Tompkins, broadcast and online group leader, the Poynter Institute

I understand your frustration and uncertainty about your career choice.

Working as a one-man band or "backpack journalist" as it is being called these days has the advantage of autonomy and freedom of creativity, but for somebody just starting out it can be a lonely existence. One man band workers often tell me that what they miss most is the feedback and friendship we all get from a reporter or photojournalist partner. Working in a bureau can be even more isolating. It also makes sense to me that a one-man-band worker would also have concerns while working alone, especially at night on some assignments.

It is time for you to talk to your boss about your safety concerns. All of us have worked, at some time, in a job that was not fulfilling, but feeling unsafe is not tolerable.

How often, if ever, does the station send other folks to the bureau to work with you or give you feedback? When somebody at the station is sick or on vacation, do you get to work at the mothership?

I wonder if you were promised one thing but when you took the job the duties changed -- or did you get exactly what you signed up for. If the station changed the job after you signed a contract, the contract could be void.

Do you have a mentor who can give you feedback on your work? I think having a professional mentor is vital -- especially for a young journalist.

What part of your job do you love? (Hint-if you can't name anything, you might in fact be in the wrong career.)

I can't tell you if you are in the right job, but it is a difficult situation to put a new journalist--in a bureau doing three complicated jobs at once-reporting, photojournalism and editing. You are learning valuable skills right now that are going to serve you well in the future. If you become a full time reporter you will have a great awareness of what photojournalists do. If you become photojournalist you will be a photoJ who can write. These skills are in high demand in the online and convergence world right now. With a year or two of experience, could be highly marketable.

Telling my Boss to Back Off?

Q: My editor covered my beat for five years and was recently promoted to editor.  I thought this could be a good thing, but it's turning out to be a burden.  He still feels ownership over this beat and loves to talk about random details at length and assigns me stories, and a "column," that are in vein with his interests.

He has high expectations for me, and, trust me, I'm a perfectionist and my own harshest critic, but we have different visions for the beat. He just can't seem to let go and assume his new position.  Is there a polite way to bring this up?  Or am I expecting too much of an editor?

Sara

A: I once heard someone in the newsroom say, "When it comes to husbands and editors, keep your expecatations low."

And she was an editor!

No, I don't think you are expecting too much. You apparently have an editor who cares a lot about this beat and who may miss doing it himself. This is not entirely bad.

I would try to tackle it directly. Schedule a meeting with him outside the office, and explain how you feel.

Tell him, "Look, I need your help and guidance on this beat, and I appreciate your enthusiasm for it, but I have to be allowed to do things my own way. I will not find every story you would, but given a chance to put my own stamp on this, I know I'll find some new things. I need you to back me up, but I have to be allowed to find my own way, make the occasional mistake and learn to do this job just as you did. I know you're only trying to help, but too often I feel like I'm just filling story orders.

"Let's keep talking, but please give me a chance to put some stories on the table myself. I think I can surprise you."

Note: "Ask the Recruiter" is moving to Poynter's new Career Center. The new home is here. Don't forget to change your bookmark.

Juggling Two Potential Job Offers?

Q: I am a newspaper reporter looking for my second job out of college. I have an interview in two weeks at a newspaper that I really want to go to and it would do wonders for my career.

Another newspaper just left me a message saying they are interested in interviewing me. The first paper has told me that I am the only person they are interviewing and that, if all goes well, they will make me an offer.

My question is: do I accept an interview offer from the second paper, knowing full well that I have a possibility I will jump at if it's offered to me? I would hate to have someone schedule an interview and make travel arrangements, only to cancel. However, I also don't want to put all my eggs in one basket and decline the second interview in case the first one doesn't work out. How do I handle this?

Rachel

A: Ah, that’s ticklish. You anticipate the recruiting companies’ positions well. Express your genuine interest in the second paper, but tell them it’ll be a couple weeks until you can commit to a travel date. The issue will arise only if there is air travel involved. Hotels can be canceled with 24 hours notice or less and schedules can be canceled quickly.

Skin Tone Affect Job Opportunity?

BlackAmericaWeb.com interviews University of Georgia doctoral student Matthew Harrison, whose research shows that dark-skinned blacks fare less well than light-skinned blacks in interviews -- even when their résumés are better.

The Web site quotes a statement in which Harrison said, "Our results indicate that there appears to be a skin tone preference in regards to job selection. This finding is possibly due to the common belief that fair-skinned blacks probably have more similarities with whites than do dark-skinned blacks, which in turn makes whites feel more comfortable around them."

Do clothes make a difference?

Hats off to NorthJersey.com for its article on dressing-to-get-hired in which Latina magazine editor Betty Fortina says "There's a big difference between Wall Street and teaching and a creative advertising agency. You really have to do your homework on the culture of the workplace you'll be entering."

I couldn't have said it better.

Journalists are best dressed as journalists, and not according to off-the-shelf advice that works better for Wall Street.

Newsrooms are neither corporate nor night clubs. A basic suit for an office that is between casual and conservative is a good place to start.

Hiring freeze froze my dream job?

Q: Last week I had an amazing and inspiring interview with an editor who found my résumé online. The interview went so well that we actually lost track of time and had to break so she could get some things done. She handed me all of the corporate applications, background check forms and I went for a drug test. I even went out that evening with several of the reporters and immediately connected with them. As I was leaving the next day, I told the managing editor that even if things didn't work out, I was leaving with three new friends.

The position they were interviewing me for is literally my dream job -- one no one gets right out of college. While the salary numbers they threw around were quite low, the cost of living in the area is cheap enough that I could live without too much difficulty. I left with the feeling that if they made an offer, I would immediately accept because I wanted to work with them so badly.

Turns out, they felt the same way -- except two days after the interview, their parent company froze all open positions.

I talked with the editor this afternoon and she said they were trying to appeal the freeze so they could make me an offer, but she didn't know how long things would take -- or even if it would work. She said they had a strong case, but she just couldn't be sure and she didn't want to get my hopes up.

Meanwhile, I need a job. I want to say I'm willing to wait for the parent company to get their act together and release the position, but I have no idea how long that will take. The editor knows I have other applications out there and another interview pending and she asked me to keep her updated -- and to give her a call in a few days to see how the appeal was progressing, in case she didn't call me first.

I know journalism hiring generally moves at a glacial pace. I've only sent out a few applications, but I've had numerous responses, several interviews and even turned down a job offer because I just didn't feel inspired by the place.

Out of all of the opportunities I've had, this job (if it even exists) just feels like the perfect fit. I literally felt like the editor was reading my mind during the interview and I know we will work very well together. Moreover, I know I will have friends in the newsroom and love my beat -- if I ever get the job, that is.

Should I wait it out or send out another batch of applications? How likely is it that the parent company will approve an appeal like this? How long should I wait?

Not sure if I'm desperate yet

A: This is a sad sign of the times. A little more advice from the editor might help, but my sense is that you're best off to pursue other opportunities. There are a lot of variables that are not on your side. One is the freeze, of course. The other is that the length of that freeze will not be determined by the people who really like you.

You also have to consider that, when a freeze is lifted, the job you want me not be the one they want to fill first. It is not a stretch to think that they could, in this freeze, have someone leave who will just have to be replaced when the thaw comes. And, sad to say, the freeze hit right when you were really hot. You might not seem as interesting to them six months down the road.

So, I would look for other good opportunities while keeping in touch with this newspaper. We can't tell which will come first: the opening at this paper or at another.

Hired young?

Q: I love your blog and it's helped me put a lot of things in perspective. I figure that you could help me with my latest dilemma.

I am 19 years old and have aspired to be a journalist since I was a little kid. I graduated from high school and went to college for one semester as a journalism major but dropped out because of money issues. I had gone into school with an internship at a local newspaper I did during my senior year that lasted about six months. I worked at the student newspaper for a few months as well. I wrote an article every week and ended up with A LOT of clips. Well, in June, after working a few odd jobs and applying to a few schools I found an ad in my local newspaper (the same one I interned for) for a reporter. The only qualifications they listed were "quick thinking and decisive. Interest in words. Background in English."

So I applied to the job, expecting nothing but hoping for the best. A few weeks passed and a couple days ago I got a call from the editor of the paper and she asked me to come in for an interview. I came in, did it, and got the job. I'm thrilled but I'm a little confused by the whole thing. The editor did say that my cover letter impressed her and my clips impressed her because I know how to write a good lead. I also told her that although I'm not in school right now I do plan on getting a degree.

     My question is: How do I show everyone in the office that I'm the real deal? I know that I'm in this for the long haul and am willing to do whatever I need to. I'm just nervous that I won't be taken seriously by my colleagues because of my lack of experience, lack of high education and my age. Any advice is appreciated.

     Jackie

A: Congratulations! This is fairly amazing. I'd be nervous, too.

You've shown one person -- the editor -- that you're the real deal. That must count for something. Here's how to show the others.

 

• Work hard. A lack of experience can be overcome with earnest effort.
• Ask questions. You know you have much to learn. So do the others. Enlist their help.
• Learn from your mistakes. You're bound to make a lot of them. Learn from each one and never make the same mistake twice.
• Be yourself. Bluffing doesn't work in a newsroom.
• Act and dress professionally. If you don't want to be taken for a kid, conduct yourself professionally -- without any of that bluffing.

Non-compete clause?

Q: My situation is this: I've been working part-time for over a year at a small daily as a copy editor. Recently, they cut back on my hours because as a part-timer I'm not allowed to average more than 32 hours a week.

When I was hired, they knew that I really wanted to be a reporter and the paper also has a magazine that I've written for before and recently wrote for again. However, my boss is already saying that he doesn't want to get in trouble for giving me too many hours because of the articles, so I'm afraid those assignments may dry up.

About a year ago, I asked about getting an internship there or somewhere else as a reporter but was told that A) I couldn't be both intern and employee and B) I couldn't write for any other publication unless it was nonprofit and not a direct competitor. What I want to know is can they do this? I didn't sign a contract and non-competes aren't legal in my state.

Frankly, I really need the money that writing articles brings in and it's ridiculous to let my ideas and ability go to waste. But I also need the money from my current job.  Any ideas?

Caught

A: Yes, a newspaper can forbid you from writing for competitors. It just makes sense. Why would any business -- especially one that gives many of its employees a public nod (bylines) allow them to work for a direct competitor? Would readers be confused? How would you decidedwhether to write a hot story for this publication or another? How could editors trust that what you learn at a news meeting or in an office conversation would not walk right across the street? I might even draw the line at local non-profits. I would not feel comfortable having staffers write for -- and get paid by -- local non-profits that are the subject of news coverage. How could readers trust our reporting on a business that was paying some of our staffers?

The question lies in how your editors define a direct competitor. If you can't write for publications whose circulation areas overlap with their overlap your newspaper's, I get that. But national publications? That has to be negotiated case by case.

The real issue is that you want to get more writing hours. Work with your bosses to see if you can be transitioned from 32 hours of copy hours of editing to more and more of reporting -- and build up to a full-time schedule. If they won't do that, learn whether there is something you need to be better at -- and look for a new job.

Did I get the job?

Q: I have been working at a mid-sized daily for a year now, and applied for an open position covering the state house about two months ago. Just last week, I got a call from the state house bureau chief congratulating me for getting the job. The main editor in chief hadn't said anything to me yet, and I've been waiting for him to talk to me or email the newsroom, but nothing has happened. The political editor and the bureau chief both say I have the job, but I think the editor is still deciding.

Believe it or not, this is the second time this has happened. The last time I was told I had the job by the political editor and the editor gave it to someone else.

What in heavens name do I do?

Waiting for the word

A: Don't you love the communication industry?

I would go to my immediate editor and pose the question: "People tell me I have the job, but I have seen no announcement and the top editor hasn't said anything. Do I really have this job?"

Do it at the next opportunity. If this is out on the grapevine, you certainly ought to be informed -- officially. It could well be that you have the job but that the process of informing you is taking way too long.

And when you're a high-ranking editor? Don't do things this way.

Here is the order of events when a job is offered internally, and it should happen pretty quickly so that news doesn't leak out in inappropriate ways:

1. The editors decide
2. One tells the current supervisor if he or she was not in on the decision.
3. Assistant editors are told.
4. An editor tells the person who gets the job.
5. Unsuccessful internal candidates are told individually.
6. The newsroom is told collectively.
7. Unsuccessful external candidates are told.
8. We post the new opening and start over again.

Couples in the workplace?

Q: My fiancée is being flown in for an interview for a reporter job with a large metro daily newspaper. I'm also a reporter. We don't expect them to just hire me to satisfy her (we work at a small daily newspaper), but should she even bring up that I'll need to find a job? Should I give a pack of clips? It seems tacky.

I don't want to jinx her, but if she does get it, I would prefer to stay in journalism. But being a newlywed, I wouldn't want to live far away either. Do I just start cold calling the suburban dailies, weeklies and specialty pubs to try to find a job? What's the best approach?

Your help would be greatly appreciated,

Nick

A: You're right. It would be tacky to send your fiancée in with a package of your clips.

She should not bring it up on her own, but should answer a question if one is put to her. It would be a little inappropriate for the newspaper to ask about her relationships, but it might come up if they talk about a potential move.

Apply on your own and get ready to hit up all the papers in the area.

Working too many hours?

Q: I've been working at a 15,000 daily for just over a month. It's my ideal job: the staff is great, I enjoy my cops beat and I don't have to commute very far.

Before I started this job, I was told by the editor not to expect a 40-hour work week. The company can pay overtime to hourly employees but doesn't; those of us in the newsroom are expected to "make up" the hours by leaving early on other days. That has been impossible for me.

In the past few weeks, I have been averaging a 57-hour work week. On my second week, I hit 65 hours. I think part of the reason this is happening is that I'm still learning about my beat and trying to find stories but I'm staying for hours even on days when I have tons to write about. I have had no opportunity to make up the hours by leaving early without shirking my responsibilities. The quality of my writing also is dipping when I hit the twelfth hour and I can't seem to decompress when I go home because I know I have to return in nine hours. I expected to work nine or 10 hour days at most.

Is the newspaper standard to work endless hours and forget overtime exists? Am I just whining? I am not sure that my editor knows just how many hours I've been working (although I think it would be obvious when I told him I came in at 10 a.m. and he saw me work straight through to 1 a.m...)

Overworked in the Northeast

A: Although there are a lot of people working their fingers to the bone in a lot of newsrooms, this is not right. Conscientious reporters put in lots of unpaid time, but you're way over the top.

I wouldn't call this whining, but let's do something about it.

Editors often don't know just how many hours their reporters work, so start informing yours. Leave a note, shoot an e-mail or stop by the desk and say, "I had to work 12 hours Monday to get those stories, so how about I take an early slide on Friday to make up for it?"

You should even be able to take shorter shifts in the beginning of the week in anticipation of big days later. But let's start getting the hours back in the week you work them. A place that is not paying overtime is unlikely to make things work out later.

But try this: If you do not have much vacation this year because you're so new, negotiate a plan with your editors to turn some of these extra hours into some solid, paid time off later in the year.

One more strategies: If the paper hasn't already killed off all of its veterans, ask them how they survive. It could be they have some strategies.

You have to diplomatically get your hours under control or you're going to burn out. Don't let that happen.

Caught in turf war?

Q: I am a freelancer who left an arts reporting position after four years at a 30K daily for a number of reasons but primarily because of office politics.

I am a good writer and loved my job very much. I had the respect of my sources and co-workers, the admiration of my readers (so they said, anyhow) and was told by all my publishers and editors I did quite well at my job.

I had two editors and they dislike each other. Subsequently, I feel like I became a foot soldier in their war. I tried to stay out of it, but, for example, each would talk disparagingly of the other when I went to conference with them so it would seem as if I was sympathizing with them and talking badly about the other. I would just remain quiet or change the subject when one would do that, but without fail the other would be angry with me, or at least angry at me. They constantly assigned stories for me to do that overlapped each other time wise, and then sent me in to work out which of their stories I would do.

One of these editors is a consummate problem for the entire newsroom. She is well-avoided if possible by all, and has a reputation as catalyst for reporters spontaneously quitting. Many have complained for years about her. I tried to resolve some of my problems with her constructively by writing them down in my two-year review. I reviewed the points I made with others to make sure they were constructive and that I was blaming myself equally. But the managing editor asked me to re-write my evaluation anyway because he did not "want to upset (that editor)". I was surprised but told him I would like a day to think it over. Ten minutes after I left his office, he showed the editor in question the review, and she began screaming (literally) at me in front of the newsroom. Such problems, and far worse, continued for years and I was miserable, even though I adored my work.

I know this seems like a lot of whining, and frankly it is. But I miss news papering, and I hope to do it again someday. I love it with all my heart. So the questions are, even though when I left I didn't tell anyone why and they all (or most all) like me and still give me great references, did I mess up my chances of getting a job in the future by quitting, and two, is this just the sort of thing I should expect to live with in newspapers.

Pawn

A: I'm surprised you stayed as long as you did.

No, this is not the sort of newsroom behavior you should expect -- or tolerate.

You were right to leave. The references should help, you're right to keep interviews as professional as possible and I think you should be able to find a new job.

Moved to a bad editor?

Q: I am a reporter with a newspaper that I've been with for about a year. I love my beat, love the city I live in, and I absolutely love my editor. The problem that I have is that today my editor (after telling me I'm doing a splendid job on my beat, covering education) told me I'm going to be under the guise of another editor, who is not as smart or overall, as good of an editor as him.

She's learning the ropes as an editor and I feel like I'm one of many "experiments" she's undertaken with new reporters. I feel crushed. I told my editor honestly that I had reservations with this change, and he told me that if this change wasn't to work out, I could talk to him about it, but I can't help but think this means something about my abilities as a writer/reporter.

I came to this newspaper to work under this editor and now, he's putting me off on someone else. I feel like my confidence has waned and totally unmotivated now and I'm not fully sure why.

Lost

A: Toughen up. You came into this business to be a journalist and not to work for this particular editor. These relationships, while important, are temporary. If you stick with journalism, you will work for many editors, some good and some bad. You may even become an editor -- and some people will say you're good, while others say you're not.

Stay close to this great editor. He can always be a mentor. Give this new editor a chance, figure out what she has to offer and take advantage of that.

And do not take a change in editors so personally. These things happen, often for reasons that have nothing to do with an individual reporter.

You face a test. Show some steel.

The right job fit?

Get an insider's look at figuring out ahead of time how well you might fit into a workplace.

The Society of Human Resources Management magazine has an article advising HR people about gauging fit before they take a new job. It includes 25 questions (way too many!) to ask.

While it is aimed at HR people, not journalists, much of the advice works for anyone. And it is interesting to see how the hiring professionals approach such things.

Find it here.

Bad editor, eval, quota?

Q: I have been with a small daily for about a year now. It is my first full-time gig in a newsroom and it hasn't been everything I thought it would be. I came into the newsroom fairly inexperienced. I feel I have the talent and am a good writer, but need work. After my yearly review I felt like I had been thrown under a bus.

Not only did my editor find my writing lacking but I was said to lack initiative, and communication skills, and furthermore am a burden on my fellow reporters. I feel that I am viewed as completely useless. A lot of what I read was hard to swallow. What my editors didn't know was that some of the things they would have liked me to have done, I was doing. For example I was told to consult with a veteran reporter and have them go over my stories. The problem I found was that our beats were not compatible and this person did not have time to meet with me. So I took it upon myself to ask another reporter, whom I felt comfortable with, to mentor me. I met with this person on more than one occasion on my own time to chat and talk about strategies I could take to develop my sources.

I did not tell them I was meeting with this reporter because on several occasions I felt I got attitude from one of my editors if I didn't do things their way. I was afraid the editor would get upset with my choice, because it was not theirs.

While I am cordial and chat with that editor, and on the surface it looks like everything is fine, I still feel there is that barrier between us, and it is difficult to talk to her about work unless necessary.

I made an attempt several months ago to talk to my senior editor about how to work past the barrier I felt was between me and the other editor, but the other editor was called in on the meeting and I felt uncomfortable talking about my feelings and left that meeting frustrated.

According to my review, I have been a quota for stories I have to meet in the next two months. I have been assigned to write obituaries (this was assigned not to long after I arrived at the paper) on one of my work days. This leaves me with one less day to work on stories or having to work on them on my days off, which many times I do. I feel the editor has set unrealistic goals.

I was told writing obits was temporary, but I have not been given any indication that I won't have to do them much longer.

My schedule is Tuesday through Saturday and I have the education beat. I have asked repeatedly if a change in schedule would be considered since school is held Monday through Friday, and administrators, teachers, and any school staff would be difficult to get a hold of on weekends. I was told that a Tuesday through Saturday schedule would not be good for any of the other reporters and I would have to adjust. I even offered up the idea of a rotating schedule during the summer months, but there is no one else who can do obits, so I am stuck with my schedule.

What practical advice can you give me to meet the quota I was given, with the schedule I have?

While I would not have given myself a perfect or excellent review, I don't feel I received a fair review. I have brought up some of these issues to my senior editor and we will all meet by the time you get to read this e-mail. In hindsight, we should have all met before the review, but the damage is done. How do I recover? Can I recover? Is this the right profession for me?

When my career in journalism took-off so did I. I moved away from home and to one other state before landing were I am. I am a family person and have a close-knit family. This past year has been grueling and all I can think about is going back home. I have some job opportunities extended to me, but I like the current company I work for. Right now there are no opportunities within the company that would bring me closer to home. I don't know what to do? It seems pretty obvious I should move on, but a part of me feels like I'd be running away from a problem rather than addressing it and working past it.

Oh, if life were simpler.

Slammed

A: This is a mess.

Let's organize it a little. You're dealing with three big issues: an editor/eval issue, the quota/schedule, you're far from home.

Today's issue is the eval; the intermediate and chronic issue is the quota/schedule; the long-range issue is getting home.

It sounds as though the die has been cast with this eval and it will not get changed. Try not to spend the whole conversation defending yourself -- although you have a reason to feel defensive. Try to secure a plan that will help you improve in the eyes of these editors. Work with them to set measurable and achievable goals. Set dates.

In that conversation, deal with the quota and schedule. In this economy -- few openings, slow turnover -- it is not unusual for someone to find that they stay at the bottom of the seniority list longer than expected. That may be why this interim job of obituaries has stuck with you. Have them recalibrate your quota, counting obits into the quota. I don't think you're going to get much of a pass for working Saturdays -- even if it is a general assignment shift where there is little guaranteed work. Go into the Saturdays with some education stories in your back pocket. If there is news on that Saturday, you'll get stories. If it is slow, work on your mid-range education stories. If your quota is higher than everyone else's, you'll have to ask them to adjust it. You'll also have to adjust the way you work.

The relationship with that editor is troubled, but it sounds as though you can talk to the senior editor. Don't circumvent the immediate editor, but keep the senior editor looped in to how you're doing with those little extras you've been doing like seeking a mentor. Make sure the three of you talk about your progress on your objectives in 30 days. Don't let it wait a year.

As for going home, it sounds like you can do that now. But it also sounds like you'd rather move home as a reporter than to one of these immediate openings. Ultimately, I'm afraid you'll go from feeling lousy about these immediate circumstances to feeling terrible about your long-term prospects of working at a newspaper again. If you still like what you're doing, let's hang in there and try to have it all.

Whatever you do, don't bail until you've had a chance to turn this situation around.

Ethical conflict on the job?

Q: I'm in a bind. I told my executive editor two months ago that my husband (who has been a city council representative and my husband since before I was hired seven years ago) is planning to run for county mayor next year.

He said no problem, continue to do as I have done in the past and stay as far away from city desk as possible. That's easy enough, as I am a features writer covering arts, entertainment, health, fitness, home, garden, pets and local characters.

The editor then met with the publisher and HR, called me back into his office an hour later, and told me that as soon as my husband announces his candidacy, I lose my job.

Is this legal? Typical? My fellow features writer works from home and I would be happy to do the same, to avoid any potential for newsroom tension.

I have been unable to find another full-time job thus far. If my husband announces and my editor follows through with firing me, do I have any recourse? Will I be eligible for unemployment? This is all news to me, and scary news. I have no rich aunt to pay my bills while I'm penniless and unemployed.

Stuck

A: This is a tough one. Neither you, nor your husband nor the newspaper has done anything wrong.

This is an ethical conflict and those can be thorny -- and unique to journalism.

You did the right thing by going to your editor and describing the potential conflict.

It is the newspaper's job, now, to preserve journalistic independence -- and the appearance of that independence. It doesn't want readers saying, "Well, of course they endorsed him; his wife works there." That apparent conflict would not end with the election. It could dog the newspaper and your husband throughout his term as readers suspect the newspaper's motives in coverage.

The newspaper has already had to weather some suspicion It seems that, as your husband tries to move from a city council position to what sounds like the most prominent elected position in the county, the conflict has become more acute and the newspaper has re-evaluated.

Working from outside the newsroom won't address the publisher's concerns. The problem is not between you and your co-workers; the problem is maintaining journalistic integrity. At many newspapers, the non-political nature of your work might be enough to protect the newspaper's reputation, but ethical issues now draw tougher scrutiny than they did seven years ago.

Questions about employment laws and unemployment compensation in your state are best answered by a state employment office. I would call and ask for a meeting. I'd also try to sit down with the publisher to explore options. Would an unpaid leave through election day be possible? (Your husband might not win.)

Again, this does not appear to be a case where anyone has done anything wrong, but where an ethical conflict has limited options all around as both spouses pursue their careers and the newspaper tries to maintain a reputation for independent journalism.

Recovering from a mistake?

Q: I was reading your advice on how to recover from mistakes on The Detroit Free Press online JobsPage. I unfortunately lost my first internship/freelancing job due to a mistake.

My mistake was enormous and appeared front page in the story's headline. I was covering the planned demolition of a hotel belonging to a well-known chain, Sheraton.

I had checked the spelling of the names of my sources and other building names included in the story. Since Sheraton was a name I knew, I didn't think I'd screw it up. Writing it up before deadline in place of Sheraton I typed Sheridan, the name of a local street where I live. I was careless.

I understand the importance of accuracy, so being fired was expected. Well since I w freelancing, technically I wasn't. I need references, yet I highly doubt anyone at that paper will be one for me. They would have gladly before the mistake.

Could you perhaps advise me on what actions to take in my pursuit of a new internship or job?

Many journalism jobs and internships require both clips and references. While I was able to acquire a few good clippings, I'm not sure what to do in regard to my references. I would greatly appreciate any help or advice you could offer.

Out

A: Ouch! That must have hurt!

I know, because I once made a similar mistake, writing a totally erroneous headline that had both the city and the nature of the government body wrong. I recovered.

Let’s not rule out the fact that someone will give you a reference. At least ask.

And be ready to tell the honest story about what you did, how you tried to make amends and how you have changed your work processes to prevent an occurrence.

We would like to achieve perfection, but we know that is not possible. Though this was a big mistake, you are not alone. Editors will be paying close attention to how you are now making sure that cannot happen again because you are close-checking printouts of your stories, building in more time to self-edit -- whatever. Surely you cannot have such a big mistake and not change your procedures somehow. And let’s not rule out the idea that someone will speak up on behalf of your work – before that mistake.

Careers can end for a mistake made out of malice or avarice, but they should not end for an attack of carelessness -- if it is isolated.

String for another publication?

Q: Here is an ethics question for you. I work for a Gulf Coast newspaper and, as we were bracing for Hurricane Dennis, another reported passed my name along to the New York Times' Miami bureau saying I might be interested in doing some freelance work on my day off.

I originally agreed to it but then called the NYtimes back and said I couldn't.

I didn't feel right about it. My paper does not have ethics policy, at least I have never been asked to sign one or to read one. I'm sure the editors expect the reporters to follow some basic guidelines, but I think this is a shame that we don't have a policy. I figure though, it must be wrong if I feel uncomfortable asking an editor if I can do it.

I looked over several major newspapers' ethic policies and most specifically forbid freelance work for newspapers working on the same story.

Some of the other reporters at the paper think I passed up a good opportunity. I didn't see it as that great of an opportunity.

I can't imagine that writing a small paragraph for the New York Times is going to show my ability. I didn't ask what the pay would be but I imagine it would be pretty minimal. Perhaps, it would have shown that I'm eager for work.

As a recruiter, if you received my clips package including a New York Times story with my tag line would that impress you or turn you off?

I told the other reporters that while I don't think it would prevent me from getting another job, I don't think the freelance work would help me get a job.

Strung Out

I think you handled this well. The phrase you're thinking of, which may or may not show up in an ethics policy, is called a non-compete clause. It forbids staffers from writing for competing media. This is not to protect the newspaper's credibility as much as it is to protect the paper's business interests. The thing to do when a case like this arises is to ask your editors. Even when there are written policies, this often comes down to a judgment call.

You did some things very well on this case. You:

• thought twice
• trusted your gut and acted cautiously
• looked for policies
• accurately weighed the cost/benefit of doing this

Having a paragraph in a New York Times story certainly would not hurt you. It might help, but just a little. Better to err on the side of maintaining your good, ethical reputation.

Next time this comes up, ask your editors. They might be happy to see you get the opportunity. Or not.

No respect at work?

Q: I wonder if you might have some ideas that could help me feel a bit more comfortable at my job. I’m young and female and about six months into a job as a copy editor at a newspaper. This is my first job out of college, and I’m trying to decide if my work experience is par for the course for young newspaper employees.

It it normal for me to have basically no responsibilities? I mostly do wire pages, but I don’t choose any of the stories that go on them. Basically all I do is read wire copy that’s chosen for me and paginate (when other people do wire pages, they pick their own stories). And yes, while the wire stories need a thorough going over, rare is the story that actually requires some real editing/.

On top of that, I get absolutely no feedback on my work. I show all of my pages to a superior before I typeset them, and when the regular boss was out one night someone had a question about a design element and I responded by saying that I’d done pages like that before. They said that a lot of things go in the paper that shouldn’t, and that got me scared that I’d been doing a lot of things that shouldn’t be going into the paper. The thing is, I just don’t know. I’m willing to learn, and I do ask questions, but at the same time I feel like the more questions I ask, the more they’re going to feel like I can’t handle my job, and then my chances of getting more responsibility go even further down the tubes.

When it became evident that most of my job was pagination (my experience is as an editor), I looked up design groups on the net and bought some basic books to give me some ideas, but I’d still like the benefit of some face-to-face guidance.

I enjoy my job and the work I do, but I often find myself grappling with feelings of misery because no one at work trusts my opinion on anything, and I sometimes have to force myself not to glower at my desk, say, “fine,” and live down to the low expectations my superiors have of me.

Is it because I’m young? Is it because I’m one of the only women in the newsroom? Will it ever go away or do I have to accept that this is the way my first job is going to be, because everyone knows it’s my first job and they all took part in showing me the ropes. I mean, how can they give me responsibility when they all remember when I could barely log into the system? Is this normal?

Melissa

A: No. This is not normal. But it is not unheard of, either.

First off, let's get this down: the problem is in your newsroom, not in you.

Some of what you're describing can happen to new people. And, yes, sometimes people who are "the only one" get marginalized in these ways.

What can you do about it?

You have a good handle on the specific behaviors that bother and isolate you. That's good. You'll get farther talking about those than in talking about attitudes.

I'd start by meeting with the one or two people most responsible for hiring you. Tell them what you're experiencing and ask them what can be done.

Most of the heavy lifting will be yours. I know you don't expect anyone to post a memo or wave a magic wand to fix it all. The corrections will come with a lot of hard work by you to show people that you desrve their trust and respect. The purpose of talking to those editors is to get some guidance about how to work in the political environment you find yourself in.

Try to mend the situation where you are, but prepare to move on, too. There are lots of newsrooms where these are not such big issues. I'd rather see you leave this newsroom than the newspaper business entirely.

This newsroom may just be too messed up for one person -- the new person -- to fix.

How to apply for two jobs?

Q: Sometimes newspapers have more than one reporter opening (for different beats). Even if they all look promising, should I apply for only one?

Mention in my cover letter that I am interested in both? Submit separate cover letters and clip packages for each? I don't want to look presumptuous or naïve, but I don't want to limit my job hunt, either, if it's not necessary.

Deirdre

A: People often wonder what to do in cases like these. On the one hand, they don't want to miss an opportunity, on the other, they don't want to appear to lack focus by applying for more than one.

It seems silly to send two cover letters that would be nearly identical. I would send one cover letter and mention both jobs. You might explain in the cover letter what your interests are in both positions, and include clips that would show you have experience in both areas.

A good strategy is to stress an interest that is common to both jobs -- such as working at this particular paper or in doing the kind of reporting that would be necessary in both jobs. Then, you can write with some passion about how you could make a contribution in more than one position.

How to deal with quota journalism?

Q: I just took a new job, and I think I made a mistake. My new paper openly judges reporters by their byline counts. Story quotas are not an ideal, they are an imperative -- regardless of the beat or the quality of the story. I'm afraid that if I stay, I will be so disillusioned I'll want to leave the profession, or worse yet, I won't have the kind of clips needed to move ahead. Should I leave my job and look again (a scary idea in this market).

M.K.

A: That was a mistake. You should have turned up the quota system when you were interviewing with the editors and reporters at that newspaper.

I am concerned that you think this quota system will disillusion you. As hard as it is to work where quantity outweighs quality, you can’t lose sight of the reasons why we are journalists and that this newspaper appears not to reflect most newspapers.

I once met a reporter who worked at a paper that had a draconian quote system. She got good clips by working hard to meet most of her quote in the first three or four days of the week and then spending the last day or two to write clips she could use to get a new job. The editors wanted to see a lot of stuff; they didn’t care that some of it was thin and some of it was strong.

Her strategy worked. We hired her as a reporter at the Free Press. She went on to become an executive editor. She does not set quotas for her reporters. If you have talent and passion, you can beat the quote system before it beats you. Work hard and smart to get out of there.

Apply to the recruiter?

Q: I'm interested in getting a sportswriting job. When sending my résumé to a major metropolitan paper, should I send it to a recruiter like yourself? Or should I send it directly to the sports editor?

Jonathan

A: Although I am a recruiter, I’d advise you to go straight to the sports editor. I try to help our sports editor line up the best possible candidates when openings arise, so that includes some scouting and tracking, but that also means some screening.

It is not my job, for example, to send him every application I get. I send him many – maybe even most – but we have talked to the point where we have a pretty good understanding of which ones I can hold back until the person gets ready for us.

In our case, then, mailing to the recruiter may not get your material to the sports editor. I have no objection if a person writes to the sports editor, and our sports editor has no objection when I bring good candidates to him, but you need to understand that recruiters work for their newspapers – not for the candidates – and that part of a recruiter’s job is to improve the quality of the talent pool by bringing good people in and keeping the others from filling up the editors’ desks.

What's after a forced resignation?

Q: I have just resigned under duress after one year on my first reporting job without the promise of a recommendation. How the heck do I get my next job, a better job or that plum year-long internship I was eying?

The clips are riddled with editors’ errors.

Jane

A: It's difficult to say, though I’d say you are in a tough spot.

You say you resigned under duress and that you have no hope of a recommendation. I don’t know what the reasons might be. If you were failing to meet deadlines, were inaccurate or difficult to work with, I can’t help you.

If, on the other hand, you were a gem and the editors were dreadful, as you seem to imply in your last sentence, you need to give it another shot.

Others have quit — or even been fired — and gone on to success at better places.

They did it by overcoming the disappointments of the awful paper, presenting themselves professionally in cover letter and résumé, and editing their clip package very tightly. With just a year at that place, you might even be able to include a clip or two from before you got there.

The angle is to beef up the non-clip parts of your application, get in for an interview and not explain the awfulness until late in the process.

Most newspapers put reference checks as a later step in the process, so the lack of recommendations is not likely to keep you from getting to square one.

Once people have seen your work, talked to you and been impressed by you, they’re more receptive to your story about how that paper was an all-around disappointment.

Do not get mired in bad-mouthing editors, even if you feel it’s warranted. When I interview someone who has all kinds of complaints about their old boss, I figure they’ll be saying the same things about me. After all, they’ve just established a track record for it. Safe complaints for the ears of sympathetic friends (but don’t drive them wild, either). Use interviews for selling yourself, your work and your potential.

Having had a bad year, you might find that the move you make is more lateral than as up as you had planned. That’s OK. You now understand that the difference between a good paper and a bad one is not its circulation, and you should be much better at choosing a place with good editors.

As little as I know about your circumstances, I hope you’ve also reviewed that unlucky year to see what lessons you could glean from it and to make sure that, if you have responsibility for any of the bad stuff that went on, you’ve fixed that.

Should I say I'm looking?

Q: Should I not let my boss know that I am seeking another job? Are there ramifications if he finds out?

Jeremy

A: Depends on the boss.

Why are they suspicious?

Q: I’ve been at my present job for eight months and luckily the publisher and editors think I’m a great find, even though I had been fired from my previous job. Now, as I talk to editors about a new job, they're asking about why I left the first paper and why I am already looking again.
As for my firing, I told my editor I wished to leave after a year, but he persuaded me to stay. Two months and a request to change to a different beat later, I was fired (the editor who is my reference was one of five editors involved in the decision).

I never missed deadline, I was full of enterprise ideas, there were no libel suits and I covered my beat well. Unfortunately I was young and hard-headed, it was my first entry level job and I knew nothing about office politics.

I’ve learned since then to work very hard at my relationships with my city editor/editors because I will have no chance to mend them in the future.

As for self-confidence, it wouldn’t serve me very well to be self-defeating. So maybe I can use some of that self-confidence to ask for a raise? :)

Barbara

A: Why are people asking whether you were fired? I assume it’s because there is a gap in your resume. You’re in a good position, considering. You’ve landed that next job, and someone at your first job who is not vindictive has offered to be a reference. It sounds that you’re looking again. A big question for me would be: How long have you been in your second job? If it’s less than a year, As a candidate, you should proceed with caution, unless you can be absolutely sure that your next job will last for three or more. You want to avoid developing a resume that makes it look as though
you don’t hold onto jobs. Eighteen months ... a termination ... a new job at a smaller paper ... a short stay ... another job — these add up to trouble.

As for the details of the firing, anything less than disclosure leaves a question hanging in the air. If you say both sides were happy, what does that mean, exactly? Editors are left to fill in the blank. If you can furnish the reason, you end the speculation. If you can then show that you learned anything from the departure, we may be ready to move on. Remember that you aren’t the first person to get fired by a newspaper. Consider whether it is less damaging to just come clean than to leave a mystery. If you think you were fired unjustly, you’re bound to defend yourself, but you don’t want any interview for a prospective new job to degenerate into an account of a past misfortune. Short, sweet and
specifically is the best way to get past that.

So, hang onto the job for a year or more, say thanks to the person who will be a good reference for you and hold tightly onto that next job.

Your question shows you have some self confidence. That’s good, too.

Save a hijacked clip?

Q: I turn in a sparkling, 1,000-word feature. In the dead of night, the editors take a 300-word, tangentially related breaking news item written by a permanent staffer, tack it to mine, and lead the newspaper (a respected national daily) with the combined effort. They give us a shared byline, with the permanent guy first (and lots of apologies, praise for the original piece, etc. hoping to smooth things over). Is this doomed as a clip?

If so, it’s a damn shame, in an 11-week summer internship, one can only write so many pieces (for a publication like this one, anyway). Is explaining that the bulk of the piece is mine with the clip just too lame and pathetic?

N.I., New York

A: Doomed? I seldom see things as so black and white. Lame and pathetic? You have a pretty good sense of where you don’t want to be. Damn shame? It sure feels that way. I’d be spitting. But all is not lost.

All editors have seen this happen, so they’ll understand. Here’s a way to use it: You know those pop-up videos? Make your portfolio a pop-up portfolio. Type a brief note explaining that the shared byline is the result of breaking news being edited into your feature on the desk. Then, say that you’ve indicated which parts of the story are yours. Draw a line alongside the paragraphs that you wrote. Be factual and not bitter.

Would a solo byline be better? Sure. But the lede story in a NY metro is too good to sit on a shelf. And editors are looking to hire people who can work with others, as well as by themselves. So, give it your best shot—no whining, no pity party. It sounds as though you have the skills to eventually supersede this clip, but use it proudly while you need to.

Still, it would have been classy to give you the top byline — or if the content allowed, to keep the stories separate. It sounds as though your work probably warranted some bigger recognition that you got. Keep pluggin’.

What do newspaper job titles mean?

Q: I need help with an internal squabble (question?) about journalistic titles. Is there somewhere that lists job descriptions stating differences between editor, editor in chief, executive editor, managing editor?

Kirk

A: Good question. Titles can vary from newspaper to newspaper, and some people change the title when they move into the job.

The person in charge of the editorial and op-ed pages can be called the editor, editor-in-chief or editorial page editor. Executive editor almost always is the person who runs the newsroom. If there is no one at the paper with that title, don’t assume that the newsroom is out of control (though that might be the case). It could be that the person running the newsroom is called editor and the one running the editorial pages is called editorial page editor.

In some cases, the news and opinion sides are distinct from each other and report separately and directly to the publisher — the person who is the top person at that newspaper’s location. In others, the editor of the opinion pages reports to the one who also oversees the news operations. Again, there is no set pattern for what these people should be called.

In most newspapers, the managing editor is in charge of making sure that newsroom strategies are executed. This position, a very powerful one, is usually the No. 2 person under the editor in charge of news content.

Once, when newspapers were wrestling with their organization and titles, a newspaper called its top editors, “The Managing Entity.” Now THAT is scary.

What will my editors think?

Q: Do you think it's a bad idea to explore the Asian American Journalists Association job fair, knowing that recruiters from your own paper will also be there? I'm not planning to leave my paper, however, I am curious about other possible opportunities and would like to talk to a few recruiters. What's your advice?

L.L.

A: I can't assess the politics of your newsroom, but I think I would take this approach:

Tell the editors that you'll be at the convention and that you'd like to offer your assistance in recruiting. Also tell them not to worry, that you don't plan to leave the paper, but that you will likely see some of your old mentors at the job fair and will want to catch up with them. Then, reassure them that such meetings don't mean that you want to leave the paper and you certainly aren't trying to alarm them.

If it seems that the editors would be bothered by seeing you at the job fair, then call the recruiters you want to see (most will be in the convention hotel) and set up a more private meeting.

It is a tricky thing. You don't want to be job-looking on the company dime, but you also don't want to feel you're cloistered or indentured just because you took a job. You also don't want a catchup talk or career conversation to put you into hot water. My approach would be to be very upfront -- especially because you're saying you have no plans to leave right now.