Q. I enjoy reading your tell-it-like-it-is advice column.
I am a 40-year-old photographer turned photo editor with a top 10 circulation newspaper in
New York City. I have been in the business half my life, and a large part of two Pulitzers
won at a previous newspaper. My wife and I have been talking about packing up and
moving West for several years now. I recently responded to a posting for a photo editor at
a small newspaper I've always liked in Southern California. Surely, they paper would be interested in
hiring someone with my big city experience.
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After e-mailing the managing editor my resume and letter of interest, and not receiving any response, I decided to call him. The editor said he received my e-mail and asked why I'd
want to leave New York. I explained that I've made a great living in New York City and that this is more of a quality of life move for financial reasons. He followed up with an e-mail stating the salary range (which I figured would be about half of what I make in New York) and ended with "thanks for your interest." I e-mailed the editor back to say that I am still interested in the position, and I promptly shipped him hard copies of my Pulitzer-winning work.
Two weeks later, I have not heard back. The editor mentioned he was looking to fill the job in "a month-and-a-half."
What position should I now take with this editor? My wife and I are still very interested in moving to this location, and I've been looking at this particular market for the last three years.
S
nubbed by a Small PaperA. There is why moves like the one you're describing are called non-traditional.
The editor may be making assumptions about your happiness that you would not make. He may be reluctant to pay for a job interview trip that he thinks will not succeed. He may wonder whether your wife is as committed to this move as you are.
Call him again, and say something to the effect of: "Look, we are really serious about this opportunity. I think I have the big-city experience you want, and we think you have the life we want. We've discussed this, we are of one mind and we know we can afford it. I really want to work for you. Give me a shot."
Coming Tuesday: This former print managing editor is moving to online but wants to have a title that will show his career is still moving in a good direction.
