I responded to an ad in a small press in the city near my neon red town. They wanted journalists and were soliciting in their classifieds. I have been here at kos since that fatal election night in 04, reading, commenting, and writing a few diaries. I have developed a confidence in my ability to write about social and moral issues that are also political in nature, as well as about overtly political concerns. A little more follows as a way of thanks and to open possibilities for others.
I then began a long waiting period. Calling and checking in with the editor, submitting a few things I had written about interests of mine and finally I got an interview after sending them my resume (outdated) and some of my diaries here. I went in and talked with them as if I were "talking" here and they liked what I was saying. My first test assignment was to write about the local PTA. (And I just found out I am getting paid for it!) Then came the ice-storms and chaos ensued with local contact people having trees fall on their houses, loss of power for two weeks, etc.,but I was able to turn in a piece that was competent and complimentary about the local PTA, without lying. I was able to do this in a timely fashion, with a lot of self confidence as that is what I have been spending hours every day doing online at kos. So all of your comments on my comments, responses to my diaries (none on the recommended list) and just general good will has resulted (months later) in my getting hired to do a monthly column, get this, on the blogging world especially as it exists on Dkos and other political sites. Oh boy!
A way to hit a red town and attract the trendy blues and turn it purple for starters. I am also going to try to get in a recurring feature of legislation that is going on in the State House as well as Washington, explain the issues as they impact the local citizens, and let them know how McCaskill and Blunt see the legislation in DC.
For example health care legislation. All over the Ozarks are these cans and jars asking for money with pictures of children in intensive care, people who have been in terrible accidents, etc. I always write on them Vote Universal Health Care, as it may may them think about the consequences of their vote. The newspaper is progressive, but not radically so, and neither is their main readership. So they must be nudged along, slowly and carefully. But this is what I think I can do successfully.
Thank you all for this opportunity. And those of you in small towns near a larger little city, you can do it too. It took months of careful phone work and writing for them to evaluate me. Try it!