WTF is this?

Bumfketeer · **Posted:** Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:42 pm

I am not sure if this qualifies as a "nightmare job," but I am puzzled to see this touted as a job in journalism.

I usually don't go to job boards, but I saw a co-worker frantically scanning one the other night and it piqued my curiosity as to what is out there.

Looks pretty grim indeed.

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:34 pm

"Instructional journalism."

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:17 pm

A journalism job board is a good place to find people who are scrambling for ways to pay the rent.

copynomad · **Joined:** Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:07 am **Posts:** 623

Doesn't sound like journalism to me, but I can see how someone with journalism background might be good at the job -- juggling various tasks, writing, working with various people and so on. The company might've had luck with hiring journalists previously, so back to the well. Maybe the company is run by former journalists. There are many of them out there.

I suppose you could look at it as a plus -- at least journalism-type skills are in demand in some other field.

Connfused · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:58 am

Excuse my cynicism but ...

Somebody in this company probably thought, "Hey, newspapers are cutting back, shutting down and filing for bankruptcy left and right. Let's post a job opening on a journalism job board and see if we can get somebody worried about losing their job to come on board for peanuts because it beats unemployment."

copynomad · **Joined:** Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:07 am **Posts:** 623

I don't think that'd be cynical on an employer's part. (Maybe I'm cynical.) That's how capitalism works; if you're a buyer of goods or services, you try to get a deal. But I doubt that it's necessary in this economy to focus on journalists because newspapers are in trouble. Plenty of industries are in trouble and laying off people. Even with so many job seekers, you'd want to hire people whose skills best fit your needs.

We're all just speculating, of course.

magman · **Posted:** Sat Jan 24, 2009 9:50 pm

There are all sorts of these kinds of positions out there. Many are already filled with folks who started in journalism. I don't think there's anything new here.

onceahack · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:00 am

magman wrote:

I don't think there's anything new here.

If there is, it would be the proportion of openings advertised on journalismjobs.com and similar boards that fit this general description: not a job in journalism, but a job that a journalist could do well.

magman · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:15 am

True. But it could also be part of a trend where employers scatter their openings around on a wider variety of sites.

Editer · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:09 pm

Whatever it is, I'm in favor. One thing a lot of us journos suffer from is not knowing of other jobs where our skill sets will sell, and if alternatives can come to us (via jjobs or similar), that can only help.

Phillip Blanchard · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:47 pm

I'd rather drive a school bus than monitor "conference attendee feedback and customer satisfaction levels" or "write marketing copy."

And what is a "safety background," without which applicants will not be considered?

Bumfketeer · **Posted:** Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:55 am

I was on the safety patrol in junior high, until I got kicked off. I wonder if that counts.

copynomad · **Joined:** Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:07 am **Posts:** 623

Bumfketeer wrote:

I was on the safety patrol in junior high, until I got kicked off. I wonder if that counts.

They might require you to show that reflective-orange sash as proof.

SusanV · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:34 pm

copynomad wrote:

Bumfketeer wrote:

I was on the safety patrol in junior high, until I got kicked off. I wonder if that counts.

They might require you to show that reflective-orange sash as proof.

Orange? In our day they were white!

copynomad · **Joined:** Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:07 am **Posts:** 623

SusanV wrote:

copynomad wrote:

Bumfketeer wrote:

I was on the safety patrol in junior high, until I got kicked off. I wonder if that counts.

They might require you to show that reflective-orange sash as proof.

Orange? In our day they were white!

You must've been one of the elite safety-patrol special forces!

Seriously, I think we'll keep seeing more variety in job ads on JournalismJobs.com because its traditional advertising base is shrinking and the owner of the site, who is very entrepreneurial, is trying to diversify his advertisers. More power to him.

JayByrd · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2009 5:54 pm

SusanV wrote:

copynomad wrote:

Bumfketeer wrote:

I was on the safety patrol in junior high, until I got kicked off. I wonder if that counts.

They might require you to show that reflective-orange sash as proof.

Orange? In our day they were white!

In my day it was white canvas Pershing belts with a spiffy real-looking nickel-plated safety patrol badges. Being the Sixties, our school's Hallway Control Monitors were widely considered to be Hitler Youth.

SusanV · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:38 pm

JayByrd wrote:

SusanV wrote:

copynomad wrote:

Bumfketeer wrote:

I was on the safety patrol in junior high, until I got kicked off. I wonder if that counts.

They might require you to show that reflective-orange sash as proof.

Orange? In our day they were white!

In my day it was white canvas Pershing belts with a spiffy real-looking nickel-plated safety patrol badges. Being the Sixties, our school's Hallway Control Monitors were widely considered to be Hitler Youth.

That's exactly what we had (and in the same time frame). But I don't recall anyone likening them to Hitler Youth. That wouldn't have gone over very well.

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