Seizing opportunities in niche journalism

When I read former washingtonpost.com executive editor Jim Brady’s Q and A on the Columbia Journalism Review site over the weekend, I kept nodding my head, over and over. He was making quite a name for himself as a leader in online journalism as I was making the transition from print to the Web in [...]

Great advice from bootstrapping journalists

On Wednesday I posted here about a young, enterprising journalist who has taken it upon himself to carry on a local news tradition abandoned by a venerable newspaper in his community. He’s hopeful but realistic about his venture, and he should be. Mashable! profiles some veteran journalists who’ve done the same thing, and their perspectives [...]

Getting a jump on journalism bootstrapping

A young journalist who lost his job when his newspaper was shuttered earlier this year is now the proud sole owner of that organization’s Web site. Another example of hyperlocal news, and journalism bootstrapping, has been born, and it has some built-in advantages that give him a boost starting up. Nick Sloan, 24, purchased the [...]

Ruminations on losing a grip on the future

A few links I’ve been reading about the Web, journalism, entrepreneurship and work, with my commentary on each. It’s good to step away occasionally from the gauntlet of deadlines I’ve got over the next few weeks. If I seem overly blue today, I’m just dismayed by some of the activities coming out of Washington that [...]

Some light posting on the horizon

A major deadline looms for a sports media project that is nearing fruition after months of discussion and planning. While I like to post something here most weekdays, I won’t be able to meet that frequency for the next several weeks. Examining issues relating to media professionals and how our work and careers are changing [...]

Readings: News entrepreneurs, the security of freelancing and taming digital distractions

What follows are some links rattling around in my brain, and between the sofa cushions, as I battle to meet a major project deadline and get a better handle on this scattershot life on the Web I’ve been leading. It’s been a romp this week, and by no means is Friday the end of my [...]

Finding a comfort zone for personal branding

After long being in a profession that stressed humility if not virtual anonymity, I’m finding that the necessity of this age — individuals constantly marketing and “branding” themselves — is taking some getting used to. But I was encouraged last night while watching the debut of a national cable program hosted by a former colleague, [...]

Some post-Labor Day ideas on labor

I like to start each week with some positive, upbeat thoughts not only about the work I’ve got on my agenda, but also to stay sharp on the challenges of the changing nature of work, career and the creative impulses. Here are a few items that have been on my mind in recent days: • [...]

Readings: The Web at 40, and how we’re still kids

I’ll admit it: I’m looking forward to a good long Labor Day respite, and so are you. So I’ll post some really good links here on a Thursday that I usually save for weekend reading. Will return on Tuesday after I get off the griddle for a few days (and I really mean it this [...]

A year on the fly: Ink-Drained Kvetch turns one

A year ago today I began this blog to chronicle the efforts of a mid-career journalist attempting to continue in the profession outside the newsroom. But I’ve realized for a few months that “Reinventing a journalism career in the digital age” — while an admittedly catchy subtitle — doesn’t properly describe the course I have [...]