SoloJourno

Moments before I checked my email (and found a very interesting job posting from MediaStorm - see below), I had just finished reading an article by David Walker from June 2, 2009 which was posted on Photo District News (PDN) called: Multimedia Journalists Discover Life After Newspapers and subtitled: Non-profits, NGOs and corporations are looking for storytellers, and former newspaper photographers are answering the call.

As layoffs continue to decimate newsrooms all over the country, a pressing question for staff photographers is, what is plan B when the pink slip comes? How do you translate your photojournalism skills into some other means of earning a living?

A handful of former newspaper photographers with strong multimedia skills and some entrepreneurial drive are reporting at least one promising lead: the growing demand for story-driven video production from non-profits and corporations trying to build brands and markets through the Web in particular.

“NGOs and corporations are just now starting to see the power of multimedia stories,” says Brian Storm, founder of MediaStorm. “A pr message has no authenticity. It won’t go viral. Organizations are looking for a new way to get their message out, and journalists can play a role in that.”

Here’s the job posting via MediaStorm:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) based in Washington D.C. is ramping-up its communication outreach in the area of multimedia, interactive and video technologies. Key to this outreach is the use of visual story telling to illuminate the work of the Fund and how it affects populations around the World.

Effective immediately, the IMF has an opening for a full-time contractual multimedia storyteller. The position requires an experienced individual capable of producing photographs, video and audio using Adobe and Final Cut Pro applications to tell compelling stories concerning the work of the Fund.

Specifically the position requires capturing and acquiring content and composing stories for distribution to the Internet and Worldwide news media outlets. Some international traveled required. Full benefits provided. All tools provided including a recently constructed HD broadcast capable Multimedia Center.

Send inquiries and include contact information to Phughes@imf.org.

Via Mashable:

Mashable, the top social media blog, is seeking a talented and experienced editorial assistant eager to gain exposure to the online media space, with the desire to build a career as an online editor.

Responsibilities include:
- Provide general editorial support to senior staff, including copyediting and finding relevant links and images for articles
- Research stories
- Maintain relevant documents and calendars
- Assist with interview and panel preparation
- Work on special projects when needed

Requirements/Qualifications:
- Must be based in NYC
- 1- 2 years editorial experience
- Journalism background
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
- Strict attention to detail. Should have experience copyediting
- Hard worker with the commitment to put in extra hours
- Familiarity with WordPress and social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, etc

Submission directions:
- Submit your resume in PDF form only
- Provide links to your LinkedIn, Facebook and/or Twitter profile
- Provide links to three relevant articles written in the past 4 months
- 100 words or less about why you are perfect for this job

Check the job posting and apply online.

Mashable, the top social media blog, is seeking a talented and experienced editor based on the West Coast with a professional journalism background and at least 3 years writing and/or editing at an established news organization.

Via Mashable:

Mashable, the top social media blog, is seeking a seasoned investigative reporter based in the San Francisco Bay Area to research and report on news items.

Responsibilities include:
- Sourcing original stories about the tech and social media world
- Taking regular meetings with companies in the area and going to press events
- Speaking at events and participating in press interviews

Requirements/Qualifications:
- Based in San Francisco Bay Area
- 2-3 years at an established news organization doing investigative reporting
- Journalism background
- Strong understanding of the tech and social media world
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
- Strict attention to detail
- Hard worker with the commitment to put in extra hours
- Familiarity with WordPress and social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, etc

Submission directions:
- Submit your resume in PDF form only
- Provide links to your LinkedIn, Facebook and/or Twitter profile
- Provide links to three relevant articles written in the past 4 months
- 100 words or less about why you are perfect for this job

Check the job posting and apply online.

Via Mashable:

Mashable, the top social media blog, is seeking a talented and experienced editor based on the West Coast with a professional journalism background and at least 3 years writing and/or editing at an established news organization.

Responsibilities include:
- Writing and editing daily news related to social media
- Overseeing staff writers and editors
- Creating and managing editorial projects
- Speaking at events and participating in press interviews

Requirements/Qualifications:
- 3 years writing and/or editing at an established news organization
- Journalism background
- Strong understanding of the tech and social media world
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
- Strict attention to detail
- Hard worker with the commitment to put in extra hours
- Familiarity with WordPress and social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, etc

Submission directions:
- Submit your resume in PDF form only
- Provide links to your LinkedIn, Facebook and/or Twitter profile
- Provide links to three relevant articles written in the past 4 months
- 100 words or less about why you are perfect for this job

Check the job posting and apply online.

If you’ve got an idea worth spreading, I hope you’ll consider this random assortment of rules. Like all rules, some are made to be broken, but still…

• You can name your idea anything you like, but a google-friendly name is always better than one that isn't.
• Don't plan on appearing on a reality show as the best way to launch your idea.
• Waiting for inspiration is another way of saying that you're stalling. You don't wait for inspiration, you command it to appear.
• Don't poll your friends. It's your art, not an election.
• Never pay a non-lawyer who promises to get you a patent.
• Avoid powerful people. Great ideas aren't anointed, they spread through a groundswell of support.
• Spamming strangers doesn't work. Spamming friends doesn't work so well either, but it's certainly better than spamming strangers.
• The hard part is finishing, so enjoy the starting part.
• Powerful organizations adore the status quo, so expect no help from them if your idea challenges the very thing they adore.
• Figure out how long your idea will take to spread, and multiply by 4.
• Be prepared for the Dip.
• Seek out apostles, not partners. People who benefit from spreading your idea, not people who need to own it.
• Keep your overhead low and don't quit your day job until your idea can absorb your time.
• Think big. Bigger than that.
• Are you a serial idea-starting person? If so, what can you change to end that cycle? The goal is to be an idea-shipping person.
• Try not to confuse confidence with delusion.
• Prefer dry, useful but dull ideas to consumer-friendly 'I would buy that' sort of things. A lot less competition and a lot more upside in the long run.
• Pick a budget. Pick a ship date. Honor both. Don't ignore either. No slippage, no overruns.
• Surround yourself with encouraging voices and incisive critics. It's okay if they're not the same people. Ignore both camps on occasion.
• Be grateful.
• Rise up to the opportunity, and do the idea justice.