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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
If the LW is afraid of asking personal questions but likes journalism, there are several other options, such as copy editing (as Cary suggested), trade press or scientific journlism. OK, not nearly as glamorous as working for Hello! or the New York Times, but there are loads of great writing jobs out there that might suit better.
I used to write for a technology magazine, which I first thought might be boring, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I had a great time because I was writing, constantly learning new things, working with a great group of people, and meeting loads of new people. I knew nothing about cororate IT when I first started, but it's surprising how a subject can become alot more interesting once you actually know more about it! Plus I got to go to some great places (like Italy, Spain, Germany) for press trips. Of course, the LW will still have to ask alot of questions, sometimes tough ones, and be able to parse alot of corporate bullshit and spin. But at least the "nosey questions" aren't about someone's private life or deeply personal issues, so there's no fear of writing "moroninc misinterpretations of their lives". So long as one does the proper amount of research, speaks to as many sources as possible, and has a good editor the chances of accidentally ruining someone's life or looking like a complete idiot are slim to nil!
Not all journalism is about politics or people's personal lives.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
