Goodbye to all of that…
Blogging/Journalism — By Chris on December 3, 2009 at 9:28 am
Today is the last day that I’ll walk through USA TODAY’s glass and marble lobby, itself a monument to flusher times.
I’ve been laid off from my dream job, and I’m not going to lie. It sucks. I enjoyed almost everything about my immediate world there, from my globe-trotting reporters to my creative production team to my hard-working and open-minded boss. My group was tight, and we laughed and learned from each other every day.
But what bothers me the most is what my firing represented. See, I’ve been learning all the tricks that a modern multi-platform journalist is supposed to know. In the past 22 months, I’ve blogged, tweeted, shot photos and videos, and handled speaking engagements. I edited my section, managed my high-personality staff and then in my spare time, I wrote cover stories – something that very few other editors at USA TODAY do. I hustled and I cajoled and I ended up out on my ass anyway.
I’m a true believer in the power of journalism. I walked into my first newspaper office when I was 16, fell in love with deadlines and chaos, and never looked back. During my 20 years in the mainstream media, I’ve written stories that have changed lives, and I’ve written stories purely for entertainment. I felt it was a calling, more so than a job.
But increasingly, things have become more interesting outside the newsroom bubble. I’d go to conferences and meet people who were making it just fine on their own. Some were creating niche businesses, busting up the paradigm. Others were parlaying old school media talents into fresh ventures, with a moxie that made me wish I had the freedom to emulate them. The air inside USAT’s towers on Jones Branch Drive always seemed a little stale after that.
These freelancers-slash-entrerpreneurs are smart. They are nimble. And now they are my role models, as I join their ranks.
So to the managers who made this decision, in less than 140 characters I tell you: Good luck steering the Titanic. And thanks for the head start. Now I’m really going to run.
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96 Comments
I’ve got the urge to edit Konrad, too.
Chris,
I’ve been freelance writing for two decades now and it’s been a heluva ride. Enjoy your freedom and don’t ever let rejection get you down.
Now it’s off the gym at 4 pm. No traffic on the road, no waiting for the machines. Just don’t tell anyone else.
Best,
Steve Jermanok
http://www.ActiveTravels.com
Wow!!! And i mean wow. I feel every drop of your pain and it is a bit snarky but so hopeful at the end and really inspiring. I am excited to see what you do next!!!
Best of luck to you
Really inspired by this. Good luck to you!
Hi,
Touched by your story of Love and Chaos (love of journalism, the chaos of it all and of losing your job). Keep your chin up and let me know if I can help. – Barbara Bryn, Personal Finance, Examiner.com SF
Hi,
As a former participant in the newspaper industry world, and having done business with Gannett as well, I think you leave with the right frame of mind – confident and vowing to make the most of it, while recognizing that the newspaper industry is dying not a slow death, but a quick one.
I didn’t take your article nor your follow-up comments as thin-skinned, but rather as a realistic assessment. The industry is dying because people are not willing to admit to seeing the writing on the wall.
Chris, sorry to hear of your leaving USAT. The first thing I do at breakfast Friday mornings is to look at the USAT purple section. As the editorial director of a small but growing website, Automotive Traveler (AT.com), I’m always looking for future story ideas to pass along to my contributors, and USAT is always a good place to start, especially expanding on selections from the weekly Top 10 lists.
If you are looking for a new home to expand your visibility I would love to talk with you as I think that AT.com, with our 50,000 monthly visitors, would be a good opportunity for you, contributing short blogs that link back to your personal blog/website. While I have been forced to take a step back from day-to-day contributions as I have just launched a new monthly automotive magazine, Chevy Enthusiast, now that I am getting back to a regular schedule, I have to reinvigorate AT.com, and the first thing that is on the agenda is to get some new contributors. Interested in talking? Contact me at the E-mail address I left when I posted this comment or visit AT.com and leave a message there in the “Contact AT” tab.
Good luck where ever you land.
Richard Truesdell
Editorial Director, automotivetraveler.com/home
I’ve freelanced all my life since I left a job at fabled Magazine Management Company after interviewing Bob Dylan for the Saturday Evening Post. I went on to publish stories in Esquire, Playboy, Rolling Stone and many other magazines. These days I concentrate on my own self-published books, three of which are in the Artists’ Books Collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
The pay has been kind of lousy, but the hours are great. It’s a lot better than going into some corporate office every day. The trick is to reduce your lifestyle to the essentials. What do you really need? You will possibly be surprised to find out how much of your personal spending is just wasteful consumerism.
Also remember that freelance journalism offers no pension plan. You need to create your own royalty-producing projects such as books and films. Freedom does have its price, so be sure to invest in works that will capture your talent and provide you with residuals.
I was struck by one thing in re-reading your post. You said you were a true believer in the power of journalism from the get-go, but then you only cite ways that you apparently fell in love with the process and the feverish, high-octane pace.
I’m just curious. What else about the “power of journalism” appealed to you? Was there anything about its social role that was equally appealing to you?
As a fellow SATW member (and a former NU Wildcat), I just want to add my own condolences to the list… I’m sorry that you lost your dream job, but I’m glad you have such a go-get-’em attitude about it. Good luck, Chris!
Chris – sorry to hear this – but be happy it’s new and not in a year or so when USA Today finally closes entirely. The least will have the hardest time because the jobs are taken by the ones who left before them. Whenever we experience fundamental changes in our society – there are marvelous new opportunities. We have an economic downturn yet – more new little companies are founded than ever before.
This is the spirit of America, this is why I love this country.
Take your contacts, your experience, your passion and start something new. Something the new world needs.
All the best for a grandiose 2010
Axel
http://xeesm.com/AxelS
I’m experiencing a problem with seeing your page clearly through the most recent release of Opera. Looks fine in IE7 and Firefox though.Hope you have a nice day.
chris
when you are in philly call me.
matt
It’s amazing how some things seem horrible at the time but then looking back, they turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you. It’s great you’ve turned it into a success story Chris.
@Lindy – Thanks! I wrote that piece almost two years ago, and you are right, it’s amazing how things look in retrospect. I’ve learned so much since then. Thanks for commenting!