I've been a working journalist for over six years, during which time I've reported for major publications in the U.S. and overseas, and worked as a copy editor at medium to large papers in New York and, most recently, in Virginia. I'm well versed in two of the more popular operating systems used by newspapers, have a passing familiarity with others and am a versatile designer. And I have reasonable salary expectations.

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I say this because, if I were told that a copy editor had spent almost two years applying for copy-editing jobs to no avail, I'd wonder if he or she were qualified. But that is where I find myself. I'm currently employed, so my job search is driven more by a need to challenge myself and reconnect with loved ones than by any real desperation. But still, since 2005 I've been following the same formula: see an ad for a job; send in my cover letter, clips and resume; wait two to three weeks, send a follow-up or call and leave a message; wait another week, call again, rinse and repeat. I've gotten responses from three papers, none of which were really good fits, but I've been astonished and disheartened that my messages, letters and calls go unanswered by 99.9 percent of places to which I apply.

I've retooled my cover letters three times, learned new skills and added them to my resume, expanded my search beyond jobs in New York and California and even applied to entry-level openings, but all I hear is a deafening silence.

The one thing that's saved me from a total crisis of confidence was recently getting a promising interview (and positive feedback) from a major newspaper in New York. But the fact that I only got that interview through networking has made me doubt the whole process of answering job ads. Hence, my questions: Is the journalism job market really that depressed that the only way in is the side door? Is the typical copy-editor candidate really so much more qualified that I don't even rate a response? Are all recruiting editors really so busy as to be unable to even acknowledge an application or a message? Or am I doing something really, really wrong in how I'm going about applying for jobs? I'd be grateful for any insights you could share. Thanks.

Kris

Joe Grimm

I can appreciate your frustration. Good copy editors are in demand -- and will continue to be.

Your question may contain a kernel of an idea -- networking. It sounds as if you have done what you can with your work, your resume and the application mill. If the only reason you got that interview is because of networking, do more of it.

Sometimes people say it is not what you know, it is who you know. I think it is both.

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Coming Wednesday: Her bosses read her job applications in her private e-mail and threatened her with the end of her job. She quit before they could, but she still has some worries.

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