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.
But I can't shake the depressing job news in the journalism world all around me. Why am I training (and interning for free) for a job that may not be there when I graduate next year? And to make matters more complicated, I am somewhat tied to my location -- with a husband and two small children -- and don't have the same flexibility of movement that other grads might have when it comes time to look for jobs. Should I stop wasting my time and start applying to advertising agencies?
The idea makes me sick, but maybe it's my only option. What do you think?
DepressedA. I have had too many sleepless nights and worry a lot, too -- about myself, about people like you and about parts of our industry.
I admit to being an optimist, but I am also pragmatic. I am not being glib, and I do not have a magic bullet. Here's what I can tell you:
First, worry only about what you can control. Don't lose sleep over layoffs or buyouts across the country. They are painful to see, but most do not directly affect you. Be aware of them, but redirect your thought toward actions that make your work better.
Next, maintain this perspective: The whole economy is going through a massive restructuring much like the industrial revolution. Entire occupations disappeared. But the advancements came with liberation, as well as downsides of their own. Today, journalism is one of many industries being reinvented. By sheer luck, we get to participate in that.
I almost missed it. For the first 20 years of my career (1976-1996), newspapers did basically two things: we computerized and we learned to print color. Just think of all the things that we will get to do in the next 20 years. I can't even imagine them. This is a time of opportunity for those who can grasp the future, but it is cruel for the venerable models of the past.
We have to change. Old opportunities are disappearing. And places previously unimagined have new ones. You've got to get a good night's rest to wake up early in the morning and work hard to go after them.
Coming Tuesday: The clips he sent have attracted interest, but now the editor wants more recent good clips. One problem: They are the weaker ones. Should he send them anyway?
