Okay, so you swore you'd never do it -- cross over to the dark side and all that. I said that too-- all the way up to 2004 when I began to suspect the newspaper industry was headed for the rocks. And when I also suspected I could make more money outside the newsroom. For worse and for better, I was right about both.
If you were a journalist, looking for a job in p.r. may not yet be a happy event. You probably thought you'd die at your desk waiting for the afternoon budget meeting to let out so you'd know if you'd be on 1A. Instead, you may have taken a buy-out or been laid off without any severance. What's happening to newspapers is a shame on so many levles, and my heart goes out to you.
So, now you need work, probably a whole new career path, and you recall hearing that p.r. can be great place ex-journalists. That's mostly true, but there's more to it. You may be coming to this process kicking and screaming, but I'd like you to keep an open mind. Here's why:
1. You Can Finally Advocate for Something on the Job. The many years of standing by with your notebook pretending you don't have feelings about the issue in front of you are over. As you think about your new career path, pick a field or industry that's meaningful to you. Organizations need thoughtful, articulate advocates. This could be you.
2. You Can Change What You Don't Like about P.R. Just because I'm in p.r. doesn't mean I don't know that some people suck at it. They send crappy releases to the wrong reporters and editors; they call and pitch stupid stuff that benefits only their client; they write badly and speak ever worse. I seem to recall some dead weight around the newsrooms I worked in too.
So, do it the right way. There are plenty of earnest, talented, effective people in p.r., and more are needed. You decide how it gets done.
3. Your Skills Transfer Really Well. At the end of the day, the skills employed by good p.r. people and good journalists aren't all that different. Good writers, good talkers, good researchers, an aversion to b.s., and the ability to deliver on multiple fronts. If you think all p.r. people are slick and salesy, it's time to ditch the snark. Get to know some others. Again, do it your way.
4. It's Fun. Depending on which industry you choose, p.r. work is fun! You sniff out cool new things your organization is doing, you find the interesting angles, and you get to talk and write about it. You're always learning something -- and teaching others about it through your work. You're still telling stories.
5. You Can Make Bank. Okay, here's the down low on what you really want to know. I go home (or wherever I want) almost every day by 5:30 pm, I have 13 paid holidays, and in four years I doubled my income. Still sound dark to you?
