Q: Thank you for having this site. It's helped me learn a great deal about the industry. And now, I'm hoping you can offer some advice for me. I've been working as a copy editor at a metro paper for a couple of months, and I'm already thinking about leaving. There is little camaraderie in the newsroom, and I don't feel like I'm learning very much. Also, the city leaves a lot to be desired. I don't have any friends or family around. I've thought about trying to look for other work, but I don't want to appear flighty to potential employers. I graduated a little more than a year ago, and I have just an internship - and now this job - to my name since leaving school. I worry that I will have to remain miserable to gain more experience and time for my resume. Should I stay, or should I go?
Exhausted Editor
A: I'm sorry to hear about all this. It sounds as though you have landed a job that would be a dream job for many -- but that it is becoming a nightmare.
You're lonely, quite a bit younger than the rest of the staff, I'm guessing, and tired. My first reaction is that a couple of months is too soon to leave. You do run the risk of seeming flight and I would hate for a quick reaction to an early mismatch set back your career.
I'd hate to see you leave a situation that had beaten you. I'd rather see you leave proudly.
Get some advice from some mentors there. Get involved with some people outside of the office who you share some non-journalistic interests with and try a little longer to make this work.
When you do leave, make sure your next paper is one that you can work at for a couple years. No doubt this experience has taught you a lot about scoping out newspapers.
Good luck!
