PenPoints newsletter
PenPoints newsletter
Networking can be intimidating, but in reality, it means you can tap into a much larger pool of energy
By Suzanne Hanney, IWPA President
Suzanne Hanney |
Many nights in my retail job, a customer who works at a Gold Coast restaurant brings me leftover food. Sometimes it’s the meal prepared for the staff, but other times a really special fish, grilled vegetables or dessert. In the food service world, you can’t get ahead by serving day-old leftovers and he’s from the World War II generation that doesn’t throw food away.
This customer has become practically part of the family at our store. When I’m not there, he leaves food with other employees—and even a customer—who relish it. Sometimes I share it at StreetWise, where I am editor.
Of course this customer has saved me money and time, and gotten me to eat veggies I might not have had time to prepare. But mostly I’m grateful that he’s created an extended community and a way for us to look after each other. |
Which brings me to an interview I did last year with Studs Terkel, who commented how many of his friends were losing journalism jobs. Terkel said that the difference between the Depression and now is that we’ve lost our sense of community. “When the community is strong, the individual is strong,” he said.
That is what Illinois Women’s Press Association does for us. We are able to network in a very personal way, but also to leverage the name of a state-wide organization. It has never been more important than it is now, because of both changing technology and the uncertain economy.
Networking can be intimidating, but in reality, it means you can tap into a much larger pool of energy that can propel you into new friendships and knowledge you would not otherwise have had. (Certainly, networking seems to come naturally lately over Italian coffee and croissants at recent Saturday morning IWPA events.)
Six degrees of separation is a far-fetched concept, but contacts are a journalist’s stock in trade. If you know enough people—or have something unique to offer—you can find your way to the ones you need to meet.
And as a statewide organization—the community of all of us—IWPA does have something to offer. Cecilia Green, our treasurer, distributes job opportunities to members periodically as we find out about them by e-mail. These include not only writer/editor positions, but also public relations/advertising and freelancers’ jobs. It may be necessary to think beyond newspapers to other communications jobs.
However, IWPA members also have access to the job bank on the National Federation of Press Women site, which has newspaper jobs from all around the country.
Yes, these are frightening times. But if you meet enough people, you will have moral support, new insights – and maybe even solutions.
Illinois Woman’s Press Association
The objective of IWPA is to maintain and improve the professional standards of members in mass communications in Illinois, to promote their interest, and to provide for the sharing of ideas and information.
IWPA is an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women. P.O. Box 59256 Schaumburg, IL 60159-0256 (312) 458-9151 iwpa@comcast.net www.iwpa.org |
IN THIS ISSUE:
FOUNDED IN 1885
February, 2008 PenPoints ................ Page 1
Networking Can Be Intimidating .... Page 2
Legal Aspects Of Writing ................. Page 3
Member News / Contest Update ... Page 5
IWPA Programs Student Contest .. Page 6
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