The ax falls, I was spared ... the aftermath of a layoff
There were some tears around the office yesterday and it’s hard not to feel guilty today that I have a cool new title. While I was restructured in, a lot of people were shown the door, smart editors with long histories and much to offer.
It doesn’t seem fair that it had to happen this way. Not a single person being forced to unemployment wants to go. All of them gave their lives to newspapers, forgoing other careers with better pay and hours for the adrenaline rush of life in a newsroom.
Everyone wants to stay on this shaky ground and hang on until the last page prints and only a handful of people are needed to toss words at the web. We all want to see how it plays out and be there as the revolution comes to a close and opens up to a redesigned media frontier.
We all want to be there. Yet, there’s not room for everyone as pages shrink, and soon (who knows when) days published decrease. The forecasting is as shaky as the platform so no one left even knows how long until the next round of layoffs. We live our work life quarter by quarter. And lately, each quarter includes a furlough and a round of layoffs.
Despite that, and the extra work, those of us who still have jobs are happy to remain and it’s more than just the fear of lost income and benefits. It’s the thrill of being part of what comes next. We’re in the news biz, and it’s never been dull, not even on its worst day. Now, in the height of change, it’s fascinating because it never stands still.
For those forced to brave unemployment and the loss of identity that comes with it, there’s still plenty of media to dabble in. Not paid of course. But there’s a home for everyone’s point of view and it costs nothing to start a blog and little to launch a website. Anyone walking away from today’s newsroom has so much knowledge.
A flack who not long ago worked for a powerful NJ daily recently confided how much he missed newspapers. He took the buyout because he had no choice. But he said he really, really missed newspaper life. And he’s going to launch a news website filled with crime and politics. Will it make money? Probably not much. But it’ll be his passion, no doubt. He’ll be able to find great reporters. And it’ll have a devoted community of readers. What more does any writer want?
I’m so grateful I still have job, for another quarter anyway. But I do know I’ll never leave media behind even if my paycheck-fate becomes substitute teaching in Newark or inspecting cars at the DMV.
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Comments
I like your attitude. Rated.
I hate reading about the death of newspapers in any city. I am a print junkie (and investor - crazy decision)...the loss of so many independent media voices is gut-wrenching.
God it was great, working fueled by caffeine and Deadline Fever, writing under pressure that would make most people fold. The threat of libel suits, the anger of the people whose secrets you had exposed.
I feel as if I've entered the Witness Protection Program, a stool pigeon from the Mob. Now I will have to make my way as an ordinary working stiff in Tucson, condemned to remember how exciting the old days were, how reckless and proud we were. How damn good we were ...
I wish I had as much confidence in the future of newspaper as I do in the future of Cindy.
By the way, some DMV stations aren't bad out here in Hunterdon. Just sayin'.
M'oh yes. I hope the economic downturn in newspapers reverses itself. It's happened before -- I know that because I lived through it.
Rated for telling it like it is....
A bit Con, but better than the alternative!
I hope your investment pays off Joe -- maybe in the end it'll be one of the survivors! Thanks!
That's really sad Des...
Ablonde, I have a feeling Democracy will on in digital and newsmagazine format, altered from what we're used to, but still there....
Maria, i remember reading about your last column. So glad you regained a voice here without missing a word.
Your piece offhandedly reminded me of my friend, who is sticking with her awful, awful job because it's a job and she's grateful for the steady income. Meanwhile, she's desperately unhappy and I wonder where that line is drawn. I wonder if you know what you're job really means to you, minus the fear.
Anyway, I digress. Thank you for opening these doors for me.
Lois, i'm still working shitty hours! But at least it's a good paper, and the thrill is still there ... yeah, i hear ya!
haha! Thanks Duane! I DMV's not my fate, but it'd probably make for fun blogging!
Yep, trig, change is the only constant!
boanerges, you've lived thru it before? interesting... it'll survice, just a matter of what'll look it.
haha, thanks bri, i'll know the joy soon i guess.
Glad you survived too onecoriglover. I know what you mean about more work -- very true!
I remember reading your tale of survival Del. Hopefully we'll both be around to tell the story of the new age of newspapers.
It's important to love what you do most of your day, beth, no doubt. i've been fortunate. but sometimes life backs you into a corner and it becomes a matter of survival, maybe like your friend. i think there will always be a printed product ... maybe just not 7 days a week.
I'd like to think of everything as a learning experience, alas we don;t learn so good.
It's with hope that we'll be able to look back on these times as necessity forcing the hand of invention and that good things will come from the shadows.
Unfortunately only time will tell and sometimes doesn't tell at all.
I know a lot of people forced to re-evaluate their lives and what's important... As much as I hate the corporations that got us into this mess. They're more or less just a mirror image of ourselves, sans conscience.
I enjoyed the subdued feeling of hope oddly coupled with remorse. Although it's not just for newspapers, it's for something deeper.
IMHO,
jay