I’ve thought this for a long time, but it really struck me today in two separate events: Every business should hire a journalist if it wants to be successful.
What would a journalist do for a company? Many things, which I’ll get to in a bit, but up high on that list is checking for errors that would upset customers.
Again, two things brought this to mind today. The first was a call I got at 8 this morning from a PR person telling me that their company had changed its mind on charging poor or low-income people double what it does other users of its product.
The second was reading a PoynterOnline column by Jill Geisler on 10 reasons to hire a journalist. I’ll get to Geisler’s column soon, and will expand on it a bit, but first to the issue of a company calling me minutes after waking up to change a program that I had questioned a week earlier in a story I did for WalletPop.
Just what America needs, another excuse to dress like a slob and wear pajamas outside of the house.
As someone who works out of his home as a freelance writer/editor and works most of the day in sweatpants, I realize I don’t have much room to talk here. But come on, pajamas disguised as jeans? Why?
I’m writing about this for WalletPop. It’s a rant worth reading.
A year and seven months ago, I was laid off. I worked 40 hours a week at a job I enjoyed.
Starting Feb. 1, my work week will expand from 25 hours to 30 hours at another job I enjoy — WalletPop, where I’m a section editor and write about various personal finance topics. It’s an Aol blog.
Working 30 hours a week may not sound like much to brag about, but for someone who has been looking for work daily since losing a job in this recession, it’s a great thing.
I started freelancing for WalletPop in October 2008, and slowly moved into editing and working more hours. First it was 15 hours a week, then 20, then 25 and on Feb. 1 it will be 30. That’s six hours a day, an hour more per day, and I’m glad to do it.
Still no benefits, but the pay is great and it’s one of the best part-time jobs I could hope to find. It’s an extremely popular Web site that keeps me interested in writing and editing every day I turn on my computer.
My next goal is 35 hours per week, but first I’d like to get used to 30 hours while Kristen continues working fulltime and our daughter is in my care after she gets out of school.
Emma and I have made the jump to Spongebob Squarepants in yet another sign that my 5-year-old is growing up and expanding her sense of humor to “bum” jokes.
It’s the type of transition that every parent sees sooner or later — from sweet, innocent child to the kind of kid who laughs when a cartoon sponge passes gas under water.
I’m not proud of it, but the transition has been made. After years of watching Dora, the Backyardigans, Special Agent Oso and other cartoons that I had no interest in, we can now watch cartoons together as a daughter and father were meant to — laughing hysterically.
Yet another reason to enjoy being underemployed with a 5-year-old.
Filed under: Extracurriculars, CareerEating breakfast before facing the day is important, numerous research has found, making the stories of hungry job interviewees a perfect example of why fueling up is important. Golden Grahams cereal -- which I'd normally associate as a breakfast cereal for children, but is apparently popular with adults -- is givin […]
Filed under: Saving Money, Recession, EconomizerAssurance Wireless announced today that it is cutting its per-minute calling option in half in a program aimed at giving poor people cellphones. Call it a coincidence, but the move comes less than a week after WalletPop pointed out that after the 200 free monthly minutes are used, customers can buy more airtim […]
