People that are bloggers or otherwise are serious blog readers are already aware of this reality, but if you’re not, let me tell you something that might or might not surprise you.
Being a blogger can cost you a great deal, even if the actual service supporting your blog is free.
I know of a number of fellow bloggers that have lost their jobs because of things that they said on their personal Blogs, even though their blogging was done in their own private homes, on their own personal computers, on their own time.
Thus is the case with my situation here on this blog and over at my Redneck Gourmet cooking blog—both websites currently being graciously hosted for free by Google’s Blogger.com.
All my blogging has cost me thus far is my time and intellectual effort.
Apparently, this status quo is about to change.
You see, right now I am faced with two very serious situations in my private and professional life which might ultimately end up impairing my ability to keep blogging, else they could end up affecting a job opportunity that I have not as yet mentioned in public. My ongoing efforts doing community service may also be substantially affected, depending on the final outcome.
I have a number of different ways I can respond to these situations but, in the end, when it is all said and done, it basically comes down to selling out my own loudly proclaimed convictions (what I call going with the flow) for a small financial gain and a little glory, else calling a Spade a Spade and letting the chips fall where they may.
I think that I hear some chips clinking around my feet right now…
You see, I have an opportunity to realize my dream of actually working for a local Newspaper in their newsroom, and I’m supposed to respond to our negotiations today...BUT…
Ironically, this very same newspaper happens to be one that I have a problem with the way they’ve handled their reporting of a story in which I am personally involved.
I wrote about the situation yesterday afternoon in my previous posting called Being Ignorant…Or Being Ignored.
Those that know me in person know where this thing is probably going.
I just can’t keep my loud mouth shut.
Maybe I’m just
I’m calling them on the situation, and getting to the bottom of where things are going so that I can decide NOW about how much additional effort I should expend and if I can actually survive in the employment environment into which I’m thinking of injecting myself.
Actually I’m not calling, I’m writing.
Later today I’m hand delivering a package of written documentation (e-mail correspondence and my original proposal to the city) of my efforts and involvement to the offending Newspaper reporter addressing my perceived “issues”, then I’m going to wait and see what happens.
Either I’ll learn that there is some as yet identified “vast conspiracy” attempting to usurp my “K Street Tree Project” for the political benefit of others, else there has just been a bit of sloppy, lazy reporting that resulted in the TOTAL OMISSION of mention of MY involvement in conceiving of the project and moving it forward to date.
The bad news is that by being forced to challenge the very organization with which I’m seeking employment (at a pay rate far, far below that at which I am qualified to receive in engineering), I may be jeopardizing my journalistic job prospects.
The other thing that bothers me is that I’ve recently been tempted to just sit back and let the city pay for the project with local and federal funding from various grants and financial sources.
I’ve spent hours on the telephone and in meetings in person attempting to pry some money out of some of the local philanthropic organizations, but since there are over 80 non-profit organizations in our county clamoring and competing for funding, let’s just say that “the pickin’s is slim…”
The thing is, I have to admit that I’ve written extensively about my opposition to “public funding” of “the arts” for arts’ sake, but thus far to date I’ve assuaged my conscience with the knowledge that the city already has a financial liability on this project because the city ripped the old tree out of the ground by it’s roots in order to save money on a sewer pipe project.
I think that it would be quite reasonable to require them to pay some of that savings back by restoring the tree to the place where it grew up, even if it is in a somewhat altered form.
Any way, am I crazy to end up with no job due to my adherence to my values and philosophy?
What about possibly getting kicked out of my own art project due to my adherence to values and philosophy?
If so, then I say so be it—I’m putting my money where my mouth is. At least nobody can say I’m a hypocrite.
Would someone please explain to me how I always end up getting myself into these situations?
2 comments:
You seem to be very undecided. Working for a newspaper is the last place you want to be. Locally there is no room for expansion or expression, just do your job. Trees can get you into trouble, leave them alone. All of your best efforts to save them are for naught, the 200 year old oak couldn't save itself from a sad fate just to save the roof of a church it shaded. Newspapers are notorious for low pay and long hours. Find a place you love or at least makes you happy when you are there, deadlines are tough on an old soul, or a young soul trying to find a way. Am I rambling???
Hell, I say, do it.
I'd say the 'local paper' needs some fresh voices, and some people who aren't afraid of certain 'local organizations' to get the job done.
Don't stop blogging, (just don't blog too specifically about your jobby job...). Odds are, the folks round here that run the newsroom don't really even know the blogosphere exists.
Post a Comment