There's a piece of advice I received immediately after I was laid off from NPR in 2009. Nearly two years later, it continues to serve me well. I was told by public radio legend Jim Russell to "Stay active and stay visible." If you follow me, then you know I have greatly maximized that piece of advice. Now, I turn around and offer it to others regardless of there circumstance, and I had the chance to do that directly recently.
I'm a member of an advisory committee to the West Virginia University School Of Journalism. I didn't go there, but the Dean asked me to serve on their committee. Why did I accept? Because she asked, that's all.
There is a new student chapter at WVU under the National Association of Black Journalists (link?). I attended one of their executive committee meetings, and talked for a bit, (especially to the Seniors), about being "visible" online, doing so professionally and how to develop and use a network to find a job. I gave them all my contact information and the meeting ended.
Later, one of student's in the meeting told me he had applied to the WVU J-school mentorship program and was not accepted. He said, "it seems every time I extend my hand, the other person is takes theirs away."
I looked at him and said, "Well, that's why I'm here."
And I extended my hand. He nodded.
I think he got it.
*Chantal de la Rionda edits this blog
