There was some chatter on CAJ-L on the subject of going to the "dark side" (ie. better paying jobs in corporate and government communications). My contribution is below. I've also archived some of the better posts.
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I was hunting around for an old American Journalism Review article on this topic and found:
1. Family Values
Newsrooms, notorious for their long hours and demanding schedules, are finding ways to make life more manageable for journalists with children via job-sharing, on-site day care and telecommuting. But some are more family-friendly than others.
http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=22712. The Thrill is Alive
Despite the highly publicized frustrations, newspaper work remains an exciting and satisfying profession for many reporters and editors.
http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=8543. Deconstructing the Newsroom
It's a world where the story and the work have long predominated. But maybe there's room for a life as well.
http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=9134. Maybe You Can't Have It All
One newspaper editor decides work and child rearing don't mix, and opts for more time with the kids. But she hopes to return to the newsroom.
http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=2975. Anger In The Newsroom
Past and present reporters will tell you: Newspapers are dying, it's no fun anymore. Is this just everyday bitching - or something new? (note: that's a 1991 article)
http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=14986. The Revolving Door
As politicians like Susan Molinari go into journalism, and as journalists bounce back and forth between government jobs and the Fourth Estate, the line between the two gets awfully blurry. Critics warn that this phenomenon poses a serious threat to the press.
http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=7457. Clean & Sober or True Grit
Once smoke-filled and coffee-stained, many newsrooms have become tidier and healthier places to work. Some reporters love their new workplaces; others say a cleaner desk doesn't necessarily mean cleaner copy.
http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=2069What I didn't find was an article I remembered that buttressed what Sarah Marchildon said: That some people find it better on the other side.
The line that stuck with me about the sense of wonderment one woman had when, upon starting a communications job, they asked her what office supplies she needed. Back in her newsroom days, things like scissors or staplers had to be kept under lock and key. If not, they were swiped, and they wouldn't be replaced.
It somewhat reminds me of the story of a Russian hockey player's wife in the late 1980s who, upon seeing a Canadian supermarket for the first time, madly filled the cart with meat until she was told there would be some tomorrow. But the woman's entire life experience before coming to Canada was that meat was a very scarce commodity.
And there are, of course, some stories of life at small papers where margin-minded publishers told staff if they needed light bulbs or toilet paper to bring those items from home.
Most people I know who've switched also marvel at how much more other industries spend on professional development compared to newspapers.
However, on the other side, one former colleague once dated a PR person. For him, the hardest part of the relationship was listening to her describe her day at work. :)
Bill Doskoch
Toronto, ON
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-caj-list@marlo.eagle.ca
> [mailto:owner-caj-list@marlo.eagle.ca] On Behalf Of Sarah Marchildon
> Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 1:57 PM
> To: caj-list@eagle.ca
> Subject: re: the Dark Side
> >On Oct. 21, 2004, Judy Waytiuk wrote:
> I know plenty of journalists who've moved into PR. I know
> absolutely none who've moved back into pure" journalism...
> can anyone on the list cite people who've done so? Seems to
> me once you've "gone over", you're permanently persona non
> grata as a journalist in any newsroom.
> ...snip...
> Hi Judy,
> I'm probably breaking some secret PR code by revealing this,
> but a lot of us former journalists don't actually want to go
> back to journalism.
> It's funny how a four-day work week, awesome benefits, decent
> hours, challenging, rewarding and interesting work, and good
> pay make a return to journalism seem unappealing ;)
> Sarah Marchildon
> Communications specialist
> David Suzuki Foundation