Comments on: Cracks in the ice

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:35:22 +0000

Things are insanely busy for me right now. I love it. I have three ongoing weekly deadlines, one daily deadline, and various projects due this month/next month. I keep looking to April 15th and thinking this is all money in the tax bank….

By: Michelle V. Rafter

Michelle V. Rafter — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:25:39 +0000

Thanks for sharing the details of your 2009 experiences, and best of luck this year, sounds like you’re off to a great start.

Michelle

By: maggie leyes

maggie leyes — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:54:45 +0000

This is exactly what happened for me … 2008 was strong as I started my freelance biz, after leaving a trade magazine managing editor post. But 2009 was a different story. There were a few months around summer/fall when I was wondering if I was going to make it. But I was convinced that with staff cutbacks, “they” (magazines, websites, etc) would only be able to survive just so long before they needed “staff,” albeit freelance. I hung in for 3 or 4 months of making less then my expenses and then, wham, October brought in a major ongoing freelance gig with a former contact. I work ongoing 60 percent of my time for them for a “salary,” but I maintain my remote office (1,000 miles away). I also just got another gig that hits on both the magazine and online worlds, which will be regular, and ongoing income as well. Plus I have my freelance articles and podcasts from my former employer … Really, almost more work than I can handle.

What I did during my “downtime” over those 3-4 lean months of scant work was beef up my online skills including social media: Twitter, FB, blogging etc. Then, once the economy started to thaw, I was able to sell those skills in addition to the magazine and online experience I already had.

My advice to others is to hang in there. As Michelle says, learn new skills and then offer them to those who don’t have the staff resources to produce that kind of content.

By: Michelle V. Rafter

Michelle V. Rafter — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:42:25 +0000

Thanks Steve. What you’re doing at NozzlMedia is of course part and parcel of this trend – hope it’s going well!

Michelle

By: Steve Woodward

Steve Woodward — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:28:31 +0000

I think you’re right, Michelle. Something’s in the air, and I think it’s optimism. Check out this blog post from former Oregonian editor Michele McLellan: “Promising online news organizations – The hunt is on.”

Also, The Oregonian’s new publisher, Chris Anderson, apparently presided over a stirring town-hall meeting for employees recently. One longtime editor posted this on his Facebook page: “For the first time in a long time, The Oregonian feels alive and vibrant and poised to do great things. Innovative, and very inspiring…”

Let’s hope for the best in 2010.

By: Michelle V. Rafter

Michelle V. Rafter — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:06:08 +0000

I agree that people are still cautious, but in 2009 more were cautious and worried. Today they’re cautious and hopeful.

Michelle

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:30:33 +0000

I agree the economy is picking up a bit, yet I am afraid to be too hopeful. I also do freelance writing on occasion and have found a few gigs here and there and hoping to see more. Everyone still seems somewhat cautious yet optimistic which is a nice change from last year.

By: Tweets that mention Cracks in the ice | WordCount -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Cracks in the ice | WordCount -- Topsy.com — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:45:14 +0000

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