Virgin Galactic is hiring. Astronauts. Job listing right here.
“Virgin is looking for pilots with significant experience of both high performance fast-jet type airplanes as well as large multi-engine types – not only that but prior spaceflight experience is an advantage.” [Emph. orig.]
Excellent way to grab the attention of the people you want to work for: Buy AdWords search spots for their own names. They Google themselves and then…
Remember the great print vs. online war of 1995-2005?
Well, some of you are probably still fighting this war, eh? Not everyone got the news yet, but the war is over, and the silobusters won.
Anyway, you’re going to think this is crazy, but lately I’ve spotted a new silo developing, over there in the corner office.
It’s the mobile silo.
Wait, wait, before you go, I’m not the crazy one here; I know how important mobile delivery of information is, and I know you need to pay special attention to it, and I know that people like me have been telling folks at newspapers and media companies for years that they should be paying special attention, too.
But I see a funny thing happening, in large media companies and in job listings — I see mobile as a full department being split off from the Web or “online” silo. Yes, yes, some of you are doing a great job at calling the whole department “digital,” and if it works for you, go for it.
Now, I’m not here to tell you how to run your silos, and I think it’s inevitable that you’re going to do it, if only to make sure there’s someone responsible for iPad app development and WAP sites and a text alert strategy and heck, let’s throw Android into this sentence, too, just to make sure we don’t offend anyone.
What I wanted to say was this:
As always, there’s a huge job opportunity for individuals who make a habit of busting silos. If you’re the person who can get mobile, Web, and print teams on the same (ahem) page, make sure each knows what the others are up to, and help them not repeat work or work at cross-purposes, you might be a silobuster.
Let’s make a short list out of this.
You might be a silobuster if:
What else should be on this list? Jump on in anytime here, folks…
Conclusion: You should expect media companies and news organizations to continue to find reasons (some of them good ones) to segment off different types of development and delivery of news, but if you can see the big picture of how it all fits together – or even better, build the tools that make it all fit together – there’s work for you in this business.
Rob Curley puts out the seasonal call for interns in Las Vegas. Seriously recommended.
Work with Pierre Omidyar and John Temple for Peer News in Honolulu.
Marketing and Community Host for the next generation news service
Social Media & Communications Intern – Mother Jones: This internship is part of the Ben Bagdikian fellowship program. You’ve read his books, right? Go for it.
I’ve been meaning to write about Mark “10,000 Words” Luckie’s “How Twitter saved my career… and my life” post since he wrote it, but haven’t had a chance yet. If you want a good idea of what publishing an excellent blog and maintaining a presence in social media channels can do, in the face of layoffs, unemployment, and general upheaval in the news business, read what Mark has to say here. [Spoiler: There's a book and a great job at the end of the tunnel.]
…one department head or another asked the 140 freshman wanna-be Spielbergs/Godards/Raimis* in the room to raise their hand if they wanted to be a Director.
Many, including me, raised our hands.
The faculty response: “You’ll be lucky if four of you make it.” (I’m paraphrasing. This happened in 1994.)
When I talk to journalism students, I try to impart a little piece of that message. How many of you think you’re going to be a star reporter at a major metro newspaper? I ask some variant of that question, and hands are raised.
Hunter Walker is reporting for Gawker on his Columbia J-School orientation.
“Lemann also discussed our job prospects. Although he brought up the possibility that we may find work for a news organization he encouraged us to be open to careers as possibly starving internet entrepreneurs saying: “its a really interesting time to be in on the beginnings of the revolution… it’s a great time to put aside thoughts of worldly things and do something really creative if you have the nerve.” I agree with Lemann that this transitional period could lead to great opportunities, but I know firsthand that you need capital along with cojones to start your own business ventures.”
That’s something that approaches the right idea.
What the NYU orientation hand-raising exercise did for me was to focus my attention on learning a craft and a set of skills rather than being an auteur.
So, journalism students about to start school for the semester: Are you trying to be an auteur, or an entrepreneur?
*I was a wanna-be Godard, and there weren’t many of those left at the end of four years.
As you may or may not have heard by now, my boss at the office, Howard Owens, has moved on.
I just want to take a moment to publicly say thanks to Howard here, and more than obviously, to wish him the best in whatever endeavor other people might call his “job” next.
Personally, I happen to know that what Howard calls his “job” is more of a 24/7 thing than a 9 to 5 thing, and it has everything to do with the transition of journalistic power in small towns and neighborhoods from the press to the community, and very little to do with where his paycheck comes from, or the sign on the door.
So: Thanks, Howard. And good luck.
(Of course, I’ll continue to work with Howard on Wired Journalists and other projects across the Web. This just means I don’t have to do what he says quite as often. 
)
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Bryan Murley announces the CICM internship program:
“The pitch: How would you like to learn new media skills while having a positive impact on the college media environment? Join us for a semester of new media opportunity as the first intern for the Center for Innovation in College Media for Spring 2009.”
Sounds like a great opportunity to work on your Web production and development skills while helping out an organization that’s been pushing student media forward for years now.
Deadline to apply: January 18.