I'm just like the Scottish patriot William Wallace as portrayed by Mel Gibson in "Braveheart." Except that he's dead and I'm merely unemployed.
I joined the rapidly growing ranks of unemployed journalists a week ago today.
Business is down at the publisher I worked for, as it is for almost all publishers, and my boss put me on furlough for the holidays.
But I quit instead.
I suppose I should’ve felt sad or angry. But I didn’t. I’d long expected the axe to fall at Christmas, which is traditionally a slow time for publishing, and I felt both free and oddly defiant. I was journalism’s equivalent of Scottish patriot William Wallace as portrayed by Mel Gibson in 1995’s Academy award-winning film, Braveheart.
You may remember the movie’s climactic scene. After being captured and tried for high treason by the persnickety and somewhat effeminate British leadership, Wallace is taken to a London square and hanged, racked and disemboweled. Most folks would’ve gladly given up the ghost by this point, but not Wallace, whose hatred for the imperialistic British and their overcooked vegetables was boundless. An English magistrate offers the plucky Scotsman a quick death in exchange for a plea of mercy, which the watching crowd supports. But Wallace summons the last vestiges of his strength, turns to the crowd, and defiantly shouts “Freedom!” Seconds later, his head is liberated from his body by a hooded man with an incredibly large axe.
That was me, except for the bit about rebelling against authority and then being hanged, racked, disemboweled and beheaded. I was a good and trustworthy employee who worked fairly hard and grumbled about my petty grievances rather quietly, mostly to a few of my fellow co-workers and my family. Oh, and I didn’t shout “Freedom!” as I left the office, either. I did have a little spring in my step, though. The way I figure it, I was looking for a job when I found the one I had, which means I’m no worse off now than I was then.
Now that I’ve had a few days to think about my decision, however, I realize there are some important differences between Gibson and me. I’m not as good looking or as well connected, for example. I also don’t have any racial issues with Jews, especially if they’re hiring. More to the point here, however, I’m not nearly as wealthy as he is. Gibson is said to be worth nearly $1 billion and rarely worries about money, even with one wife, one ex-wife and eight children to support. I’m said to be worth roughly nothing, unless you count the value of my extensive collection of action figures. Then I’m probably worth $300 at the most, which means I worry about money all the time. I’ll need to get a new job fairly quickly unless my family’s willing to live at one of those shelters downtown, or, worse yet, with relatives. I don’t need William Wallace to tell me that living with relatives would be as oppressive as being ruled by the British.
But I can’t worry too much about money now; No matter how broke I get, it’s time for me to make a change.
An artist's rendering of me getting furloughed last week just before I recklessly decided to quit.
I don’t see a future for myself in newspapers or magazines. It’s a dying industry, slain by the Internet and YouTube. Analysts say print revenues have been dropping by about 11 percent a year as companies pour their advertising dollars into new media like the Internet. That might not sound like much, but over time it’s devastating to profits. It also puts a serious crimp on the writers and editors who depend on the largesse of publishers to afford their mortgages, groceries and whiskey, although not necessarily in that order.
I’m not an analyst, but as an industry insider, I don’t believe advertisers are the problem. I just don’t think people read newspapers and magazines much anymore. They’re quaint relics of a bygone era. While some of the more interesting publications may survive—even thrive—most are shrinking month by month and I believe they will quietly fade away over the next decade or so. Magazines and newspapers aren’t relevant or timely enough in the Internet age. I have more readers and receive more comments on this silly blog every day than I received in a year at the magazine I worked for, and I often wrote about serious and controversial subject matter. My conclusion: People are barely willing to read free 140-character Tweets anymore, let pay for the privilege of reading entire sentences, paragraphs and articles crafted by stuffy eggheads who pompously maintain they know what they public’s interested in, or ought to be interested in.
And that’s OK. Things change, even centuries-old businesses like publishing. Oh, and decades-old writers and editors like me.
So I hope you’ll join me this Christmas in shouting, “Freedom!”
It’s a good feeling.
Congratulations! I shouted “freedom” about a year ago… gave up the higher paying administrator job, which I hated, to go back to the classroom. Now, a year later, I’m struggling to get by in a job that pays very little, but which is infinitely more satisfying. It’s worth the trade. (So she says until the last vestiges of the savings account are gone.)
Ah, the usual tradeoff: Do something you hate and get rich, or do something you love and go broke. Been there, done that. It sucks, doesn’t it?
Mr. Mike, I drink your Freedom milkshake!
Milkshake?
Have you seen There Will Be Blood?
No, but I’ve heard it’s good. Is there a particular reason I should watch it? Am I about to be killed and my brainz eaten?
He drinks a milkshake.
He does? What am I missing here?
Yeah, a big fat corporate kiss goodbye (RIF) for me in 2007. Maybe I’ll go back. Maybe not. I do miss the money but I have passion for my part-time work and I’m fortunate enough to be in a situation where me working part-tie is manageable for my family right now. Who knows what the future brings?
Congrats on your freedom, Mel…er…Mike and I’m so glad you were not beheaded or disemboweled. Just think of the mess for your family.
You are so right about being beheaded or disemboweled. Every time that happens, my family whines for days about the cleanup.
Con..gratu..lations?
* cricket
Sure. Congratulations.
To celebrate, I answered your Q&A question today…just in time for Christmas!!
That’s your present.
You’re welcome.
I think congratulations is right. Time will tell, of course.
Happy Freedom Day Mike.
I hate to see the printed word fall by the way-side, but unfortunately you’re right. Soon it will be all digital. I love the smell of ink and the feel of paper, but unfortunately the next generation will not be that enthralled with it, thanks to us.
I love the internet and all the free content we get to read, like your blog for instance.
It’s a paradox.
Free is a good price. Unless you like to get paid for what you do, of course.
I’ve never seen Braveheart, though the blue face looks cool, and I love Scottish music. So maybe I’ll give it a try one of these days. I’ll try to enjoy it, despite the fact that you just spoiled the ending for me.
A few years ago I had a job I hated so much that it felt good to leave it. Even though I had nowhere else to go.
I still struggle financially, to be honest with you. I’m in sore straits, and have been for quite some time. But I know I’d be utterly drop dead miserable if I was still in that job, and that’s why I honestly believe I made the right choice.
Wishing you the best.
It’s hard to be broke isn’t it? Still, I needed to make a change, as you’ve cleverly detected.
Do see Braveheart, by the way. It’s a terrific movie, one of my favorites. The battle strategy the Scots used against the superior British army alone makes it worth watching.
I really like your blog. I am a first-time visitor, but I observe every site I submit a comment to. I have a humor blog myself, which I hope to be a top place for people to come and laugh. Life is hard enough and you sometimes need to just sit back and laugh a little.
I’d like to exchange links with you to help spread traffic around to each. Keep up the good work. You can contact me by simply placing a comment on my site.
Happy Holidays!
Jason
HilariousHeadlines.com
Thanks for stopping by, Jason. I’ll take a look at your blog, too.
Congrats! Been out of work for a full year myself – worrying about bills sucks but can’t cry all the time! Let’s hope the new year brings us some prosperity for once!
Ouch! A full year? Hope must be about all you have left at this point. Here’s to the new year for both of us.
What’s the game plan now?
Game plan? I’m supposed to have a game plan?
Uh-oh.
I’d be suspicious of that Jason character, if I were you.
I know, right? Apparently, he forgot he’d already visited my blog, and praised it, and asked me to visit his blog and exchange links. I’m afraid of getting whatever the equivalent of an Internet STD is, pardon the lousy grammar.
This is a great blog you have here. I have a humor blog as well which I hope will bring laughter to people around the world. Life is hard enough. I was wondering if we could do a link exchange. Please let me know if this is possible.
Sincerely,
Jason
HilariousHeadlines TALK
Thanks again, Jason.
Welcome to the club! I’m sure you’ll find blogging even more rewarding now that you have lots of time on your hands. Maybe you’ll even start a second blog. Or not.
Freedom!!!
Club? There’s a club for people like you and me? What kind of club would allow people like you and me to join it? Are the dues steep?
Yes, there’s a club…..with membership cards, a secret handshake and a decoder ring. Fortunately, I.O.U.s are accepted for the dues.
Oh, thank God. I really can’t afford any more bills right now.
P.S. — I love secret decoder rings.
One door closes, another opens. You will be fine and who knows what next venture you will embark on! My son graduated in May (Journalism/English) and is having a blast selling TVs at Sears. He’s moved to a different part of the state, got his own apartment, pays his bills and the scary thing is, he’s happy. On the other end of the spectrum (age-wise), last year I ditched my work-at-home rapidly fading job of 10 years for a completely different career. Best thing I ever did. So, another chapter in The Life of Mike has ended and a new one about to begin. Congratulations and enjoy it!
You’re right, sometimes change is good. I just hope I’m near the door when it opens.
Hell, that sucks. Freedom? Maybe. Years ago when I got canned from my radio correspondent’s job it took me about a month and-a-half before I found another job. Where? Government communications. That was over 20 years ago. Now more than ever they need people to spin their stuff to an unsuspecting public! If you can cope with bureaucracy, you could be set.
A Canadian government job? Isn’t that the Holy Grail of all jobs, with about 6 months on and 6 months off? Jealous, I am, NoName.
Well good for you (right?)
I guess I’m almost free -right now I’m testing my freedom wings in a part time fashion.
Full time freedom scares me like poor heath insurance!
Thanks for stopping by, MrsBlogALot.
I’d have to agree that freedom — like health insurance — isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.
The only part of Braveheart I saw was the disembowelment and since I didn’t get to see any of Mel’s bits and pieces I wasn’t to impressed. Hang in there and enjoy this time. It might be the best time you have.
Sorry about your missing Mel’s bit and pieces.
I’m trying to relax and enjoy, but I’m having a hard time, to be honest. I’m sure it’ll work out. It almost always does.
My sympathies on the freedom…
Hope you can enjoy it – at least for awhile, Mike.
I have tried, but I’m strangely stressed out about it. It will end soon, I believe.
Good that it will end soon. It is hard not to stress about it – I have been there too many times:(
You’re not a-kiddin’.
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Odd , your site shows up with a green hue to it, what color is the main color on your site?
Blue, unless I’m feeling nauseous. Then it’s green.
Hey I was just browsing your site on my Pure phone and I was thinking about how well it will work on the new ipad coming out . Fleeting thought…. Anyway thanks!
Thanks! For what, I’m not sure. But, thanks!