Ask the Recruiter

Q. I was looking at job listings today and saw that the alt-weekly where I interned for a few weeks this summer has an opening for a staff writer. I think I'm a long-shot for the position, but I know the news editor liked me and my work.

It's still a weekly, but the pay is a bit better than I'm getting currently. I'd be writing about more pressing issues, and I would get to write longer feature stories. I really like the people who work there, and I think I'd be motivated to do better work there. At the same time, it's got a pretty progressive slant, and I'm trying to learn to be professionally neutral.

So two questions: Is there any harm in sending some clips, given that I already have the connections?  And have you ever heard of writers being limited because they wrote for a paper that had a clear political slant?

Known Quantity

A. Seeing as you worked there just a few months ago, simply call that editor on the phone and ask what your chances would be if you applied. He'll tell you whether you should bother sending in a formal application.

Yes, working for a publication with a clear political slant can hurt you with some editors. If you wind up at one, try to get the down-the-middle, balanced assignments and then let your clips speak for you.

Coming Thursday: This mid-career weekly publisher was laid off because his company went through a sale. The company owns the papers in the area. What can he do?