Ask the Recruiter

Q. Thanks for your wonderful column. I don't know how I could survive in the confusing world of journalism careers without it.

I am in my early 20s and in my second newspaper reporting position, which is both challenging and fun.

ASK JOE A QUESTION

To get your question answered on this page, send it to Joe. Please include your full name in your message. If you prefer that your surname not be published, please indicate that. Sign up to receive Ask the Recruiter by e-mail. (Sent Monday-Friday at 8 a.m.)

(I had a short stay at my first job and plan to stay at my current one at least two or three years.) I am trying to build my "new media" skills and prepare myself for the journalism job market of the future. I'm taking Web design courses at an area college. I purchased my domain name and am in the process of setting up a personal Web site to showcase my work.

My question is, should I be concerned that I could somehow get into trouble with my current employer for having my own Web site? You hear stories about people losing jobs over photos on MySpace, but my Web site will be very basic and professional with my bio, resume, links to stories I have written, etc. Nothing would in any way reflect badly on my company, but I am still concerned.

I have never been told that we have any policy on personal Web sites, but the paper has strict ethical standards for us (as I hope all papers do), and I know my editors are conscious of how the paper and our company are represented in the public eye (as I am sure all bosses are). I am afraid to ask my editors about this directly. I don't want them to think I'm polishing my cyber resume because I am about to jump ship. I certainly don't plan to do so.

Is there any general advice you could offer those of us trying to delve into the brave new world of the Internet and still keep our current jobs?

Confused in Cyberspace

A. I understand your predicament -- both your desire to create an ethically responsible Web site and your concern about asking for permission. Sometimes better to ask for forgiveness (after the fact) than to ask for permission.

Joe Grimm

If you are scrupulously careful about what you do with your Web site, your editors should have little to object to. It sounds as though you are looking to make a professional Web site, so I would build one that enhances your job as a reporter and does not detract from it. Make a site where your intended audience is made up of potential sources. Use it to invite story tips and suggestions.

It would be logical to include some of your career history, a full description of your beat and responsibilities and your contact information. Opinions that might compromise your ability to report fairly, snide remarks about your employer or sources, inside information or advertising would, of course, be out. But you could beef up your site with samples of your work.

Once you have used the site and online networks to attract and develop sources, you will have a nice Web site and a compelling reason for your editors to want other staffers to start their own as well. If you could expand your online work with a beat blog -- even if it is on the newspaper's home site and you just link to it from your personal site -- so much the better.

Ask the Recruiter and the JobsPage began as personal projects, but have become so helpful in my job that my editors support them. I did not ask for permission ahead of time, in part because I didn't really know how they would develop until I worked with them and my audience for a while.