Q. I've moved up the ranks as a reporter in a small bureau for a mid to large-size paper (100,000-plus circulation). I enjoy working my local beat, but have expressed interest in moving to a topical beat such as faith or health -- topics I've dabbled in from time to time. My goal is to move to one of those beats permanently at our main office or perhaps become an editor. However, editing jobs are few and far between, and we don't have a faith or health beat now. Although I've seen plans to expand specialty reporting beats, I'm not sure we will develop one anytime soon given our staffing shortage.
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Meanwhile, a job in our main office on our small Web site staff just opened up, and I've applied for that largely because it's a new opportunity that will allow me to learn new skills in an area of journalism that is exploding with growth. However, I just chatted with the journalist leaving that job, and she said it's more copy editing -- writing headlines, captions, posting photos -- than real Web-based journalism that would involve learning HTML coding and other valuable skills. But perhaps joining the staff now will allow me to grow professionally as the online staff grows and more opportunities for advancement are created.
I plan to ask more questions as I delve deeper into the interview process, but I would like to know what you think. Should I stick it out on the reporting side, hoping more topical beats will be created? Or should I jump into online journalism because that's where the journalism industry is headed?
Sincerely,
Uncertain A. Neither move seems likely to help you -- unless you mix in a little initiative, which I am sure you plan to do.
Let's play out each choice.
Years ago, one of our suburban reporters wanted to be more of a topical beat reporter, but she was assigned to cover communities. On her beat, she developed so many good health care stories that it became recognized as a mini-beat. With more and more front-page stories, her editors frequently
asked her to go after the health stories. When she left -- for
The Wall Street Journal -- her editor decided he had to find a new reporter to cover suburban health issues.
Web production jobs requires a lot of news judgment and editing with some easy-to-use Web tools. If you pursue this path, use your initiative -- but not to learn HTML. A basic understanding of HTML is good, but it is not the valuable skill it once was. You're a journalist, so stick to that. Take the Web site in new directions by learning how to assemble multimedia story packages, searchable databases, photo galleries and edit audio and video. Reporting may always be your stronger suit, but you can find success by delivering it through new tools.
Coming Thursday: This reporter feels very uncomfortable about having her photo run with stories that are published on the Web site. It seems OK for TV reporters, but not for print.
As someone who has worked in New Media for two...
