Q. I’ve written to you several times before and you’ve always given great advice. I graduated a few weeks ago and finally got a job offer. It’s unfortunately not in journalism, though it seems like interesting and important work.
I would curate a Web site for a nonprofit that studies issues such as the foreclosure crisis and fair lending for low-income people. I would help with the nonprofit’s media relations, as well as with policy research and development.
It fits my interests journalistically and personally, but it’s not reporting. My job may also include lobbying in the state capitol for some of the policies the nonprofit advocates for. But it’s not flacking for the government or some evil corporation.
My question is: Will this hurt my chances of getting back into journalism later? I have had zero luck finding a job in the field. I’ve had interviews, but no offers. I’m freelancing now and, frankly, the lifestyle sucks. It’s stressful and inconsistent. I don’t want to turn down a good job like this in such a bad economy, but I also want to leave journalism open as an option because it’s really my true love. Would you take it and hope things turn up later, or try and stick it out as a freelancer?
My parents are willing to support me for awhile, but they also just spent more than six figures on my education and I feel guilty asking them to support me more.
Thanks,
Recent Graduate
A. This does not sound like the kind of job that would repulse news managers in the years ahead. Much of the material you’d be working with is bread-and-butter news content. You would learn how to communicate on text and digital platforms, see up-close how the government works, become familiar with some investigative approaches and learn about nonprofits.
The organization’s missions seem to be in-sync with your own, so I’d take my chances.
You have struck on a reasonable solution in an awful economy. The news industry will not simply return to what it was when the economy returns. This job could be a bridge to the future.
