Q: Your blog is terrific. It's like an informational interview without the awkward small talk. Before getting my masters in journalism last year, I reported for a weekly paper for a couple years. I'm now interning in Washington for a newspaper group, where my stories often land in some big metro papers. I've included my resume. I feel as if I've developed the skills to work at most any good-sized paper.
But since I lack a string of "professional" experience, am I being overly optimistic to think that I could land at a big paper in a nice, fun city? And could you give me some perspective: At my age, 26, should I be pretty flexible in where I'm willing to move?
Cheers,
R
A: You have things about right. Most big papers in nice, fun cities have waiting lines. While many of the people in that line may be qualified to work there, it is the newspaper's job to choose the best from the many. You don't want to wait in a line forever; you want to get to the front of the line. People get there by doing great work at a progression of ever-better beats and newspapers.
I think it's more realistic to work your way toward those papers with jobs at good-quality small and mid-size papers than to wait patiently in a long line. Work pays better than waiting, too.
At age 26, you should be flexible. In fact, that is one of the benefits of being 26. There will be plenty of time for inflexibility later.
