By Sean Conrad, Brazen Life

Brazen Life is a wonderful lifestyle and career blog for ambitious young professionals.

So you’ve landed what you thought was going to be a great job. But you find yourself working fast and furious without any real clarity about what’s expected of you, what your priorities are or how well you’re doing. You’d like to broaden your skills with maybe a course or an industry conference… but good luck getting support for that. You’re a high performer, so you’d hoped to use this gig as a stepping stone to bigger things, but your manager is clearly not interested in your career advancement.

You start to look for a new job, something that will be a better fit, something with a future. But how do you know the new scene will be any better?

Here’s a one word answer for you: ask. That’s right — ask about career development during the interview.

The interview process isn’t only for potential employers to learn about you. It’s also a great opportunity for you to dig a bit on topics like:

• Does the company have any kind of process for giving employees feedback? How often does that happen? Is it formal or formal? How does it work?

WASHINGTON — The Fund for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) is seeking grant proposals for independent investigative projects from journalists who need support for travel and other reporting expenses.

The deadline for proposals is 5 p.m. EDT, Monday, April 30.

FIJ is interested in proposals that break new ground and expose wrongdoing. Projects relating to government accountability and environmental issues in the United States, local or regional stories with national implications, and applications from ethnic media are strongly encouraged.

This year, the Fund for Investigative Journalism is also putting out a call for investigative proposals on issues of economic inequities in America, and climate change.

FIJ’s grants are made possible through generous funding from the Park Foundation, the Green Park Foundation, the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation, private family foundations, and the public.

The Fund is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Chair in Investigative and Enterprise Reporting at the Journalism Department in the College of Media at the University of Illinois.

For more than forty years, the Fund for Investigative Journalism has supported work by independent and freelance reporters who do not have the resources to do their investigations. Grants average $5,000. The maximum grant is $10,000. The awards support the costs of reporting, such as travel and document production expenses. Small stipends will be considered as part of the overall award.

If the proposed project addresses an issue that has already been in the news, the applicant must acknowledge the work previously done, and explain how the project would break new ground.

FIJ accepts applications through its website, http://fij.org/apply-grant/. Applicants are encouraged to contact executive director Sandy Bergo with questions about the process.

In partnership with Investigative Reporters and Editors, the FIJ also matches grant recipients with veteran journalists who serve as mentors, at the recipient’s request.

The Fund depends on donations from foundations and individuals. Donations can be made online or by mail to The Fund for Investigative Journalism, 529 14^th Street NW – 13^th floor, Washington DC 20045.

For further information contact:

Sandy Bergo

202-803-5151

fundfij@gmail.com

Did you write, report, produce, shoot, or create a powerful piece of journalism/media in
2011 about the lives of children, youth and families in the U.S.? If so, you should submit this work to the 2012 Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism, a project of the Journalism Center on Children & Families, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The deadline for applications is April 20.

Think back to last year. Did you hear, see, watch or read something about young people or parents that got under your skin and stayed there? Please tell the maker to apply for a Casey Medal. Winners in a dozen categories are awarded $1000 at a ceremony in D.C. in October and will also be considered for $5000 prizes from America’s Promise Alliance. Check out the application and guidelines at journalismcenter.org. New this year: Youth Media category.

Julie Drizin, Director

Journalism Center on Children & Families

Philip Merrill College of Journalism

University of Maryland

1100 Knight Hall

College Park, MD 20742

301-405-8812

@JCCFNews @JDriz

By Eileen Briesch
For Displaced Journalists

Two years ago, I got the word: Your life is ending. The career for which you worked the past 30-plus years

Eileen Briesch

is over. It was a normal Friday night, and then it wasn’t. We were going to order pizza from my favorite pizza place, and I was going around asking who wanted in. Then my boss came in and said I needed to come with him. I felt my chest tighten, the throat constrict, the tears start to well up. I thought everyone was looking at me as I walked down the hall with my boss. Then Andy said, “It was nothing that you did.”

Then why was I losing my job, the only thing I’ve ever done in my life? Why was I losing my life?
Other people had husbands and families and kids. They had lives. I had nothing else but this career I had built. This was my life. And now it was gone. It was being pulled out from under me, like a rug, and I was falling down, tripping helplessly to the floor. I tried to stop the tears, but couldn’t. Why, why me, if I did nothing wrong? What was wrong with me?

It was like death, I realized. I left the office that night, went to commiserate with other coworkers who had been “killed” that night, who were losing their jobs. Then I was home by myself to cry, to contemplate my death, my new life after death.Getting laid off is like a disease. The next day, I had to go back to work (it was part of the severance package; we had to work until our actual layoff date 60 days later). I felt like I had a disease, and everyone was afraid to get too close to me, afraid they’d catch the disease, too. The first two days were tough, because first, you cry. Then you want to fight back, you want revenge. And eventually, you say, “Ah, hell, the sun will come up and I’ll be stronger for this.”

And you know what? I am. There have been other layoffs at that company, and I feel like I’m going through it all over again, with every one of my former coworkers. I’m walking down that hall with them, feeling the tears well up again. I don’t know what the journey will be like for them. I know my journey has changed me so much. It has made me dig deep to dip into my reserves, some that I didn’t know were there.

I did land on my feet eventually. I got a new job. Maybe it’s not the world’s best one, but it’s a job and it pays the bills. Wherever life takes me now, I know this experience has changed me for the better. As my psychologist told me before I left Michigan for Louisiana, “You are an amazing woman.”

Yeah, I am.

Editor’s note: Joe Swickard wrote the story and Eric Seals created the stunning video for this Detroit Free Press package on the first African-American Marines. It’s a great example of how video enhances a news story. It also demonstrates the reason we as displaced journalists need to develop digital media skills. On Oct. 25 the U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to grant the Montford Point Marines our nation’s highest civilian honor, the congressional gold medal; the Senate takes up the measure Thursday of this week. — Susan Older

Now in their late 80s the 1st Black Marines known as Montford Marines talk about their experiences fighting in WWII while still being discriminated against. They are on the verge of getting Congressional Gold Medals. Eric Seals/Detroit Free Press

By Joe Swickard
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

More than 16 million Americans answered the call to arms in World War II. Of those, 600,000 were the few, the proud, the Marines.

Then there were the Chosen Few, men such as metro Detroiters Calvin Moore, Robert Hassler, Earl Hood, William Cook, Edsel Stallings, Norfflette Mersier and about 20,000 other Montford Point Marines.

After years of discrimination, mistreatment and near invisibility postwar, these African-American Marines of World War II are on the verge of getting the Congressional Gold Medal, America’s highest civilian honor.

It’s about time, too, said Hassler, 86, who lied about his age to enlist 70 years ago. “It’s always bothered me — every year for Black History Month, they talk about the Tuskegee Airmen,” Hassler said. “Nobody knows about the Montford Point Marines.”

A Congressional Gold Medal could change that.

Pride still runs deep for Montford Point Marines.

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the armed forces to accept African Americans into their ranks, and the Marine Corps was the last to fall in line. Even then, segregation remained as the black recruits and draftees were trained in their own facility — a patch of land adjacent to Camp Lejeune, N.C., called Montford Point. They were forbidden from entering Camp Lejeune without special authorization.

These men endured top brass hostility, segregated training, scornful treatment and the demeaning belief that they didn’t have the guts, character and discipline to defend their country in combat.

Yet the Montford Point Marines, mainly relegated to service battalions, put their lives on the line: humping ammo and supplies under fire and bringing the wounded to safety while being strafed, sniped, bombed and blasted as the Marines island-hopped through the Pacific toward Japan.

And their pride endures today.

With probably fewer than 300 of them still alive…. Read the rest of the story at The Detroit Free Press.

The Fund for Investigative Journalism is proud to announce continuing support from the Park Foundation for the fund’s grant program for independent watchdog journalists.

The Park Foundation, based in Ithaca, New York, has awarded the Fund for Investigative Journalism a grant for $75,000; it will give critical assistance to reporters working on domestic reporting projects. This is the second year that the Park Foundation has awarded a grant to the fund.

The fund makes grants to reporters who have the ideas, sources, and know-how to produce groundbreaking investigative journalism, but need help paying the expenses of reporting.

“We are especially grateful that the Park Foundation has chosen to support the fund as part of its mission to promote public service journalism,” said Sandy Bergo, executive director of the fund. “In the past year the support from the Park Foundation launched many important investigations into environmental and government accountability issues.”

Examples of completed projects are an investigation of New York City firefighter fatalities and an investigation of unnecessarily hazardous conditions encountered by Gulf Spill clean-up workers. The grants from the Park Foundation produce more than a dozen investigative reporting projects each year.

“This grant will inspire and invigorate the kind of investigative reporting that is so deeply needed in the US at this time,” said Brant Houston, president of the board of the Fund for Investigative Journalism.

The Fund for Investigative Journalism is also supported by the Ethics and Excellence Foundation, the Green Park Foundation, and the Gannet Foundation.

This year, the fund was recognized as one of the Washington D.C. region’s best nonprofits, and will be featured in the 2011-12 Catalogue for Philanthropy. The Fund is the first journalism organization to be listed in the catalogue, which is distributed to local foundations and philanthropists.

The fund also depends on donations from individuals. Donations can be made online, www.fij.org, or by mail to the Fund for Investigative Journalism, 1023 15^th Street NW, Suite 350, Washington DC 20005.

By Jules Older, independent columnist

For better and worse, I tend to work on inspiration, not preparation.

Jules Older

Better because I drop everything except deadlines and focus like a laser on the new project.

Worse because I drop everything except deadlines. When everyone around you is expecting a right turn, a sudden swerve to the left can be unnerving.

In the past month, I made a huge, careening, two-wheels-off-the-ground swerve: an ebook about skiing… a book with a self-imposed deadline — ready to roll before the lifts started turning.

And this week, in the midst of that mega-focus, I detoured to something else. I composed, then sent everyone I know in Greater San Francisco, the message below.

If you have a similar situation where you live, a really good paper in really serious trouble, feel free to borrow the inspiration, copy the words, recreate the idea. (Displaced Journalists will post it as well. S.O.)

— jules

The Chronicle: Ten reasons I hope you’ll subscribe

Like papers everywhere, the San Francisco Chronicle is in trouble. More and more of us are getting our news online; fewer and fewer are buying papers.

Here’s why I hope you’ll reverse that trend in your house, as we have in ours.

1. PG&E. This company is blowing us up. Literally blowing us up. Without the Chronicle’s investigative team, we’d never know that it’s also ‘losing’ evidence, ‘misplacing’ documents, using shoddy materials, in a cozy relationship with the state’s ‘regulators’… and while the smoke was still hanging in the air over San Bruno, PG&E gave a big bonus to its ‘safety’ director.
2. Jon Carroll.
3. Ed Lee. I was right behind Ed for Mayor until the Chronicle began exposing shady practices, shady backers, shady money, even a shady instant biography/hagiography. When I saw Lee’s beautifully produced, ultra-hip, had-to-be wildly expensive YouTube video, that sealed it — I’m voting for somebody else. Wouldn’t have known to change my mind without theChronicle.
4. Bad Reporter.
5. UC. At a time when student fees are rising and entrance quotas shrinking, the University of California has been quietly upping pay and bennies for administrators. How do I know? Read all about it in theChronicle.
6. Willy Brown.
7. Local obsessions. Aside from sports teams (where Chronicle coverage also shines), what are the things that most interest Greater San Franciscans? Food. Wine. The digital world. Green technology. Nearby nature, beaches and mountains. I keep up on all of them through my morning paper.
8. Doonesbury.
9. Lively prose. If I have an addiction, it’s to great writing. I’m amazed at how often I look up from the paper and say, “Hey, listen to this.”
10. Leah Garchik.

Two things you should know.

First, I’m not sentimental about paper vs. digital. I like and use both. But I am passionateabout knowing what’s really going on. Not all papers deliver that, but the Chronicle does… and if it’s going to continue, it needs the financial support of subscribers.

Second, I occasionally write for the Chronicle, and I occasionally fight with the Chronicle. Neither has influenced this message in the slightest.

In this house, we’re subscribers. I hope you’ll be one, too.
— jules

Jules Older (still no relation to Displaced Journalists Founder Susan Older) is a freelance travel writer, the author of children’s books, the creator of the iPhone app San Francisco Restaurants, a speaker, a broadcaster and a consultant. Learn more about Jules here. To become a Lifeguard, just drop Jules a line at jules@julesolder.com, saying, “I’m a writer.  Sign me up!”

Schadenfreude, Part Two: I Apologize

By Debbie Galant, Baristanet

Posted September 8, 2011 on Authentically Local

Schadenfreude, or gloating over another’s misfortune, is not a pretty thing. By definition.

And though I’m used to being scolded by readers, my upbraiding by some of the Patch rank-and-file over my last post here has left me unexpectedly chastened.

I meant my rant for AOL’s corporate overlords, for Tim Armstrong and Arianna Huffington in particular, but I managed to offend and hurt other local journalists who, just like me, spent the last week bailing basements and working furiously to keep up with the news.

That’s bad, and that’s not pretty, and I apologize.

We live in a time of great economic disruption and everything in the world of media — everything in the world — is up for grabs. Read the rest of the story on Authentically Local.

Schadenfreude Time: Watching AOL Circling the Drain

By Debbie Galant, Baristanet

Posted September 2, 2011 on Authentically Local

Those of us who are the proprietors of small, independent hyperlocal news blogs have been watching the headlines with glee.

Tim Armstrong’s AOL dream may be ending

What Happens When AOL Finally Decides to Go Private

What an AOL Garage Sale Would Look Like

AOL Needs to Break Up Now

“Patch is worthless,” wrote Dana Blackenhorn in Seeking Alpha. ”Close it. Think a company like Gannett (GCI) or The New York Times (NYT) or News Corp. (NWS) might want it? If you find a sucker like that, call me. I have a bridge to sell.” Music to our ears.

It may be too early to dance on Patch’s grave, but boy are we ready. We all know how expensive and hard it is to do hyperlocal — but, unlike Patch, we haven’t had $160 million pockets to dig into. We’ve had to do it with our own sweat. Read the rest of the story on Authentically Local.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Our client, a global factory certification and training organization focused on the consumer products industry, seeks a Communications Specialist for its Arlington, VA headquarters.  The incumbent will help develop and execute strategic programs involving a wide spectrum of communications, including press releases, blogs and other forms of social media.  The candidate will work closely with headquarters and field staff, must demonstrate excellent written and interpersonal communications skills, understand global markets, and be able to work independently and within a team environment on demanding issues.

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

B.A. or M.A. in Journalism, Communications or related field

Experience:

• At least 3 years of related experience in a for-profit or
• non-profit environment
• Experience in global trade, association trade shows, global
• markets, corporate social responsibility and multi-cultural environments a plus

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong written, interpersonal and organizational skills
• Experience in strategic planning, advocacy writing and media relations
• Knowledgeable of communications software, updating websites and graphic design
• Fluency in additional languages a significant plus
• Travel Required: 10%

If you’re interested in this job, contact: Jim Gentry, Gentry Executive Search, Greensboro, NC, jfgentry@bellsouth.net, 336-312-2555

Web Producer, Washington Week
WETA, Arlington, VA

Come be a part of WETA’s dynamic Washington Week team.  WETA,
Washington DC’s public broadcasting station has an exciting
opportunity as a Web Producer for its production, Washington Week with Gwen Ifill. Washington Week is PBS’ longest-running public affairs
series and features Washington’s top journalists analyzing the week’s
top news stories and their effect on the lives of all Americans.
Incumbent will maintain and support Washington Week website; and
develop, manage and implement digital media strategy and social media
activities.

Primary responsibilities include producing new content
(including video and text) for Washington Week website; supporting
development and implementation of a digital media strategy; and
developing social media strategy and manage and implement social media
activity for Washington Week. Must have knowledge of current events,
U.S. politics, geopolitics, history, and government/political process
and national news periodicals; knowledge of and proven ability and
success in web production and producing web content with digital media
technologies; and knowledge of social media sites/usage, Drupal or
similar and Final Cut Pro or other editing software.  College degree
in Journalism, or equivalent combination of education and experience
in relevant field.

Minimum three years of experience in news
reporting/producing either online, print or television.  Experience
should include two years of experience in web production, including
social media activities.

This position is currently funded through June 2012.
For consideration, please send letter of interest, salary
requirements, and resume to hr@weta.com or visit our website at
www.weta.org for the full job description and on-line application.
WETA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.