10 Career Options for Foreign Correspondents

Sep 30, 2009

Eric Weiner, a friend, bestselling author of Geography of Bliss and fellow former foreign correspondent lists the options for our breed.

This list was originally composed thinking in terms of a 40-something foreign correspondent who had spent enough years living rough out in the field. Now, with the slashing of newsrooms and foreign budgets, some younger correspondents still in the flush of youth may want to listen to Eric’s sage advice.

Discussion

Trackback URL for this post:

http://www.thomascrampton.com/newspapers/eric-weiner-npr-foreign-correspondents-geography-bliss/trackback/

View Comments for “10 Career Options for Foreign Correspondents”

ericolander

Hard to tell from Eric's tone if he is being sincere or sarcastic. Let's say, for argument's sake, that he is being genuine. His pithy description of the options available to ex-foreign correspondents offers the clearest evidence of why people like him are really expendable in the new world of journalism. The days of a foreign reporter being based in Tokyo, New Delhi, Paris or elsewhere and reporting back to the USA on world events is over. Only a handful of very select news organizations will have the resources to do this kind of reporting and by and large that practice is now over. So Eric says basically the options available are to pack it up and go into PR or teach or, and I like this one best... "do something digital." The fact is that while Eric's reporting is no longer economically viable does not mean that ambitious young reporters are limited to his uninspired list of options. Sites like http://www.globalpost.com/ highlight that high quality foreign reporting remains viable for those who are willing to adapt their expectations and possess the necessary cross-platform reporting skills that the majority of reporters from Eric's generation lack. Unfortunately, Eric is an old horse that is obviously struggling to adapt in the new environment but that does not mean the options are as limited for others as they appear to be for him. I speak from personal experience here myself as former AP and BBC World Service foreign correspondent in Asia and Europe. The new world of journalism offers far more opportunities for enterprising. ambitious reporters than in the past when reporting and journalism were limited to the few networks that controlled media distribution. It is regrettable that the old guard like Eric are so dismissive of this new reality.
noodlepie

I'm guessing colorist is a deliberate mistake...

Looks like I'm taking 3 of these options in Rwanda. Blogged about for the Frontline Club:

http://frontlineclub.com/blogs...
noodlepie

I'm guessing colorist is a deliberate mistake :)

Looks like I'm taking three of these options. Blogged it for the Frontline Club:

http://frontlineclub.com/blogs...
Rick Grant

"10 Career Options for Foreign Correspondents" is a brilliant and deeply depressing look at what happens to old war horses in the new economy. I think I've been through every one of those "Career Options" since returning from the field, except for the "Dead" option of course. Well done.
fonstuinstra

Loved it, Tom
Partly into 10 myself (although the barfly might still be an option). Otherwise, I have my number 11: a speakers' agency.