Q. First and foremost, thank you for the column. The guidance you provide is invaluable for those pesky questions, like the one I pose today.
About 18 months ago, my spouse and I planned for a cross-country move to our current location. I immediately began to contact newspapers in this area and made appointments for informational interviews. I made many good contacts, and even though I've found a job at a small daily (17,000 circulation), I continue to keep in touch with some of the editors I've met. (I've worked in newspapers this size going on six years now.)
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Among those I tried to reach was an editor at the mid-sized daily (40,000 circulation) near where I now live. I sent an e-mail or two and called a couple of times each time I came to town to search for apartments and visit the place where my spouse now works. I left one message each time I visited, but I never got a call or an e-mail back. The news clerk told me he was the person who handled newsroom recruitment, so I know that's not the issue.
I have applied to jobs at this paper three times. One part of me says that persistence pays off. Another part of me wants to throw my hands in the air and give up. I read the paper every day, and I would like to know what I can do to move my career toward this larger daily paper. I have not tried to call this editor since I moved here.
Is it appropriate to call the editor and ask for an informational meeting as I have in the past? I want to ask what kinds of qualities I would need to work at a newspaper like his. It would give me something to strive for, and the editor might remember me for future (though distant) openings.
UnsureA. By all means, call the editor.
You've tried the designated person to no avail. We can speculate all we want about why you are not getting a response; I would just try another track.
When you meet the editor who has been ignoring you, smile, shake his hand and say you're pleased to meet him.
If the editor refuses a direct request for a visit, then throw up your hands.
Coming Monday: Fresh from the Peace Corps, he now has the journalism bug and is planning to launch his writing career in an area that is under-served by journalists. He wonders if this is a good way to go about entering the journalism field.
I agree, definitely give a call. I was in a...
