The employment outlook for the nation's newspapers is becoming bleaker every day. Nicely respected icons just like the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Instances homeowners have filed for chapter, Gannett has undergone large layoffs, and newspapers continue to lose floor in competing for promoting with tv and particularly the internet.
In discussions with my many media contacts, I advise them to be prepared for the worst and to be proactive whereas nonetheless working. If a reporter, author or editor does end up getting laid off one of the crucial vital assets they will need to use in finding a brand new job is their PR contacts. Yes, that's proper; the identical people who send you press releases might be able to assist you in finding new work or a contract gig.
The publicists you take care of on a regular basis could also be in the most effective place that can assist you, and will need to help you. As for brand spanking new jobs, I haven't got to inform you journalism jobs are scarce so do not rule out coming over to the "dark facet" by becoming a publicist either... it is not all that unhealthy! Maintain an open mind for some free lance work, or even a career change to advertising, company communications or net content. In any job search, networking might be crucial activity you'll be able to do.
For the reason that corporate workplace will not all the time telegraph pending layoff plans, one of many first things I would do is to be ready for that possibility by gathering all my contact cellphone numbers, email addresses, and mailing addresses and save them to a disc or reminiscence stick and take it home. If that's not attainable send them out in an e mail to yourself at another address. Why be so paranoid? I've heard of cases where the boss declares the layoff, reporters are told handy over their blackberries and cell phones on the spot and then they're locked out of the pc system with no time to get that info.
Then if that pink slip comes, you will have the information and you can reach each and every contact. Allow them to know you are looking for a brand new job and share information about the job you might be seeking. In case you are emailing them ship an updated resume. Don't be bashful to ask for help and to inform them you have been fired, laid off or whatever. Do not preserve it a secret. There's no disgrace in shedding a job these days especially beneath the loopy economic state of affairs we're in now.
After the bad news is introduced make sure you or your former boss puts an auto responder in your e-mail so if and when folks electronic mail you there's an automated reply stating you're not there and so and so is changing you or whatever and that you can be reached for private issues at this number or e mail address.
Because I take care of media persons all the time, I usually deal with reporters, editors, writers and photographers who lose their jobs. Typically the media outlet retains the e-mail address alive for months and another person answers the email. Some media shops even preserve the reporter's telephone mail going and another person checks it periodically. Not all layoffs are executed in the vivid mild of the day and in consequence we publicists don't at all times hear about it right away.
Over the years I've compiled some resources to help those in our enterprise that I'm blissful to provide to you now. It's the least I can do:
PR Newswire It is an important useful resource and the native workplace may know of an area firm or PR agency searching for employees. The number is: 800- 697-9712 prnewswire.com
PRSA - Public Relations Society of America prsa.org They have a "Job Middle" part that permits you to post your resume.
Society of Skilled Journalists spj.org/jobbank.asp Take a look at their Job Financial institution for members only. It could be well worth the annual dues. There are some free resources that could be useful as well.
journalismjobs.com The Journalism Jobs site permits you to seek for journalism and public relations jobs across the U.S.
workinpr.com is dedicated to providing global PR professionals with strategic career assets and industry information.
Elance.com A web site dedicated to freelance designers, illustrators, writers, editors, and photographers. A great way to select up freelance writing jobs.
Editor & Writer editorandpublisher.com The latest job listings from Editor & Publisher magazine.
Newslink.org This web site incorporates a searchable record of all media retailers from newspapers and magazines to radio and TV all on a city by city or news affiliation basis.
Mediabistro mediabistro.com That is certainly one of my favorite sites. It keeps tabs on every thing happening in the media world. It has job opportunities in magazines, television, radio, newspapers, guide publishing, on-line media, promoting, PR, and graphic design. I read it every day.
HARO helpareporter.com A free service for journalists in search of experts. Just like ProfNet. I counsel you monitor the 3+ time a day feeds to see what's going on on the planet and you could spot an opportunity. I devour each of these emails myself.
RTNDA rtnda.org The Radio-Television Information Administrators Association posts jobs for TV and radio of us and provides a wealth of resources for job seekers. Looking for jobs is free.
In as we speak's job market it's vital for job seekers to use the web as a part of their overall strategy. Make a listing of profession boards and visit them day by day to do job searches. Higher but, join day by day email alerts. Go to the web sites of the companies you want to work for and find their job postings page. You may as well monitor the companies you wish to pursue by signing up for Google Alerts on sure topics you want to observe or for the names of corporations you'd prefer to preserve tabs on as well.
There are also several common job banks that you can use to find public relations positions when conducting digital searches. It's possible you'll concentrate on lots of them but among the best are monster.com, flipdog.com, hotjobs.yahoo.com America's Job Financial institution at ajb.org and you could find wage and job demand info for public relations and other fields through the use of the Michigan Occupational Information System (MOIS) at mois.org. Two additional websites directed to communications associated jobs are talentzoo.com and PRCrossing.com
Although the internet shall be critical to your job search, do not fall into the lure of staying residence and expecting the job to return to you by email. You still have to hit the streets and meet with people you already know, and people who know individuals who know people who are hiring. In the long run, it's networking and private contacts that can land you a job.
A media particular person's job search is, in actuality, a public relations and marketing campaign. Use all of the writing and creative skills it's a must to write a pitch and job advertising and marketing letter. You could have written many articles to persuade readers to share your opinion or to take action. Use those self same abilities to persuade someone to rent you. Simply consider it the most important pitch letter you will ever write.
As a publicist I've seen first hand the issues going through this industry and I understand that it is very robust for professionals within the media to maintain their jobs and to find new jobs when necessary. However there's hope, particularly while you use the skills it's important to get what you want essentially the most - that next job! And once you get that new job, drop me a line.
Yet another thing. Not to be a wise aleck however the newspaper enterprise is prospering in one part of the world and some Individuals are getting hired. The place? India. Go figure.
MF