As the news industry frantically searches for solutions and new directions, journalists' lives have been disrupted by cutbacks and job changes. Poynter Online wants to help by sharing stories of success seekers. We are offering how-they-did-it snapshots from people who faced employment challenges and found some measure of success.
MELISSA JORDANAge: 44
New job: Senior Web producer at Bay Area Rapid Transit. I manage content for the public Web site
bart.gov and develop social Web strategy for the Bay Area’s heavy-rail public-transit system.
Old job: Senior editor for recruiting and training,
San Jose Mercury News. Previously an assistant business editor at the
Merc and before that a longtime AP reporter and editor.
Biggest change so far: I live 10 minutes from my job and can take transit instead of spending two hours-plus each day in my car on busy freeways.
I left (voluntarily) because: I thought it was time to try something new.
I was out of work for: No days. Finished one job on a Friday and started the new one the next Monday. (A pattern through my career; you'd think I'd have learned to take some time off!)
This new gig is: Exciting. I love learning new things.
One thing I miss about my old job is: The extracurricular fun/carousing/shenanigans with colleagues after work. Work hard/play hard!
One thing I don't miss is: Seeing the newsroom shrink.
One surprise about my new job is: How great a fit it is for me with the public service mission of transit. I think most people go into journalism because they want to do good in society, make the world a better place -- which you do sort of indirectly, on good days, when a story or investigation or something gets results. In a public-sector setting like transit, you are helping people get around to their jobs and schools and doctors' appointments and day care and entertainment every day, and there's a really direct, rewarding feeling from providing that service to them.
I'm lucky that: I had great mentors and role models throughout my career to help me develop strong communication and leadership skills. (I'm looking at you Joe Grimm!)
The hardest part was: The unrelenting, cumulative nature of the newsroom decline.
I learned that: Every job has some boring bits, but you have to seek out the things you are jazzed about. I am thrilled that I still get to do some writing: Check out my latest piece
on the punk rock Johnny Cash who plays in BART stations.
My advice: Keep your skills up and network, network, network. Follow my
work stuff on Twitter, on
Friendfeed and on
my blog and become a
Facebook fan.
If you have a transition story that might help other Poynter Online readers, please e-mail Joe Grimm at joe.grimm@gmail.com.Coming Tuesday: How can friends compete with each other for the same job?
