nirrti_rachelle
Veteran
Joined: 21 Jul 2005
Age: 51
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,302
Location: The Dirty South
30 Jan 2006, 10:00 pm
Well, after an agonizing five years of underemployment, unemployment, lay-offs and business closures, I finally have a chance to put my journalism degree to use, something I never thought would ever happen to me. After all, when it comes to jobs, it seems nothing good ever happens to me.
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine gave my writing samples to the editor of the Tri-State Defender, a historically African-American newspaper. It took a while for me to reach her and she told me they were extremely busy and she would call me after reading my samples. I didn't keep my hopes up since I'd been disappointed too many times before and haven't worked for a publication since college.
This morning, she called and told me she had an assignment for me and would like to see me tomorrow to give me the details. Right now, I'm waiting for someone to pinch me because I must be dreaming. 
I expected, at best, to get another high stress, low-paying job answering phones or worse, going back to working at Taco Bell. I didn't think, for a second, when I got fired four months ago over something that shouldn't have so much as warranted a write-up I would be getting my first professional newspaper assignment.
Although I'm not sure if this will be full time or just on a freelance bases, it's, at least, something in a positive direction that I can build on. The editor said they don't pay very much being such a small publication but that doesn't matter to me, right now. I wonder if those people who unjustly fired from my last job knew they were doing me the biggest favor of my life because they certainly did.
30 Jan 2006, 10:13 pm
nirrti, that's awesome. So wonderful for you. A hell of a lot of luck tomorrow and have a great time. 
PS- Definitely let us know how it goes.
30 Jan 2006, 10:15 pm
Wow. CONGRATULATIONS! Good luck!
Last edited by dexkaden on 31 Jan 2006, 10:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
30 Jan 2006, 10:17 pm
30 Jan 2006, 10:26 pm
31 Jan 2006, 12:30 am
31 Jan 2006, 12:40 am
Congrats. 
31 Jan 2006, 4:54 am
BRILLIANT!! ! 
congratulations, nirrti-rachelle!
31 Jan 2006, 10:46 am
31 Jan 2006, 11:14 am
Bearsac-Debra
Toucan
Joined: 20 Nov 2005
Age: 59
Gender: Female
Posts: 270
Location: Borehamwood, Herts, UK
31 Jan 2006, 12:08 pm
Well Done
31 Jan 2006, 2:02 pm
Nirrti_rachelle, this is fantastic news. I keep my fingers crossed!
nirrti_rachelle
Veteran
Joined: 21 Jul 2005
Age: 51
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,302
Location: The Dirty South
31 Jan 2006, 7:45 pm
Today, I got to meet the editor in person to discuss the nature of the assignment. She explained that, as a freelancer, I would be assigned articles according to need and providing that my first two published are up to par. Being a small newspaper and with only three perminant staff reporters, they mostly use the work of freelancers which is fine with me since it'll give me up to date samples of my work I can use when applying for work at other publications.
Although she originally planned to give me one of her own choosing, the death of Coretta Scott King pre-empted any other stories that're coming out in the next issue. She asked me what story ideas I had or if I already had an outline already written out. I told her I wanted to do a story on TennCare cuts and how they have affected people with mental illnesses (such as myself) who were recently knocked off the roles. As I was giving my story pitch, she noticed my nervousness and said, "Hey, don't be nervous. We're all family here." Aaaarrrgghhhh! I was trying so hard not to be aspie-ish and I still couldn't hide it! Oh well. At least people in creative fields don't seem to be as turned off by eccentric or introverted behavior, thank goodness.
She liked the idea and recommended I write it in a way that's applicable to African-Americans, who are the paper's target market. Payment is per article so since it's not a "steady" income, I'll still have to look for a more conventional job. But I don't feel as bad about it since I'll be doing something in my field and won't be stuck in that position forever.
31 Jan 2006, 7:58 pm
31 Jan 2006, 8:16 pm
31 Jan 2006, 8:30 pm
