Logo for Martin Gee's group, "Newspaper Escape Plan"
I have to credit Martin Gee and his Facebook group “Newspaper Escape Plan.”
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. “
