What might have otherwise seemed like a career move brought on by
panic over an industry downturn a dozen years ago, was actually a
blessing in disguise. As a result, I was able to make a very natural
switch from "investigator" to advocate.
I had been working for the leading electronics trade journal for five
years as their Los Angeles correspondent, while helping out nonprofit
and civic groups with publicity for free in my spare time - and enjoying
the latter more than my job. Suddenly, I saw almost half of my editorial
coworkers being laid off at the newspaper. I began to rethink my career
goals as a trade journalist when one of the better PR executives I dealt
with at a new tech boutique agency asked me to join as their first
senior hire.
The firm was unique, even for that time, because one of the founding
members had actually been a competitor of mine at another trade
newspaper.
Because a colleague had already "crossed over" from journalist to PR
practitioner, it made my overall transition much smoother. It also
allowed me to progress in the coming years through assignments with both
small and large agencies.
