Bouncing back from a media layoff
Bouncing back from a media layoff
I’m locking in like never before.
A good portion of my Sunday nights are spent planning the week. I review my work schedule, map out the workout routines for the week, and go over whatever errands I need to get done.
That was the case on April 28th this year. Shamelessly, I made a little recording to prepare myself for a busy month because my book was coming out in May. I needed a reminder to stay disciplined as my schedule likely gets busier with the book and my job at TheGrio.
On Monday mornings, I like to start my day at the gym. On April 29th, around 7 a.m., that’s where I was when I got a notification for a meeting placed on work my calendar by one of the VPs, a person I never interacted with outside of pleasantries in the office.
I knew immediately what it was about. A month prior, my editor told me that layoffs were likely on the way, though it was unclear who would be impacted1.
While the meeting was scheduled for 1:30 p.m., my editor told me hers was scheduled for 11 that morning. She was getting let go too.
When it was time for my meeting, I didn’t say much. The VP gave the expected copy-and-pasted spiel: “We’ve made some business decisions to reorganize some of our operations, and as part of that reorganization, unfortunately, your position is being eliminated. Today, in fact, will be your last day working with TheGrio.”
Keep in mind that if my editor hadn’t warned me a couple of months before, I would have never known a layoff was on the way, which is pretty typical in corporate media. Looking back, it feels like I just went numb when I heard the words. I wasn’t mad at anyone2. I was just dejected.
By that point, I was ready to leave TheGrio, and I feel like I made a major mistake going there in the first place. However, getting laid off never feels good. As I said before, I felt like I failed in my career and that I wouldn’t get another journalism job for a while.
I had some people tell me to take time off, relax, and just retool, but my mindset was, “f*ck all that.” I didn’t have time to relax. I had to find another job, I had to prep for “In These Streets” coming out, and there was sh*t that needed to get done3. I didn’t let myself fall into an abyss. I kept planning my days and weeks out. I kept working out, made time to write, and worked on some side projects.
This isn’t meant as some pity party. As I wrote before, the journalism industry is on the ropes. A colleague defined it as a “rite of passage” for journalists today to get laid off at some point in their careers. I know it’s not personal and that I was nothing more than a line on a spreadsheet to the higher-ups at TheGrio, but how can it not feel personal?
We’re all scared of where the industry is headed, even those of us employed. It feels like we’re on borrowed time. I don’t know how the industry corrects itself. It’s going to take someone more business-savvy to figure that out. As I wrote in the past, my goal is to get to a place where I’m not relying on any one job to provide for myself and my family, I’m just not there yet.
But I still want to be a journalist, and that’s why the moment I got laid off, I was on the job hunt. I was applying to at least three jobs a day and reaching out to people I know in the industry, which was the hardest part if I’m being straight up.
I hate asking for help, especially from people outside my immediate circle. It feels like I’m asking for a handout when I’m cold-emailing contacts on LinkedIn that I haven’t spoken to in months or years.
I emailed a guy I’ve worked with before, letting him know I got laid off and that I was available for any freelance work. His response was, “Sorry to hear that.” It’s like aight, you ain’t gotta worry about me contacting you again.
After three months of applying, the Trace had an opening for a reporter to cover the Great Lakes region. The position felt like a perfect fit, but I was dubious. I made it to the final round of a few jobs and wasn’t selected. Something told me the Trace would be no different.
Even with those feelings, I had to muscle through it. I let myself feel whatever I needed, but that didn’t stop the work. Whether that was prepping for interviews, freelancing or working on the next book. I kept my head down and pushed forward.
By the grace of God, I got the job.
So what’s the lesson? For me, there are a few. Don’t let up. My fellow journalists/writers or aspiring journalists/writers reading this, don’t let up. Feel whatever you need to feel.
Be angry, curse, scream, endure the emotions. But keep doing the gottdamn work—it’s too important. Your voice is too important. Take the day job and do it on the side till you can get the real one. Stay disciplined, and stay consistent, regardless of what your job title is.
But I’m going hard. I’m diving into this new job and working on the next book at the same time. I’m working on my other writing passions like screenplays and of course this Substack page. I’m holding it down for my friends and family who kept encouraging and believed in me.
I’m just going for this sh*t.
Disclaimer: Any opinions shared are not the views of my employer.
Edited by Christina Santi
To be fair, my editor also warned me in February about some rumblings she was hearing about things going on at the company. So I had been looking for a new job for a couple of months already.
Except myself.
Like paying bills.