M:M Feature Commentary: To The Fallen

By Richard Thompson
Mediaverse®

On March 28, the Memphis Newspaper Guild will hold a workshop at its office on Union Ave for those recently laid-off from the Commercial Appeal.

Curiously enough, that’s a Saturday—perhaps because those who will offer tips still have to work during the week at the CA. Such is irony. The involuntarily-unemployed should become accustomed to it because their senses will become attuned to such observations in cruel, funny, heartbreaking and inspiring ways over the days, weeks and months ahead.

I speak from experience. As part of the workshop, there is also an open call for former CAers, like myself, to come and offer advice. I want to help. So I plan to attend. To that end, this column is a way for me to collect my thoughts.

The last day.
I know how it felt. Gathering your personal belongings. The stares of disbelieving and grieving co-workers. The finality of turning in that badge. The sound of the door closing and locking.

I really know the sadness, the anger, the fear and even the relief. At some point, we know the end is coming. It’s inevitable. We’ve reported on it elsewhere. Yet, when it arrives for us, the relief comes in no longer having to anticipate it. Yet, the anger is there. It shouldn’t have been me. Others were more deserving. This is some bullshit. It is. You’ll say this. I should sue. You’ll say that too and mean it.

You need to say it. You need to work it through your system. If you contemplate suing, hopefully you have your documentation, money for a lawyer and even more patience than ever because it will take years to get a day in court—and even then, “justice” may elude you. Shirley Downing is the exception. Most folks try to move on. You need to try this too.

Remember.
First, though, remember: all things happen for a reason and they often happen beyond your immediate ability to comprehend.

If nothing else, remember that. Enlightenment will come and part of that will manifest itself in your identity. You’ll see it when you catch yourself answering the phone like you would’ve done at your desk. You’ll see it when you go to McDonald’s and notice how employed they are. You’ll see it when people ask you what you do for a living—and you’ll say...well, what will you say? Here’s my suggestion: “I breathe in...and out.”

OK, that might be a little flippant. The point, though, is that you are at a point where you—not the entity on a paycheck—defines who you are. To that end, if you view yourself as a journalist, then that’s what you are. I am. I refused to let others define me otherwise. I’m just sayin, you’ll come to realize how much Scripps had you in a Matrix, controlling your life. Oh, that has its benefits: steady pay, work and health care.

But now, for the first time, you’ll be able to find your own voice.—and no, that doesn’t pay bills but should you return to corporate America, in some form or fashion, you’ll know how to keep it and your sanity. Trust me. This is important.

Right now.
By Nov. 9, 2006, I wasn’t ready to be fired but I was somewhat prepared. I thank God for the Newspaper Guild and that scrawny ass contract. It didn’t save my job but it did provide the 401K that I depleted soon thereafter and it did provide a structure for me to get some kind of severance. So again, I’m thankful. The point, though, is that hopefully you are prepared too. (For the survivors, you better get ready too.)

And if you aren’t, don’t be dismissive of the folks who say admittedly trite things like “Let me know if I can help” because those folks are still options, no matter how unlikely to pan out. The more options, the better. Network.

There is no better time than now because folks that you haven’t spoken to in years will reach out to you, just to share condolences. DO NOT LOSE their number, E-mail or “defriend” them on Facebook. Don’t be afraid to reach out yourself. It’s not pity when you are taking the initiative to help yourself. But I digress.

Right now, after you’ve cried, drank some adult beverages or just woke up, if you want to be a journalist, a writer, then I would still keep writing. The Guild was a good thing about the CA but it’s also a bad thing because no other publication will pay you the same salary.

So, chances are that you’ll have to leave Memphis if you want to report or copy edit news. (Customer service jobs are here. So are ad jobs. And folks will always need good photographers. Writers, well...) You need to go to the CA’s Web site and print out every story or project that you’ve ever worked on. Build your portfolio.

If you have a blog, that will work too. Trust me on that. Blogging kept me relevant and kept my journalistic skills sharp. More importantly, I could present it as another body of work. One thing you have is a solid reputation and that helps too.

The Web.
You’ll learn that the Web was never your enemy. The only thing that inhibited you was the corporate structure at 495 Union. Not the newspaper but the internal workings that make change difficult. The Web—and I invite you to join me—is your friend. Now, will it pay your bills? Not really, not if you’re not serious, but you have to have a plan.

Think about David Flaum. If his daughters have their way, their father will have a Web site that features his personal finance knowledge. If he chose to do so, he could literally syndicate his work to publications that need content—and he could charge for premium content. The point is that you have to have a plan for all this. His daughters are scheming. That support helps. (Speaking of support, be thankful for those who are with you right now, especially if you are out of work for a while.)

If you’re a reporter, then you’ll also need to think like Chris Peck, an executive editor. You’ll need to become an advertising rep. It’s a struggle. Trust me. I speak from experience. You remain a valuable commodity because you know how to produce and refine quality content. You just need to find a venue. You can either go back to a traditional newsroom or work like a freelancer and kill what you eat. It’s one or the other.

Having just lost your job, you may have some time to think things through. But why waste time? You can be mad, angry, sad, happy, wishful that the CA would crumple up and die–and still keep moving forward like the newspaper will without you.

You can stand on your own. It’s liberating and scary as hell but you can move forward. You lost a job, not yourself. Remember. Believe. Trust me. I speak from experience.