If you left the journalism biz today ....

I'll gladly direct Roy's dark comedies if he'd rather stick with writing.

 

Funny time for me to find this thread. I made the decision today. I'm done with journalism as soon as I can get all the way out. Long story....but I've had it. And like a lot of others on this thread, I'm going to be a teacher. And yes, apparently I can't do, so....it kinda fits.

I'm already in a master's program to teach high school English. Juggling work, my family and school is a pain in the ass and I really wasn't sure if I'd really leave the business for good. Well, today settled it. I'm not sure whether to celebrate my decision or get drunk off my ass and cry....hell, maybe both would work.

 

The thing is ... I love what I do, and I suspect most of us here feel the same way.

What I hate ... and what would likely drive me out of journalism, if I ever leave ... is the business of this business.

 

From my experience, teaching is the job that most journalists take when they leave the biz. Of course, I can't do that because I don't have a college degree, a fact that won't hamper me too much at this point if I want to stick with newspapers. But it's a huge hindrance to starting a new career.

 

I did leave, went to PR, made money and proved to myself that I could do that.

Then I came back.

I could probably do that again.

But I'd rather take Hef's place when he dies.

 

Absolutely understandable.

 

Peter Gibbons: Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what you'd do if you had a million dollars and you didn't have to work. And invariably what you'd say was supposed to be your career. So, if you wanted to fix old cars then you're supposed to be an auto mechanic.
Samir: So what did you say?
Peter Gibbons: I never had an answer. I guess that's why I'm working at Initech.
Michael Bolton: No, you're working at Initech because that question is bullshit to begin with. If everyone listened to her, there'd be no janitors, because no one would clean shit up if they had a million dollars.
Samir: You know what I would do if I had a million dollars? I would invest half of it in low risk mutual funds and then take the other half over to my friend Asadulah who works in securities...
Michael Bolton: Samir, you're missing the point. The point of the exercise is that you're supposed to figure out what you would want to do if...
[printer starts beeping]
Michael Bolton: "PC Load Letter?" What the fuck does that mean?

 

pallister: You and I are in the exact same boat, my friend.

 

Grad School, for something a little more lucrative. Maybe get my PHD and teach.

 

Exactly. And like a few others have mentioned...what a time to find this thread. I think many of us are pondering this subject these days.

I went for a drive after work tonight and was thinking about this - what would I want to do with myself if I quit the gig I have now? I took one of those "interest surveys" online during work tonight (slow Monday) and most everything I kept checking "don't want to do." My result? One option: Librarian. Kill me now.

After my first newspaper gig, I got out. I thought it was just working at a weekly, the crappy boss and/or the shitty company. I left, with the intention of working my way through a teaching degree as a shift/ASM at McDonalds. My place in the world felt useless.

I went back into newspapers, at a metro daily where I love the majority of my coworkers. I've found sports I'm passionate about covering, but I'm still the peon (1.5 years...sorry, I have no patience). I do just about everything I can, including a few agate shifts each week. As much as I enjoy it at times (other than the agate part), I still feel like I'm just drifting around with no purpose.

I can think of a handful of things I want to do: sports PR (specifically motor sports), an SID for my alma mater (not going to happen), race cars, something real estate-related a'la Richard Davis' Trademark Properties/The Real Deal, travel. I don't have the money to do the racing or traveling, and none of the others have motivated me enough to get out. My apathy is keeping me in journalism.

Sorry for the novel....I've been needing a place to vent about this.

 

I'll tell you what I'd do, man: two chicks at the same time, man.

Oh, but, yes, I can understand how apathy would keep me in the business. I feel that way often.