Is there something better??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brother has a business degree and 6 years experience yet makes $38k in a job that requires both experience and a degree. Grow up little girl and welcome to life.

Work your way up like everyone else. Your college degree is a basic qualification. Sorry you were told otherwise. If 20 years from now you want to lament then ok. But until then, stop whining and start working.

DC Pays shit for the lower end just out of school jobs. Took me a very long long long time to finally make some money.

I remember when I got out of school. I told my recruiter i want my own place and a car. He said you can have one or the other. My bubble burst.

[Anonymous]

As someone who has nearly worked in journalism for nearly 20 years, I say hold onto your current job like grim death. You will be damn lucky if you aren't laid off in the next year. And good luck finding another job in journalism if you are laid off. The Post, The Baltimore Sun, the wire services, TV networks, specialist publications, etc., have been hemorrhaghing jobs for the last 10 years. I have watched my older, talented colleagues be shoved out the door and replaced by 25-year-olds, precisely because the companies WANT to pay you less than 50K a year and offer you crummy benefits -- you cost them less money.

If you can, become a specialist in something (health, defense, technology, etc.) If you become an expert and known in that field, it will be much easier to get a new job in journalism or elsewhere. If you jump ship, you can work for an industry, the feds or a nonprofit as their communications person. But it won't be easy. There are lots of ex-journalists out there pounding the pavement. Unfortunately, I will likely be one of them later this year.

If you are bored in your current position, do something about it - pitch a story to your boss, write a freelance piece, start a blog, etc. Make things happen for yourself.

And to echo previous comments, $45K is really not bad for journalism, especially in this climate with your limited experience. This should not have been a shock to you.

Knowing how to write clearly is an excellent skill to have. That will always make you marketable. Just keep working at it or come up with a game plan to change things. And next year, when I am begging you for a job, so my husband and I can pay our mortgage, be kind.

[Anonymous]

PP - nearly worked in journalism! oops. Freudian slip. meant to saw worked in journalism for nearly 20 years (my brain is fried.)

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it.