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I currently work at a midsized daily in a dual position. Two shifts of the week I work as night city editor, and three shifts a week I am on the copy desk, with my primary focus in features. I like that I have a lot of variety in my job, but I find it can be difficult at times to balance the two departments and leaves me

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without a "sense of belonging."

In an ideal world, I would be able to move up into a full-time section editor position at my current newspaper. I don't see an opportunity, though, for such a move without a major shake-up. I wonder whether it would be in my best interest to seek a section editing position at a similar-sized paper, or should I try for a copy editing spot at a bigger newspaper and hope to move up there? And should I hold off on any move until I hit what seems to be the coveted five-year experience mark?

Thanks,

Looking Up

OK, you have laid out your options pretty well.

Not knowing anything more than what you've written here, I am concerned that you not move up until you have a solid foundation. Three days here and two days there doesn't add up to a lot of

Joe Grimm

consistency. Let's take thing slowly.

If your paper is a solid one with a good culture, I'd focus on working all in one department with some leadership responsibilities. If you are at a paper more than 50,000 or 60,000, that should keep you busy.

Unless there is something about your paper that makes you want to leave, boogeying after two years could make future employers see you as something of a job hopper -- especially with this combo job going on.

Take a deep breath, try to move into a full-time role in one department or another, and try to achieve some mastery over your job. Opportunities are morphing, but they are not disappearing.

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Coming Friday: She is on what could become her last internship before graduation and wonders whether one will be enough. But she is in a good position.

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