What makes you happy?The perfect career for me would be something that would allow me to bake, read, write, edit, and travel for a living—all within the balance of sufficient (or even abundant) food, rest, and exercise.
Fortunately, I've been able to live this kind of life for the past year a half. It was nice to spend some personal time doing the things I love and getting paid for it, in modest amounts and otherwise.
However, I've set new goals in life that now require me to get back into working in New York City as a full-time employee. I am simply hoping that whatever the 40 hours or more of work I'll be doing would still allow for the things I enjoy, or preferably, would still be related to the activities mentioned above.
My turn on the Brooklyn Bridge.In 2008 began an influx of "Magazines are dying, newspapers are closing, everything's moving online..." which was neither good nor empowering for someone who truly loved paper and print media in general (and for someone who had just moved across the miles to land her next editorial job). A friend recently mentioned that the buzz now is that the industry will be a dinosaur in five years: "The magazines are so thin now and the only one to survive all of this is most likely Vogue." And I don't even read Vogue. (Elle and Vanity Fair, I like.)
Magazines will always be my first love.(Click on the photo for the first Magalove post.)
But, it's 2010 and magazines are still around. My newspaper column still comes out. Most of the publications I'd contributed to or worked in—with the exception of one or two—are still churning out pages month by month; with its editors working as hard as ever. As for the 'new media' thing, I've logged on a considerable amount of time setting up shop online, so I'm not too worried about that. In fact, I've enjoyed many writing and editing projects this past year, and, ironically, the assignments, except for one luxury hotel brand, that have earned me substantial amounts from working off-site and online were actually funded by parent companies whose main business and revenue stream come from—gasp—magazines!
So, whether or not it's true that the print industry would be extinct in X number of years, I'd very much like to be around when the curtain finally falls. In the meantime, the (glossy) show must go on, and I'm only happy to be part of the working cast.
Courtesy of Harper's BAZAAR and American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME).
My professors in college used to say that about the print media, too. And with the advent of gadgets that make reading stuff online so easy and convenient, the "prophecy" about the impending doom of magazines and newspapers (even books) might be coming sooner than expected. I hope not, though. For me, nothing compares to the smell of books and new glossies.
ReplyDeletePrint is facing a lot of threats in the US. Newspapers have been closing down, journalists are losing their jobs. In Asia however, print still rules, thanks to the booming economies of India and China, where people prefer the visual and tactile sensation they get from print, as opposed to the merely visual experience they get from the web. I think ultimately it would become a survival of the fittest, with only the best of the best remaining in the market.
ReplyDeleteOkay tama na, I'm starting to sound like I'm speaking in a classroom. :p
Hi, Krissy! Sigh, but you're right, nothing still beats the feel of paper and flipping through pages.
ReplyDeleteRachel! You changed blog addresses pala, no wonder I could no longer access your other one (hence, I removed it from the blog list just a couple of days ago). I'll link up the new address. Back to your comment, I agree. Also perhaps it's also because print can still reach places where there's no reliable internet connection.
When Summit pulled out Marie Claire, I was saddened. I loved reading that magazine. I'm thankful that Cosmo is still here. :)
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Karina
PS. I'm an avid reader of your blog. :)
Hi, Karina! Oh, that's very nice to hear, thank you :) Sigh, yes, Marie Claire went out the door along with Seventeen; those two were very well-edited titles. On another note, Cosmo looks so good these days!
ReplyDeleteYep, I decided to change, when I learned that one of my fave profs read my blog. Kinda weird to have your deepest thoughts known by somebody you like. :p NY Minute Now is still on my current bloglist.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your jobhunting!
Thanks so much, Rachel! :) Updating the sidebar now to add your new address :)
ReplyDeleteI agree that prints are in so much threat these days, with the advent of e-books and the like (I hate reading e-books BTW), but I also believe that there will only be streamlining & not total death. As Rachel said, only the best will remain. Cheers for our love of books, papers & glossies! =)
ReplyDeleteThis is great, Chinachix! An update on one of my favorite magazine bigwigs, Cathie Black, is posted there now. Thanks for letting me know about the site! :)
ReplyDelete