Right out of college I landed a news reporter position for a mid-sized daily. I loved it, but I quit after a year to stay home with an infant. We moved to a new city, and when I wanted to go back to work, the gap in my resume and brief job history made it difficult for me to find work in journalism.
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I knew I had the right stuff, but nobody wants a stay-at-home mom when they have a stack of resumes from reporters who didn't make that choice. Instead, I found freelance work in the features department of the local newspaper. The company soon offered me a full-time job. I've worked here several years, and I love the hours and the flexibility to write on virtually any subject. The problem is that I aspire to work in the news department of a larger newspaper, and I'm afraid as soon as a recruiter sees "features reporter" on my resume, I'll be dismissed.
Are my concerns legitimate? Suggestions?
I Want to Do News
From what you describe of your previous transition, this one should be a little easier.
What you need is some clips that show the kind of news reporting you can do. You might even try to engineer the kind of change you're looking for at your current newspaper.
If you're valued and your side note says you are, you can use that as capital to try to get into a position you'd rather have.
Editors will kick and scream to keep popular writers doing the things that sell the newspaper, but some of that kicking and screaming will translate into flexibility about assignments.
Have a talk with your editors. Tell them about your new career goals. Go for a transfer � at least a partial one � and insist that you need to get some news assignments to stay happy. They'll probably lay it on thick to keep you doing what you're doing, but if you stick to your plan, you may get the opportunities and clips you need.
Coming Thursday: This weekly reporter is interested in taking a break to work in the Peace Corps, but is afraid the time away will prevent a return to journalism.
