Last week I attended the Northwestern seminar “How to Get a Job With Your Magazine Concentration.” While the seminar was encouraging, I’ve already done most of the little “tricks” they recommended. I have a Web site that links to my clips. I have some kick “a” business cards. I’m already cross-platform, multi-platform, whatever-you-want-platform. So these tips sort of felt felt like no-brainers. The seminar did, however, reinforce something I’ve always know: it’s all about who you know (don’t hate me for sounding so cliche).
Nine times out of 10, when a job …

So in all my spare time, I’ve started another Web site to talk about women and their portrayal in the media (from a very non-hater, feminist perspective). Womankind Media wants to be a place for open discussion about women in the news (journalists and citizens alike). Here’s our mission statement:
Womankind Media provides a place for open discussion to talk about gender bias in the media. We aren’t placing blame. We aren’t man haters or bra-burning feminists. Womankind Media is just a group of educated, female journalists who want to understand …

For roughly 4 months of my life, I was utterly consumed by Sci Q. I was fortunate enough to work on the magazine as part of my Master’s program at the Medill School of Journalism. Sci Q is a magazine intended for males ages 25 to 44 who like to know how things work, but don’t necessarily consider themselves scientists. It takes popular science pubs like Popular Science and Science Illustrated to the next level with a bit of wit and a lot of sarcasm. It was a blast to …

… for roughly a minute…
I stopped watching Fox News when I moved out my mom’s house almost 8 years ago and developed an opinion of my own. But from what I do remember, Shepard Smith was arguably the most likeable character in the bunch (not to mention attractive according to my mother). I just got finished reading Esquire’s article on the guy, and while I don’t agree with Fox News, I couldn’t help but feel a fondness for the face of Studio B. He’s funny. He’s charismatic. And that voice… …

“Misery loves company.” Ahh, what a comforting statement and a true one in most circumstances. For example, if I miss out on a pair of Andrew Bird tickets by five minutes, it’s nice to know that my best friend missed them by two. If I’m suffering from a broken heart I would much rather hang out with a bitter, divorcee than with my newly engaged classmate. I think everyone can agree that the human in us wants to know that others share and feel our pain. But as I sit …

I don’t normally talk about my faith, but as I was watching last Thursday’s episode of The Daily Show I couldn’t help but have one of those “Ahhh Haaa” moments, and wanted to share. When it comes to my faith I just try to live my life by loving others and caring for the underdog. So I get pretty irritated when people automatically assume all Christians are judgmental Republicans. Most people ask me how I can reconcile being a Christian and a liberal journalist at the same time. My answer …

Ever since I moved to Chicago from Texas I’ve been wondering why queso is never on the menu at any restaurant I go to. But alas, my question has been answered by Texas Monthly’s David Courtney. See excerpt below, but be sure to check out the rest of his advice in his column The Texanist. It is hilarious, especially for those of us who are from Texas.
Q. Why is it so hard to find queso dip at restaurants on the East Coast? In the simplest form, it’s just Velveeta and …

,

In the midst of all my job hunting I came across an application for a journalism fellowship with The Phillips Foundation. If chosen I’d have the opportunity to study a topic of my choice for an entire year. It will be hard, I have no doubt, but so worth it to do such an in-depth piece. I haven’t fully conceptualized my proposal. This is just a public declaration that I WILL apply just so I won’t chicken out.

Sure every journalist shouldn’t mind getting their hands dirty or making that really uncomfortable call, but my friend Adam lives for it and even considers it fun. He hasn’t lived unless a politician has yelled at him. Adam recently started a Web site about Illinois politicians who are doing it up in D.C. The Zoo Plane features many of Adam’s famous cartoons about poor Rollie Burris and our ex-governor Rod. Check it out. I think you’ll be just as amused as I am. He even got a tweet from the …