# Looking for career advice (current and former journalists, please chime in) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-career-advice-current-and-former-journalists-please-chime-in/643840 "2012-12-12T17:11:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-career-advice-current-and-former-journalists-please-chime-in/643840/1 "2012-12-12T17:11:14Z")
I’m looking for advice on how to transition my career away from journalism. I’m employed, and I like certain aspects of my job, but it’s time for me to find a job in a growth industry, or at least an industry that is not self-destructing. I’m not sure what sort of jobs I should be looking for, though, or how best to translate what I do on a day-to-day basis to hiring managers so they can see how my talents would fit their requirements. Here are some of my current responsibilities and talents: I’m a page designer, so my job involves prioritizing information (stories), associating related information (photos, graphics, etc.) and presenting the information in an appealing way. I have to design anywhere from 6 to 12 pages per shift, and my job includes maintaining the workflow – ensuring the copy editors have sufficient time to edit stories and that pages are sent to the plateroom on deadline. I also edit stories and write headlines on occasion when the copy desk gets backed up. I can use InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. I can draw infographics, such as maps and charts, and I can size and tone photos. I was the editor of my college paper for two years, and I have five years’ professional experience, three at my current job. I also have experience with audio editing and reporting from internships at NPR stations. Given these talents and this experience, how do I get a foot in the door in a field that isn’t journalism?And what sort of positions should I be looking for, and in what industries? PR and corporate communications seem like obvious choices, but are there others I should be looking at? ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-career-advice-current-and-former-journalists-please-chime-in/643840/2 "2012-12-12T17:37:50Z")
I work in PR/Communications, so I can maybe help a little. I do a LOT of journalism-style writing with my job. Do you have a degree? What sort of schooling? How much do you need to make? It’s not impossible to get a foot in the door, but to make a living it can be a challenge, depending on what you are used to as far as salary. What market do you live in? Can you re-locate? If you are willing to start small market it can be easier. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-career-advice-current-and-former-journalists-please-chime-in/643840/3 "2012-12-12T17:45:42Z")
Yes, I have a BA in journalism. I also did a six-week fellowship at the Poynter Institute after graduation. I’d like to keep my salary above $40K if possible. Is that realistic, or is that high for a non-newspaper communications job? (I made $43K right out of college. Maybe I was luckier than I realized.) I’m in the upper Midwest, but my wife and I aren’t married to the location. She’s going into nursing and is willing/hoping to relocate. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-career-advice-current-and-former-journalists-please-chime-in/643840/4 "2012-12-12T18:09:25Z")
You should get in to the Web business. All of those skills are needed in making effective Web sites. I have a journalism degree and I went right in to Web design out of college (with no schooling in that area). Now, I went in to programming but I still do have to do some design and writing and find that I use my journalism skills a lot. If you found a firm that was big enough to have someone specialize in content and layout, you’d be their man. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-career-advice-current-and-former-journalists-please-chime-in/643840/5 "2012-12-12T20:11:37Z")
How about you and I trade jobs? I’m only half joking. I was an editor and reporter for about as long as you’ve been doing it, and I went straight into PR for a non-profit. I’ve done a number of things, including writing for documentaries, magazine series, and educational programs. Now I’m back in communications, now called marketing, and editing a monthly publication. And I don’t make _that_ much more money than you do. :mad: I’d pretty much rather work anywhere but here. BUT career advice: we use In Design in our graphics department, where my magazine is laid out. We also do a lot of email newsletters, e-blasts and brochures, which instead of being printed are prepared as PDFs and printed out if needed. I have no idea whether my place of employment is typical; I doubt it.