Monday, January 10, 2011

New Adventures: My Big Announcement

I've been the editor-in-chief for a local women's publication for the past two years and eight months. I work for a behemoth publishing company whose main publications are the two largest newspapers in the state in which I reside. When I started working there, the publication I was in charge of was a glossy magazine published every other month.

Recently, the publication has been, in my opinion, downgraded to a newsprint (they tell me it's fancier newsprint paper called high brite) tabloid ensconced within the pages of the newspaper every month. The immature part of me thought, "Ew! I'll be a newspaper editor. How degrading!" But, the sensible part of me thought, "Wait this thing out and see where it goes."

I am not in denial. I know newspapers really aren't going to suddenly become the latest and greatest thing. The horse and buggy aren't coming back either. I don't think newspapers will completely go away, at least for a while. They'll continue to see a long and painful (I've seen countless people get laid off) decline in subscribers.

There will always be a need for a gathering place for people to come, catch up on the latest stories from their community and kibbutz with each other.  I had hoped I could create an online place for that to happen as the magazine was losing traction quickly. I wanted to produce a new forum for local women using the magazine as the brand. I was hoping to set up an online gathering place as a contingency plan — much like a lifeboat for a sinking ship — to save the magazine.

Recently though, my hopes were dashed. The company won't spend money on a new website. The magazine is going to continue (for now) to be the same. It will still have a one-day shelf life as it is distributed one day per month to a dwindling newsprint population. Sadly, the writing is on the wall for me.

I've received an offer to become an online marketing director for an up-and-coming online conglomerate. I'm excited about the company, it's standards and values, the potential for growth, and their vision for the future. Most of all, I'm excited that this new company embraces my role as a mother and will allow (expects, even) me to work from home half the time. The people there are cheerful and energetic; I'm going to love it there.

What's going to happen to my writing aspirations? I guess I'll be on the other end of pitching stories now. That's okay. I know how editor's think. I was one.

12 comments:

  1. YAY! Couldn't be more excited! You're going to rock it!

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  2. Best of luck in your new venture. Hope you'll continue writing...especially your blog!

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  3. Excited to have you Pam! It will be a fun new adventure and I know you will love it here. :)

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  4. Congrats Pam, I'm excited for you! We need to get together so you can give me the full scoop - on this new adventure and everything else :)

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  5. Congratulations! I was an absolute pleasure working with you and the team. I wish you all the best in this new adventure.

    - mike

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  6. Awesome, Pam! How exciting! Change can be good, and it seems like this one will be great!! (I'm jealous about the work from home part) ;) Good luck!

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  7. Congrats Pam!!! Can't wait to see where this new adventure takes you. Have fun - you have the passion to make it the best!

    Toni Taylor
    Urban Retreat Spa & Salon

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  8. Wow. Congratulations I love the Steal Network and you'll be a great asset! Call me. We'll need to discuss what that means for us at SP!

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  9. Congratulations, Pam! With all of your hard work and positive attitude, you deserve nothing but the best!

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  10. Thanks everyone! I'm very excited about this new step and, don't worry, I'll keep writing.

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  11. Pam--I am just catching up--this is exciting. Congratulations! Have you started? I'll keep reading!

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