Thursday, March 6, 2008
Is it Career Suicide to Leave Paper?
Q. I have worked at the same mid-size daily newspaper for more than 10 years and am a columnist and feature writer. I have a job that people covet.
However, we had massive layoffs a little more than a year ago, and my editor was one of the casualties. She has not been replaced. My mentor and best friend at the paper has been away for six months. With these two people gone, I have no guidance whatsoever, and I have nobody to turn to when I need help developing stories.
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Although my byline count has not increased, I have been doing much of the work of an editor. I feel like I am working myself into the ground, trying to fill our section with local bylines even if we don't really have the bodies to produce them.
I come home late every evening, and when I get home, I work more. My husband is at his wit's end and, frankly, so am I.
On top of all this, I have a standing freelance gig as the assistant editor and feature writer for an arts trade magazine, which I adore, but which won't pay the bills.
Now, to my questions:
1. Have I shot myself in the foot staying at this paper for so long?
2. I anticipate that I will be offered a full-time writing position at a university's in-house, glossy research publication -- for a bit higher salary with much better benefits -- including a workday that ends at 4:30 p.m. Will I be committing career suicide if I take this? I thought it would allow me more time to pursue freelance magazine and newspaper feature writing, which I love.
3. If my paper makes a substantial counter-offer, should I consider it, or should I just get out?
Stretched ThinA. No, you have not hurt yourself by staying too long. You seem to have had a good growth curve at your newspaper.
You worry that a move would mean career suicide, but it seems your newspaper's changes are already killing you.
You should always consider a counter-offer, but you are looking for a significant upgrade in the quality of your working conditions, not money. Those are harder to offer.
Your paper might lose you, but I am not ready to call the career suicide hotline. A move might get you home sooner, pay you more money and leave you with more time to pursue the extracurriculars you say you love.
Coming Friday: He is one of several people who write a group blog at his newspaper. He wonders how to show excerpts of his work to prospective employers.
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