I went in to The Capital yesterday to meet the guys (and apparently, one girl!) in the photography department. Everything was so laid back I wonder how they get work done. Not really, but the environment is pretty chill for a newsroom. I love local papers. Technically I’ll be interning on Sundays and everything I do for the paper other than that the editor will count as freelancing so I can actually earn some cash. $35 at a time.
When I first walked in the photo editor, Bob, greeted me by saying “Newspapers are dying, why do you want to work for one?”
After explaining myself I’m pretty sure we’re on the same page. I told him that I completely understand how newspapers, especially local ones, are constantly going under, and how as a still photographer my usefulness (and my rights) are rapidly decreasing, but I still want to try because this is what I want to do with my life, and I will get there one way or the other. As an example I told him that my brother Brian used to work for the paper, and how he was down-sized out… which apparently I should have said right off the bat because he immediately took me around to reporters asking “Do you remember Brian? This is his little sister! She’s interning with us!”
Apparently playing softball is the way to get in with journalists these days. I will learn their ways… one Sunday at a time. Brian also asked me to set up a shrine at his old desk, so I’ll have to look into that as well.