It’s not what you know…

As I wrap up my first year in China and lube the skis to glide blithely into the second, I’ve given some thought to what I’ll do a year from now. I’ve realized that overseas journalism might just be my ticket.

I’ve been thinking about it and have realized that there are a few prerequisites to a career in overseas journalism.

  • Love of travel. Check
  • Love of writing. Check
  • Loving audience, or at least people willing to read your writing. Check. (Judging from the lack of response to most of my postings, I’m assuming here. However, no one can prove me wrong because that would require having read this.
  • Ability to appear intelligent and reliable. Check (see previous line for proof).
  • Silk scarf. Seriously, all the reporters in Asia have them. And while I don’t have mine yet, I consciously chose not to buy one in Thailand and Cambodia, so that makes me different, not underqualified.

There might be other stuff, too, but I think those are the basics. I thought I was in pretty good shape for this career, when my ponderings were confirmed.

I’m not announcing any plans, hopes or even desires, but I thought I’d share the joy of my first big break.

I was published in by an international media giant.

Knowing you would be skeptical, I secured proof (or you could go see it for yourself):
My moment of fame
Yes, indeed, ladies and gentlemen, that “Justin J” in Changchun, China, is the rising star you discovered early. And before you go and pass it off as my commenting on an article online, allow me to direct your attention to the post heading: “Your letters.” It clearly indicates my piece of writing was subjected to scrutiny and selected for mass reproduction. It is not obstructed by a screen name or subjugated to the possibility of a user’s complaining about it.

I made it to the big time.

Actually, if you want to know the truth, they’re only returning the favor. Do you think it’s a coincidence that my feature in BBC’s Magazine Monitor came within a week of my plugging it? I don’t think so either. So, I know you’re reading this NY Times, but I’ve not heard from you yet. You could still beat Reuters, Slate and even the Onion. But you’ll have to work fast—the BBC and I are getting pretty cozy.

4 Replies to “It’s not what you know…”

  1. sure, be a journalist. Get a real job running around the world.
    I do have a slight problem though. I know of no publication that would hire a writer who uses the phrase “lube the skis to glide blithely into the next” its really just too much.

  2. @ Josh

    I and, I hope, my students take offense to your implication that teaching English is not a real job. Don’t make me talk about your job. You know I will. And while such imagery may be a bit heady, I did at least punctuate it.

  3. I make no implications, I was merely making a joke. China has excised your sense of humor. (yes, the previous two sentences are only present so that I could use the word “excised”)I also apologize for the lack of punctuation. And you can talk about my job – last I checked there was nothing shameful about being a secretary and a private teacher. So bring it on.
    In any case, by the time you decide to respond to this I’ll be done with this job anyway sooooo, then I can make fun of you for not knowing whats going on in my life

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *