The accidental journalist
Today the Daily Texan printed my final column . . . or is it?
After a summer trudging away at the Texan, investing much more time than expected, it looks like some good has come of it all. First, after I turned in my column—which elicited a rare "Good job" from my editor—he came and asked me if I was going to keep writing my column in the fall. The question itself was a compliment, since we 600-word jockeys were under the impression that we'd have to re-try out for a fall position along with the new aspirants. I told him I couldn't because of a heavy course load, although I would be around the office for copyediting duties. Then he ponied up this sweet offer: If I wanted, he'd allow me a special arrangement in which I could submit a column whenever I felt like it—nothing required or expected on regular basis, just when I had time. Sounds great, I told him. And it felt great to be actively recruited in any capacity as a writer.
That was yesterday, and another surprise came today. I was already planning on a night or two a week at the copy desk, for resume purposes, but while working tonight I received a call from Alicia, the copy boss, asking if I'd be interested in taking over the wire editor position. She knew of my time constraints, but she was having trouble finding someone to make the time commitment and was now trying to divy up the job. It looks like I and another copy grunt Cori were her choices for the split-duty. Two nights a week, fewer hours, gives the resume a little more shine—excellent, party on, Wayne; party on, Garth.
Oh, and I've forgotten the best news of all, this relating back to my columns. When I asked Kevin, my editor, if there was any way to tell when other student papers published our columns, he said no, but we could see if they'd been picked up by U-wire, which is the service that distributes all shared columns. The way it works is that someone at this service reads through all, or at least a bunch, of college staff editorials and op-ed columns and selects around a dozen to distribute to subscribing schools. He said he was glad I'd asked because, as it happened, my column that came out last Wednesday on gay marriage had been the first UT op-ed picked up by the wire all summer.
It's funny, for all the frustration of writing those column and all the exhaustion of working two jobs in one day, I've actually enjoyed my time at the DT. I haven't loved it, but the drawbacks have thus far been offset by the experience and knowledge gained—now made all the sweeter by a few strokes of the ego.
Today the Daily Texan printed my final column . . . or is it?
After a summer trudging away at the Texan, investing much more time than expected, it looks like some good has come of it all. First, after I turned in my column—which elicited a rare "Good job" from my editor—he came and asked me if I was going to keep writing my column in the fall. The question itself was a compliment, since we 600-word jockeys were under the impression that we'd have to re-try out for a fall position along with the new aspirants. I told him I couldn't because of a heavy course load, although I would be around the office for copyediting duties. Then he ponied up this sweet offer: If I wanted, he'd allow me a special arrangement in which I could submit a column whenever I felt like it—nothing required or expected on regular basis, just when I had time. Sounds great, I told him. And it felt great to be actively recruited in any capacity as a writer.
That was yesterday, and another surprise came today. I was already planning on a night or two a week at the copy desk, for resume purposes, but while working tonight I received a call from Alicia, the copy boss, asking if I'd be interested in taking over the wire editor position. She knew of my time constraints, but she was having trouble finding someone to make the time commitment and was now trying to divy up the job. It looks like I and another copy grunt Cori were her choices for the split-duty. Two nights a week, fewer hours, gives the resume a little more shine—excellent, party on, Wayne; party on, Garth.
Oh, and I've forgotten the best news of all, this relating back to my columns. When I asked Kevin, my editor, if there was any way to tell when other student papers published our columns, he said no, but we could see if they'd been picked up by U-wire, which is the service that distributes all shared columns. The way it works is that someone at this service reads through all, or at least a bunch, of college staff editorials and op-ed columns and selects around a dozen to distribute to subscribing schools. He said he was glad I'd asked because, as it happened, my column that came out last Wednesday on gay marriage had been the first UT op-ed picked up by the wire all summer.
It's funny, for all the frustration of writing those column and all the exhaustion of working two jobs in one day, I've actually enjoyed my time at the DT. I haven't loved it, but the drawbacks have thus far been offset by the experience and knowledge gained—now made all the sweeter by a few strokes of the ego.
posted by Matt at 9:34 PM
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