Help...I'm a newspaper reporter and having a hard time finding a job...?

Question

I am told I'm either over qualified or don't have the degree they need, despite my 10 years experience as a war correspondent (Gulf War) and hard hitting news reporter. I feel like I'm sinking into some sort of depression and can't be motivated to look for jobs. I am in a city where there is only one newspaper. People say I should move cities but I can't because of family reasons, not for another two years. Some people I should just take any job - be a secretary or a receptionist - but I don't know. I feel like it would be a step down for me and I really love being a reporter. I know I should be motivated, but it's so very hard. I cry all the time (crying right now) and feel so lost. No one is really helping me and I find that employers could be very rude when answering you back and wonder why I even bother sometimes. What can I do???

Answer 1

Since you are not free to shop your talents around the country, why not take this time to get a graduate degree in some sort of specialty? At the conclusion of the program, you'd have credentials for a newspaper specialty beat like business or science, plus credentials to pursue an entry-level job in academia.

Perhaps you could even qualify for a grant that would permit you to focus your energies exclusively on your studies.