What's an aging, principled editor to do?

Apologies in advance if this ends up being a little too personal. I'll skip the flowery narrative and get right to the bullet points.

My situation: Newspaper editor and designer, 40-something, at one of the nation's top 100 dailies. Used to be the news editor at a smaller paper, but after Sept. 11 and the Iraq debacle, I've been hiding out elsewhere in the newsroom, staying mostly away from hard news and collecting an OK paycheck. I was tough on Clinton back in the day, and I got all sorts of rewards for that. I was tough on Bush, and I was fought at almost every opportunity, although we did manage to break some mildly significant stories. But I'm an editor and designer, not a reporter.

My beef: I'm tired of feeling helpless about not being able to do anything meaningful to stop the great neocon noise machine and their theft of my country, in my own paper or elsewhere. But on the other hand, the pain and stress that would come with being in the blender again just aren't worth the puny salaries that newspapers pay these days. I'm not young anymore.

My questions: I seem to be gravitating to a decision that daily newspaper journalism just isn't in the cards for me for much longer. But what then? Because of my own family situation (beyond the scope of this discussion), I still require a fairly respectable salary, so I can't drop everything and start pamphleting on the streets or take a pauper's wages at some very worthy nonprofit. Where can a top-notch (pardon the modesty) editor go -- especially in the far-too-expensive San Francisco Bay Area, while still holding on to one's principles and doing work that, at the very least, doesn't hurt people? I could see myself at a place like The Guardian if there were such a nationwide daily in the U.S., but there isn't. This line of reasoning would seem to lead me somewhere in the online world, but where? And if not that, then what?

Random comments, observations, and ideas are most welcome.

First, you might be surprised at the salaries of upper-level non-profit workers. There are many websites specializing in jobs for the non-profit, social activist sector. I believe a good one has been posted right here in this forum. There are also employment sections in magazines like The Nation, The Progressive, etc., that have very good job listings from very reputable progressive organizations with usually pretty decent salaries. I would check all of these now to see if there's anything that might be of interest, then keep an eye out on all of them.

Second, you could try starting a free-lance editing/writing/communications business on the side while still working. You could focus on doing work for non-profits and social organizations, which would allow you to get your foot in the door and begin to build a network of contacts and a solid reputation within the non-profit/progressive community. The really beneficial aspect of that is that you could do work for organizations nationwide, since most of the work could be done via computer, email and phone. Don't bite off more than you can chew at first, especially since you'll still be working full-time at the "grudge" job. Start gradually, then build up from there. If you do too much, too soon, you will quickly burn out and will then be worse off than you are now.

Third, you really do need to go for it. You will never get anywhere being unhappy in work like this and I can tell you from direct, powerful experience what a difference doing what you really want to do and making a difference in the world makes in your life, in all aspects of it.

And, ahem, not to toot my own horn or anything, but I have recently started my own side "career communications" business which I posted information about on this forum a couple of days ago. PM or email me if you need more help or just to vent. I've been in your shoes, and I know what you're feeling.

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Position: Editor for Outdoor Magazine
Company: Primedia/Game & Fish Magazine
Location: Georgia
Job Status: Full-time
Ad Expires: May 11, 2006
Job ID: 622948


Description:
Outdoors Magazine Editor
Game & Fish magazine, a Primedia company that publishes 30 monthly titles with a paid circulation of 575,000 readers, is seeking an editor for three of its state-specific hunting & fishing titles. The position requires proven editing skills, and candidates must possess a solid knowledge of both hunting and fishing. Duties include conceiving, assigning and editing articles for three magazines that cover areas of the western United States. Journalism or communications degree preferred, as well as magazine and/or newspaper experience. First-hand knowledge of hunting and fishing in the West is a significant plus. The editor will work from our headquarters in suburban Atlanta.

Qualified applicants should send their resume and work samples to: Editorial Director, Game & Fish, 2250 Newmarket Parkway, Marietta GA 30067,fax 770-933-9510; or e-mail materials to: jobsgaf@primedia.com
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