Professionally, I have the best of both worlds. I'm 29 and at a quality mid-sized paper in New England, splitting my time between sports reporting and sports copy editing, a unique position tailor made for my versatility and love for both aspects of journalism.

I'm interviewing for copy editing job at my target paper, a much bigger operation in the Philadelphia market. It would bring me back to my hometown and the area I'd like to finish my career in. I would be reunited with family and friends, two parts of my life that I've neglected for seven years while pursuing my career.

The lone pitfall: The position doesn't include writing.

I really enjoy copy editing and would have no problem doing it exclusively for a few years, but at some point down the road I'll probably get the itch to report and write again. If I take the job, will I pigeonhole my career? How hard is it at a big paper to switch from copy editing to reporting?

Should I discuss these concerns during the interview process? My fear is that if I do that, I'll jeopardize my chances of getting the job -- and a decent cheesesteak.

J.

A: Good questions. I think you have the situation pretty well scoped out.

Asking about writing opportunities too early can give them the wrong vibe. But, you need to find out.

It could be that, if they know enough about your present job, they'll ask you how important writing is. Be straight with them.

If it doesn't come up, I would see what you can learn from some of the copy editors you meet there. Call them soon after the interview and put a writing question into a batch of other relevant questions so they don't think that writing is all you care about. Editors do hear from staffers who get queried by job candidates.

Another way to check is to get the names of as many sports copy editors at this Philly-area paper as you can, and then check them on Nexis or with Google to see whether they're getting any bylines. A couple looks at the sports department schedule -- or at names on desks -- might give you all the leads you need.

As for transferring later, that will depend a lot on how valuable you become as a copy editor. You'll have to be so good that they'll want to do anything -- even passing on an excellent outside writer -- to keep you.

Good luck on getting it all -- editing, writing, family and friends.