After Reinvention, Laid-Off Journalist Becomes Her Own Editor-in-Chief
Washington,DC-based Journalist Launches Media and PR Web Site
02.05.2009 – Washington, DC (February 5, 2009)- In December 2007, Amanda Miller Littlejohn, a staff writer for the Washington City Paper, was at home on maternity leave when she got the call from her boss, WCP Editor Erik Wemple. Wemple had received instructions to make severe cuts to his budget, so he called Littlejohn (then Miller) to give her the news.
"I was somewhat devastated," Littlejohn says. "I had worked really hard to get get into the newspaper industry, and I saw the City Paper as a launching pad for a great journalism career."
Littlejohn's own journalism hopes and career trajectory were dashed when she got laid off. Her career in journalism on hold, and newspapers all over the country making similar newsroom cuts, Littlejohn decided to look for writing work elsewhere.
She took on freelance communications projects and sub-contracted for a couple of larger PR and marketing shops before landing a lucrative contract with the Greater Washington Urban League.
Then in December 2008, almost a year to the day of being laid off, Littlejohn launched the Mopwater PR + Media Notes Blog (www.millerlittlejohnmedia.com) and began reporting again, this time as a blogger.
"Blogging gives me an opportunity to do some reporting, and having had newsroom experience, I'm not afraid to edit mysef," Littlejohn says. She describes Mopwater as a blog about media, marketing, public relations, social media, and what she calls the "post-Obama cultural landscape."
"I want Mopwater to serve as a resource for media consumers, journalists and PR professionals alike," Littlejohn said. "Journalists are naturally nosey, so they can check out what their colleagues are into, and PR people can learn about best practices as well as how to pitch more effectively through my 'How to Pitch' column." But Littlejohn is thinking as a businesswoman, not just a journalist. She hopes blogging will raise her professional profile, position her as an expert and eventually help her land more public relations clients.
Not a week goes by that Littlejohn doesn't hear about a former journalism colleague leaving the industry either by choice or by force, and she's noticed communicators of all types getting more resourceful and flexible in this economy.
"As a media professional, you have to get creative, because newspapers, magazines and news networks everywhere are folding" she says. "Sure, I may have lost my newspaper job, but I'm still reporting. And now I only have to write about what I'm interested in, so I came out alright."
###
Miller Littlejohn Media
Miller Littlejohn Media is parent company to ASevierWriter and Mopwater PR + Media Notes Blog. Miller Littlejohn Media Group is a virtual PR agency run by Amanda Miller Littlejohn. MLMG's work is two-fold. The group provides messaging, marketing/public relations strategy and execution, media relations, and content development. MLMG also offers strategic counsel for diversity marketing and forming diversity partnerships.
Mopwater PR + Media Notes publishes PR and Marketing best practices, PR profiles, interviews with journalists and entrepreneurs, and general media news.
- Twitter Pitch
- DC Journalist Becomes Her Own Editor-In-Chief
- Tweet It!
- News Facts
-
- Amanda Miller Littlejohn is a former journalist
- Amanda Miller Littlejohn launched a public relations and media focused blog called Mopwater PR + Media Notes in December 2008
- Mopwater features original content written, edited and produced by Amanda Miller Littlejohn
- Test Drive My Job profiles public relations, marketing and advertising professionals at varying levels of their careers
- How to Pitch compiles the pitching preferences of journalists for today's busy PR professional
- Resource Links
- Mopwater Version 2
- Mopwater PR + Media Notes
- Tags
- amanda miller littlejohn, media trends, recession, journalism, journalism, @amandamogul, jobs, public relations, marketing, social media, careers, jobs, communications, marketing, unemployment, new job, writers, media, bloggers, web, media, web 2.0, new media, transitioning, flexibility, freelance, creative writer, social media
- Share via
- More Mopwater PR + Media Notes News
- Mopwater PR + Media Notes Author Releases Book on PR and Social Media
- #TwitchDC to Help Communicators Harness the Power of New Media to Earn Traditional Media Coverage
- Mopwater PR + Media Notes Publisher Launches Online Column Profiling PR Job Seekers
- Former Journalist Offers Practical PR Advice via Blog
-
Visit Newsroom
Subscribe
PitchEngine™ is not responsible or liable for the accuracy, validity or quality of this content. Users are solely responsible for the facts and accuracy of all information posted and shared on the Site. PitchEngine reserves the right to reject or hold social media releases that it deems not newsworthy in its judgment, at any time.
Limitation of Liability - In no event will PitchEngine be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary or consequential damages (Including, but not limited to, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of programs or information, and the like). This disclaimer of liability applies to any damages or injury under any cause of action, including, without limitation, those caused by any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus or bug, communication line failure, theft, destruction or alteration of or unauthorized access to the Site or materials on the Site.
© Copyright 2009 PitchEngine, Inc.
Download vCards
Ask a Question or Add Your Comment