Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: Wait Out this Downturn?

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:36:27 -0700

Q. As major media companies have announced layoffs and/or plans to revamp their newspapers, I'm stumped on what to do next and wondering if I'm stuck.

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Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: Can Experienced Interns Use College Clips?

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:55:42 -0700

Q. I met you at a conference last year, and I use your column as my guide to everything I don't know about this business.

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Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: What if My Recent Clips Are Weaker?

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:22:19 -0700

Q. I apologize for the urgency of my question.

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Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: How Can Depressed Journalist Cope?

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:01:00 -0700

Q. I'm a j-school grad student at a prestigious university. I'm doing a summer internship at a newspaper right now and I'm loving it.

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Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: How Can He Broaden His Internship?

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:01:00 -0700

Q. I am currently on a summer Dow Jones copy editing internship at a top 50 metro daily, and the internship is about half over. I feel as though I've learned the system here extremely well, but all I've been asked to do so far is edit stories and write headlines. The other copy editors here all take shifts doing page design, Pagination and Web posting, but I have not gotten that opportunity. I have mentioned to my editor that I would like to get into those things if there's a chance, but so far nothing. I don't want to be annoying, but I also realize that a well-rounded internship is a necessity. How will potential employers look at my internship if all I've done is edit copy and write headlines and cutlines?

Also, who would be the best person to list as my reference? The section editor is usually not here during my shift, and there's a different editor each night.

Thanks!

Feeling Pigeonholed

A. How interesting. I just took both of our Dow Jones interns out for smoothies and asked them how they're doing. Both are working some Web shifts and like it.

Go back to your editor and try again. But don't say "if there's a chance." Try "let's schedule me" for some shifts on the Web desk. I find that some things tend not to happen until they are written on a schedule or a calendar. If that still doesn't work, I would go to the editor in charge of the area where you want to work and ask for help. This might be better for your editor than if you go "over his head" to a managing editor.

As for a reference, you can use any veteran staffer who has a supervisor or mentoring relationship with you. Don't ask whether the staffer would be a reference. Instead, ask what he or she would say as a reference.

Now, then, I want you to stop worrying so much. Your concerns are legitimate, but you are OK. You are working for a newspaper with a good reputation, and the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund copy editing internship is a solid gold credential. That alone can take you far. Try hard to broaden your internship, but don't worry too much if you can't.

Coming Monday: This new journalism grad is crushed about the industry and fears she must already leave a career she loves. The prospect makes her sick. What should she do?

Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: Is This Low Wage Just Too Low?

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:48:07 -0700

Q. I am a recent journalism graduate and have been looking for a job since before graduation. After having been rejected from several jobs already I'm a bit down in spirits. The upside, though, is that really none of the jobs I've been rejected for are perfectly down my aisle -- they're not distinctly print journalism, which is what I'm looking for.

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The Alliance for Community Journalism aggregator

Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: Wait Out this Downturn?

Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: Can Experienced Interns Use College Clips?

Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: What if My Recent Clips Are Weaker?

Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: How Can Depressed Journalist Cope?

Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: How Can He Broaden His Internship?

Joe Grimm's Ask the Recruiter: Is This Low Wage Just Too Low?