When asked what publications they read anyone with intelligence or pretensions to that quality lists The Economist among their list. The Economist and the Wall Street Journal it seems give you that certain cachet of worldliness. Politicians, public figures all list these publications.
Even Sarah Palin, after failing to name for Katie Couric the publications she read up in snow country came back the next day with The Economist and the Wall Street Journal as part of her list. Naturally, media folk were skeptical. Media folk are paid to be skeptical. At least they used to be paid to be skeptical. Some of them are more boosters than skeptics. And fewer and fewer are getting paid to be anything. As part of any preemployment program, you check up on them and most will list “blogging,” more as a refuge than a brave new world. But I digress.
The Economist was picked by Advertising Age as the Magazine of the year. It is a terrific publication. And now it too will be laying off employees. About a dozen employees in North America were handed their pink slips. Good luck with finding a media job in this economy. Even cable and the entertainment sectors are fearing they are not recession proof anymore.
Now laying off a dozen people at The Economist is nowhere near the slaughter taking place at some of the other publishing concerns. Time, Inc. is laying off int he thousands, as is Gannett, Heart, Conde Nast, name it. Who knows where it will end? Truly.
But if you are looking for quality writers, now is the time to look. For everything from business letters and pitch letters, marketing communication materials, this is a good time to find quality at a bargain. Given that simple spelling and punctuation, reading and writing have become extraordinary skills in a semi-literate society, a good writer is a terrific asset. Even part time or on a contractual basis.
Hire them. Look at it as someone you can use to your advantage. Look at it as an act of kindness. In any event it’s a smart move.
Check them out before you hire.
