Jobs — including jobs in journalism — just aren’t what they used to be. Earlier this week, consultant Robert Patterson observed after reviewing trends in unemployment statistics that “the idea of a ‘job’ as a full-time object that can support a person or even a family, is disappearing.”
Now Patterson’s observation isn’t new. Jeremy Rifkin advanced the same idea back in 1995 with his seminal book, “The End of Work.” I read that book back in 2003, when I left journalism for teaching/freelancing.
Rifkin’s premise was interesting and frightening, because work is such a part of our identity these days.
The article on Poynter goes on to talk about changes in journalism, a natural topic for a journalism education institute. Still, the discussions and comments I see on facebook groups like “Newspaper Escape Plan,” as well as chats I’m having with my friends – and myself – have me convinced that white-collar workers are experiencing major identity crises.
The lead singer, Omar Bilal Akhtar, was a journalism major at Ohio Wesleyan University, where he edited the student newspaper. He returned to Pakistan and formed a rock band that has become fairly successful. Don’t let anyone tell you journalism won’t take you far.
Terkel died today. He was 96. Before I post the link to the NPR story, I’ve got a few things I have to say.
I discovered Terkel in the 70s, when I was a student at the University of Chicago. I was in my teens, clueless and curious. Terkel was known for “Hard Times,” the oral history of the Depression. But I read “Working.”
My generation turned work into a career, and I was right in the midst of that trend. Did Terkel help? I’m not sure, now. I do know, his book explored the notion that work was more than the tasks one performed to insure a healthy bank account.
The stories were fascinating and mesmerizing. Now that I’m a writer, I understand the sensitivity and talent that went into those rewrites. They were rewrites – I know that now. Then I thought Terkel just turned on the recorder and transcribed the interviews.
Told you I was clueless.
But what I really loved was the way Terkel’s people told their stories. When I became a journalist, about a decade later, I read and re-read Terkel’s books. When I became a columnist, in 1996, I used those books to dissolve my writer’s blocks. Unfortunately, I don’t have my Terkel books anymore. In a misdirected spate at housecleaning, I donated them all to a university book sale.
With battles over provisional ballots, dirty databases and expectations of looong lines at the polls, looks like Ohio is going to be the place to watch come Tuesday.
So, starting on Saturday, I’ll be blogging the election. This is real-time journalism from an independent journalist.
If you want fresh updates from Northeast Ohio in particular, and other parts of Ohio in general, subscribe by email.
“Change never waits its turn. It does not ask permission. It needs no electoral votes to prevail.”
This observation came from Keith Woods, who writes for poynter.org. The Poynter Institute is a school for journalists.
Lord knows the profession put the “c” and the “s,” in changes. Journalists aren’t alone. Magazines have been watching advertisers cut back and that industry is laying off, too.
It’s almost a cliche to say we should be pro-active. But I’m ready to push through. Change isn’t coming. It’s been here for at least two years. Maybe we just didn’t see the forest for the trees. But the forest is deep and I’m standing in the middle admiring the view.
The astonishing developments of this electoral season have given me a new outlook on life. I’m not just talking about Barack Obama’s candidacy. I’m talking about John McCain’s tenacity. Both men were come-from-behind candidates who have refused to give up.
But both have been incredible teachers in my life, and in their ways, inspirations. Obama has shown me not to give in to the idea that race is limiting. McCain is showing me not to give in to the idea that age is limiting.
No, I haven’t forgotten about Hillary Clinton. She’s shown me how to push, push, push past those who would limit women.
What a wonderful year to be an American. I salute all three.
I can tweet on Twitter. I can hang out on facebook. I can create slideshows with Soundslides, doctor photographs with Photoshop, paste all that to a website that I created with the help of Dreamweaver.
So what the problem? It’s pulling it all together and getting paid – oops, my bad. Wrong lingo. Even though I have myriad capabilities, I’m finding it difficult to monetize.
Am I overcompensating? Probably. Stereotyped thinking says boomers aren’t adapting to the new media landscape; I’m trying to prove that thinking wrong.
Can I do too much? Is being able to do too much the flip side of not being able to do enough?
See, I’m getting conflicting information from the experts in the marketplace. All the (non-journalistic)entrepreneurial advice I’m receiving urges concentrating on a goal. No sweat. I want to create content. In the old days, I could simply write a story and email it to an editor.
But it’s an on-line world and mere words are not enough. If I blog for pay, I’ve got to find visuals to go with them. Or upload video. Or create audio. Not that I’d mind, but I’m only getting paid to write.
It’s like I’m getting dressed for a night out on the town, and I have to choose the right accessories to go with my outfit. And after I show up, looking G-gorgeous, my date doesn’t want to pick up the tab.
I was walking around my neighborhood a couple days ago. Suddenly, it seemed, all the businesses had Obama posters in them. But I was struck by the sign at one of the barbershops.
Christopher, the owner of Untouchable Barbers is promising a free haircut or manicure on Mondays to anyone who registered to vote. The promotion is going through the October cut-off date for voter registration.
It’s well known, of course, that Barack Obama is more than a candidate. Still, I’m always amazed by the creativity, commitment and passion that has surfaced during this election.
So I went home, got my camera and drove to the barbershop. I walked in, introduced myself and asked to speak to the owner. His portrait illustrates this posting.
Eric Deggans’ column from the St. Pete Times will have you wondering even more.
According to Deggans, the Tampa Tribune – the Time’s competition across the way – is seriously considering a one-section paper for weekdays. Read all about it here.
Blogger Doug Fisher, of Common Sense Journalism, takes the story even further. He claims prototypes have been circulating around the Tribune’s newsroom.
Thanks to Jim Romenesko, at www.poynter.org for publishing these links.
If you’re a writer – like me – I have to say learning Photoshop looks like a great career move right about now.
Gee was downsized, riffed, etc. from his job as a designer for the San Jose, Ca., newspaper. He put his creativity and passion to use by creating the aforementioned group on August 16. It now has more than 800 members. I was, I think, member 252 or something like that.
Now, I’m not Internet phobic. I know my way around a blog or two. I’ve even blogged professionally on health for www.bet.com.
That group is a graphic demonstration of the power of Web 2.0. Just as an experiment, I posted an FYI on mediabistro.com. So far, 26 people have launched a discussion about the demise of newspapers.
I’m following Martin’s lead. I’m trying to be proactive.
Everyone is talking about reinventing themselves. Well, I’ve been working on that since I left newspapers in 2001. It’s been a long hard climb. Sometimes I’ve stumbled. Sometimes I’ve fallen. The truth of my life is in the title of this blog. Still, I think I have advice and insights to offer folks who are traveling this path.
We’re doing our best. It’s all we can do.
When you get discouraged, remember this:
“Just because you can’t see the future is no reason to fear it. I ain’t gonna lie though: it’s awfully dark out there. “
poynter.org. The Poynter Institute is a school for journalists.
