Journalists and the Art of Bouncing Gracefully

displacedjournalists.com — By Fara Warner Special for Displaced Journalists A few months ago, I was interviewed by the director of a journalism program for a faculty position at one of the top communications schools in the country. To be honest, I was simply honored to even be in the room. At the very least, I thought, Id learn the ins and outs of an academic search. If the stars aligned, well, maybe Id get the job. Fara Warner Like most events in my life, I saw this experience through the lens of a journalist I will learn something, Ill figure out a new process, Ill meet new people, Ill learn a few new interview techniques. Maybe theres a story in it. After a few pleasantries, the director lobbed this question at me: You seem to have bounced around a lot, can you explain that? Without thinking, I spoke the truth as I saw it: Actually, Ive been a journalist for the past 20 years save for a six-month stint as a PR person, which simply taught me that I really was a journalist through and through. So I wouldnt say Ive bounced around. Ive always been a journalist. In fact, Ive been a freelance journalist working for myself for eight years longer than I worked for The Wall Street Journal. Warner's book: "The Power of the Purse" I didnt get the job. I know it wasnt my answer to this question, but its one that I have pondered a great deal since that interview. Did I seem flighty, incapable of holding down a job? I thought experiences made a good journalist. Should I have stayed at the Journal so I could end up working for Rupert Murdoch one day? Should I have stuck it out at Fast Company even though I really wanted to try my hand at writing a book? Should I have jumped back into a real job instead of building a freelance business that resulted in a book and a career speaking about how powerful women have become in the past 100 years? Maybe. But the idea that you will stick in one job for years and years doesnt seem relevant to me or even worth asking anymore. Whether we jump as I did eight years ago in September 2002 or we are shoved, as so many of my colleagues have been in the past five years, lifetime employment at one media company simply isnt possible and probably not that fulfilling. What is possible and fulfilling then? I wish I had that answer. In fact, I think I used to until that question a few months ago. Im realizing that the reason the directors question bothered me so much is that I secretly have been asking myself this same question. Have I bounced too much as I worked to make ends meet instead of thinking about what I really wanted to do? And if I have bounced too much, then how do I stop, take a breath, and decide what really is important when it comes to my life as a journalist and educator? How can I be more effective as a journalist? How can I have a higher profile and impact as an author? Can I find the passion to write another book? How can I freelance and teach? All these questions used to inspire me, but now they scare me. Most of the time in a good way, sometimes in a bad way when I wake up in the middle of the night wondering which path I should take and if I can take all of them at once in hopes that the best idea somehow floats to the top. I feel overwhelmed by choice: I could write another book. I could begin a multimedia journalism start-up. I could get a Ph.D. I could blog more. I could freelance more. Then there are the four journalism classes Im teaching at two different schools. I could just go get a real job and forget all this re-invention and making ends meet. But I am determined to take the time to figure this out because Ive also realized something else these past few months. If there is anything I miss about working for a big media company, it is the feeling (either real or imagined) of making an impact as a journalist, of being read, of making a difference. Im afraid that blogging doesnt do this for me, nor does tweeting. So what will? Im not certain yet. But this time, Im determined to bounce with purpose instead of bouncing just to pay the bills. Read more about Fara Warner here. Visit her blog, The Power of the Purse. Sep 7, 2010 View in Crawl 4