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Help me decide my future
I'm in decision mode today, and I need your help.
I told you yesterday that I had gone to a meeting on Tuesday with my boss and my editor. We sat down to "evaluate" where we were with my role at On Success. My boss wanted to inow how I felt about blogging and editing other bloggers. My response: "I don't hate it."
It was an honest answer. I've been doing this since early November. I used to hate it. The all-consuming nature of it--the e-mails, phone calls, constant interaction, always feeling "on" and dealing with technology all day. My boss seemed disappointed in my answer. I think he hoped that I would say that I loved it, that I had thoroughly embraced every part of my complicated new job.
So I was intrigued by his offer to go back to reporting, if I wanted. There is a job open that is similar to what I was doing previously. I could have my old life back--talking to sources each day, pitching stories, going out to talk to regular people whose lives had purposely or inadvertently intersected with crime, celebrity, sports, history or something else that made them a candidate for a story.
My dilemma is that I don't hate blogging anymore. Each day, I learn something new and, yes, exciting. It is challenging, time consuming, unfamilar, though becoming less so and has placed me out there in a way I was previously able to avoid. I was always the fly-under-the-radar type. When they told me I had to have my picture on the blog, I freaked.
Now, I'm getting into it. I am working on new technology, interacting with folks from around the world, via the Internet, who are also trying to reinvent themselves. There is value is that. And satisfaction.
So, I'm not sure. I am happy to have the opportunity to return to traditional reporting, but I'm not sure I don't want to keep blogging. I thought about the stories I'd be doing in the next few months if I go back to traditional reporting, and my heart ached a little. Then, I thought about the interviews I'd be doing for On Success, and my heart ached a little at the prosect of not getting to chronicle the rise of those people to sucess.
What do you think? Go back to an old love or move forward with a seductive new opportunity? I have to let my boss know by Friday. Help me decide what to do.
Avis Thomas-Lester
| December 16, 2009; 7:45 AM ET Save & Share:
Previous: My "Mary J. Blige" thing | Next: My dilemma continues
Posted by: easymac | December 18, 2009 6:02 AM
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Avis,
Take the road to the future: blogging. Among other things, it will keep you young.
No need to retrace your steps at this point; you already know you're good at that.
Meanwhile, who knows what blogging will be like in one year? Five years?
Best of luck, whichever you choose. bb
Posted by: BobLA1 | December 17, 2009 5:10 PM
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I'm not sure why you must choose. You can do both, and neither will suffer. It means lots of hard work, but what job in journalism doesn't -- or shouldn't?
Robert MacMillan
Reuters reporter, blogger
Washingtonpost.com alumnus
Posted by: easymac | December 16, 2009 5:25 PM
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Without a doubt, I vote stick with the blogging!
It may be comfortable to go back into the safe zone, but you've already taken bold steps into the future of media. For professional reasons, sticking with the blog makes more sense because then you have *two* marketable proficiencies under your belt: traditional journalism, and blogging. Plus this allows you to further build and grow your personal brand. For personal reasons, I also think you should stick with the blog because I dont believe you are the type to leave something unfinished-- and this project is no where near baked yet! Heck, you've barely stopped kneeding the dough.
For selfish reasons, as one of your bloggers, I've really enjoyed working with you and think you are a very effective blog editor. Its been a pleasure to see you learn and grow with this process, and I would miss you *alot* if you stepped aside.
Posted by: Alexis Rodich | December 16, 2009 4:02 PM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
Hello again,
I can't resist jumping in once more with two thoughts:
1. I wish more journalists would read this post and get into the discussion.
2. After thinking about my comment yesterday and reading what the other folks wrote here, I have to ask, rhetorically, why the blog isn't journalism too? Its theme, approach and delivery are different than, say, your story about corn-generated power, but you must report that story and your blog to make each one worth reading, no?
In any case, I still don't see why you can't do both at the Post or anywhere else that employs you. And I know that Marcus, Liz and Raju are smart enough to know that you can.
Cheers,
Robert