Making the move from journalism to the dark side of PR
Making the move from journalism to the ‘dark side’ of PR wasn’t something I did lightly. Since I was a little girl watching Look North, reading the Chronicle and even interviewing my grandad for a school project, I wanted to be a journalist.
At every opportunity I’d turn my school work into a news report and I’ve always been able to strike up a conversation with a stranger. But maybe the latter is just a northern quality?
I fell in love with Lincoln on my first visit and knew that was where I wanted to be. The first six months flew by and I’d barely had time to miss home – I was too busy competing for splashes and hunting for stories.
I was working alongside passionate and experienced journalists and photographers and all the other amazing people who make a newsroom tick – what wasn’t there to love?
I was building up my contacts book and had been assigned education as my specialty.
But sadly all good things come to an end.
As my personal life was actually going right for a change, my professional life was another story.
I was miserable.
Stressed.
Burnt out.
Fed up.
Home sickness was at peak levels.
The phrase people leave managers not companies sadly rang true for me. I won’t dwell on the ins and outs but deciding to leave my dream job because my mental health was more important was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make.
But it was the right one.
The opportunity to move to the ‘dark side’ came and I took a leap of faith. It was the best thing for my personal life, my mental health and my career.
I moved into communications within the NHS as a communications assistant for a small community trust and then covered my manger’s maternity leave.
Fast forward two years and I jumped at the opportunity to join the larger acute NHS trust in the county, in a senior role. In that one year I learned a hell of a lot and worked with an amazing team under one of the best managers I’ve ever had.
Then my husband took the plunge and made his move to the ‘dark side’ and together we decided to move to the land of stotties and Brown Ale otherwise known as the North East.
Over here on the ‘dark side’ I still get to do all the best bits of my reporter role with a lot of added perks:
- I’m nowhere near as stressed.
- I get Bank Holiday’s off, most if not all of my weekends and I get to spend Christmas and New Year with my family.
- Now when I interview people for a story I find their attitude towards me is so different to when I was a reporter. They trust me with their words.
- Yes we do often send them the content to approve – which we never did in newspaper land – but they rarely make any changes and they’re so grateful for that chance to see the story.
- I get to be creative with videos, infographics and how I tell stories.
- Every day I’m learning something new and taking on opportunities.
I’ve had many conversations with journalists struggling to decide whether to take the leap to the ‘dark side’ and I’ve told them DO IT.
You won’t regret it.
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To the colleagues and friends I have made on the ‘dark side’ thank you for building up my confidence again and providing me with so much learning and personal and professional growth.
To all the journalists who are still in the newsrooms and want to be there – keep going. Good quality journalism is what we all need especially when we’re faced with so much fake news.
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If you’ve made the move over to the ‘dark side’ what’s your experience? Let me know in the comments below.
Photo credit: The award-winning Anna Draper who snapped me mid-interview with Professor Brian Cox at the home of the Red Arrows.
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Journalism has always seemed like a very interesting career to me, but I have no doubt that it must be stressful, and you would need to have a pretty thick skin too. It sounds as though you are really happy where you are now though and that is worth so much 🙂
Thanks Judy. Thick skin is definitely a requirement. Much happier but still miss it! xx
I am sure it will always be ‘in your blood’! 🙂
Ah definitely!!
I applaud you for having the courage to change careers when you found that yours was having a negative effect on your life. If you don’t mind me asking, would you ever consider returning to journalism in the future? Working on a magazine or writing freelance pieces could be a less stressful way to work in the industry 🙂
Thanks Kate. I would if the right opportunity came up. It would very much depend.
My mum always said I should be a journalist but it’s never appealed to me. I loved reading about your job though! Never knew that side existed!
Melanie-Jessica | http://www.melaniewithanie.com
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. It can be a great job it just depends who you work with! X
I have many times. I came from a background where everyone older than me wants to control what I do even when I am personally not Happy to do that. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading 🙂
I always wanted to go into Journalism myself but never realised there were these aspects too! Interesting!
http://www.chronicallyroyal.co.uk
Thanks for reading 🙂
Hey Rachael, journalism career is surely one of most challenging ones. There are various roles a journalist has to play throughout his/her journey from a reporter to anchor and from a marketer to PR and interviewer. I am glad to know you made right decisions in your life.
Thank you so much 🙂
The irony here is that the dark side of the force was actually a better fit for you. Technically that means you were always cut out to be a sigh. I just love this 🙂 I’m happy for you
Thank you! 🙂
Never be afraid to take a chance! Well, I wouldn’t say never – but never let fear stand in your way of making a change – oftentimes your life end up for the better. Which sounds like it did for you!
Thank you I totally agree 🙂
very inspiring, keep up the good work.
Nice blog! I didn´t know it before :O
http://www.trendsandfashionblog.pt
Oh my goodness. Well done for taking the leap, I had to close my practice last year also due to it just being too heavy on my mental health and was just affecting other parts of my life negatively. Sounds like you are doing amazing now. Sometimes life takes us on rather unexpected turns 😊
Thank you. I totally agree with you but I do believe that everything happens for a reason and I hope you are happier now like I am 🙂
Oh my gosh, really journalism is very stressful and tough. Nice blog. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 All the best for your career. 🙂
Thank you so much 🙂
Please forgive my ignorance, but what exactly do you mean by the dark side? And what is NHS?
Barring my lack of knowledge, this was a great read. I’m glad that you’ve found contented bliss in what you do in life- as very few people ever really get there…
That sounds like the perfect move for you. Well done for being brave and doing it!
Thank you 😊
Hope this journey to the darker side provides you the much needed creative freedom and wish you have nice times and a great work life balance……nice reading this.
Thank you. So far so good 😊
it is such a big thing to leave a career that you have loved, and having to leave on health grounds is so tough (happened to me first – physical, then hubby – mental- a few years later) – but it is possible to make life great again, different but great, isn’t it? In all my years nursing in the NHS I had never really thought about the role of the “dark side”….thanks for sharing x
You’re right. Life is much better for both of us now. Much happier. Much better balance. Life is too short. X
Having met a few journalists along the way I can understand your decision. Well done you for changing careers and doing something new. Revitalises your whole being, doesn’t it 🙂
It really does. Thank you 😊
There’s a LOT to be said for work/life balance. So glad you’ve found yours. Every person I know (about 2) that has left journalism for a different career has not regretted it & has been a lot happier 👍🏻
I’m much happier now thank you. Work/life balance is so important.
A brave move and inspiring to read. I love that you did it x
Thank you me too 😊
No job is worth it if quality of life suffers. I applaud you for making the change. It sounds like the right move at the right time. I’ve changed course within my career many times through the years and it was never easy but it was always rewarding in the end. Bravo!
Thank you that’s lovely to hear. I couldn’t agree more with you.
Finding happiness is harder than it should be. Well done on achieving this. Hope it continues!
Me too thank you 😊
Hi Rachael I enjoyed reading this. I also work in PR and it has changed SO much since I started in the industry in the mid 80s. I love PR work and like you say you get to meet lots of great people AND be creative. l’ll second your good wishes to all the journalists out there. Jill
I bet it has. Do you think things have changed for the better?
Good question – I can tell you were a natural journalist 🙂
Yes, I think things have changed for the better but I found it quite difficult transition from the old days – when it was all about getting a story in a newspaper or broadcast to now when there are so many ways to communicate and we are all Citizen Journalists. Basically, though, it’s still the same job – getting a message across to an audience – just lots of new ways of doing that.
Thank you. Yeah I think you’re write. I don’t think journalists are the gatekeepers anymore. There’s so many channels to use and it’s still important to maintain those relationships with the media 😊
Such great advice and kudos to you for recognizing your need for a change. It can be difficult to face the cons of something we feel “destined” to do and instead identify both what our mental state needs and how to feel professionally satisfied (dare I say overjoyed?).
Thank you it was hard but the right thing to do. 😊
You know, your story rang true for me. When I was straight out of college I wanted to work at a magazine and write novels. I waited tables for years and did just that. I always wanted to write. But, somewhere along the way I realized that dream had shifted, maybe even been shelved. I needed life experience to help inform the writing I wanted to do. The stories I was telling were hallow, a girl trying too hard to do something IMPORTANT. So for twelve years I didn’t write. And then, I did. So, I can relate to your story of moving away from one dream to find one that still fulfilled the core of what you truly wanted. You didn’t abandon your dream, it just evolved. Good for you!
Thank you. I hope you’re feeling that you’re on the right path now too?
Sounds like you made the right choice. I’m hoping the good vibes continue in your new endeavor! 🙂
Thank you me too ☺️
Isn’t it great when these leaps of faith are validated by the changes in our lives we were hoping for?
Glad to hear that the transition to PR has allowed you to continue to enjoy some of the skills you loved as a journalist, while freeing yourself from its shackles.
Thank you. I think sometimes you just have to take that leap and hopefully everything turns out alright in the end!
As much as it must have been hard, I’m so glad that it all worked out in the end! Your mental health is the most important thing and it’s great that you’re in a better place.
Jas xx
Thank you I couldn’t agree more 😊
I really wish that I would have gone into journalism – dang-it! I loved reading your story, and I’m so glad you took that leap of faith. Good for you! There’s nothing better than loving what you do. 🙂
Do you love what you do now though? I think we all have a path to take and it isn’t always straight and clear but we get where we need to be in the end x
Very true, Rachael! Right now I stay home with my children, run a small gardening business, and write, paint, and explore in my free time. So, yes. I do love what I do now. I hope to write even more when my children are grown. 🙂
You’re superwoman! Amazing. I’m sure you will x
Well, thank you, but I wouldn’t go that far. 😉 xx
With every bit more of information, I get to know you a little better. And like Angela said above, you didn’t abandon your career, it evolved. I know someone who also started out as a journalist and then moved into corporate communications. In her retirement, she took up blogging…among other things.
Ah that’s fantastic – a lot of journalists go into PR comms roles I think it’s because it’s such a similar skills-set. Thank you trying to get more of who I am across in my blog posts x
I’m curious, why is PR the dark side? Does it have a bad reputation amongst journalists? Also, is it not common practice for journalists to let interviewees see a draft of a story before publishing it? I always offer to send a draft post to the people I interview for my blog, to make sure I’m not misunderstanding or misrepresenting anything they said. It seems important to me to build up a reputation as someone who can be trusted with other people’s words.
It depends who you speak to. Some journalists don’t like PR people because they think what we do is less important. It’s not common practice at all to let anyone see a story before it’s published unless it’s a paid for advertorial. There’s numerous reasons for this including that copy can be changed by the subs at the last minute.
Ah yes, I can see why last minute changes might be problematic.
There are ways we have to evolve in our professional lives… sometimes we fall into a different path by accident, sometimes it’s just situational. But I’m glad your situation worked out. 😉
Thank you Ritu. More wise words as always 😊
🙂
I love loved reading this! I too am making some life changes and this really inspired me to make the jump! Great post girly! I am glad you love PR!
I switched from journalism to marketing and I totally agree! Journalism is exciting but the work/life balance can get crazy
It really can! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m all for reducing stress. There are too many choices out there to let yourself be stuck in a stressful job. Kudos!
Thanks Ellen 😊
I went to school for Communications and Journalism, and I didn’t realize how hard it was to get in the industry without a backup plan. I’m learning the repercussions of it now, and while I’m still in it for the long haul, because I love books and writing, finding my place in the industry is hard. I liked reading your testimony on how you made the crossover to “the dark side”, but it seemed like it’s all worked out for you! 🙂
It can be really difficult. Thank you yes I’m much happier and settled now 😊
Thanks for sharing this again…a great story – making career choices are always scary and stressful, because you never know what the future will bring – that said, you were in touch with your stress level at the previous job, and I always tell my kids that you have to make choices throughout your life…if they don’t go the way you want, then make another one…never be “frozen” and afraid of change because it will happen with or without your participation!
A wonderful story of how having the courage to change although not easy can work… I think I have done that all through life at least three times and it only fell flat once and that was because I had built up my expectations of what that role was and it wasn’t and never would be I totally got it wrong but it was a learning curve and I didn’t make that mistake again…We live and learn don’t we…But you have done amazingly well, Rachel 🙂