Tag: journalism

Thinking Seriously About Freelancing

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

It would be a vast understatement that I….don’t do stress well. That’s one of the reasons why I probably will never make it as a full time journalist in the traditional sense. But I am a good writer — or at least like to think so — and I could do a great job as a freelancer if necessary.

Not that the transition from where I am now to being a freelancer wouldn’t be…uuhhhhh…bumpy.

But if I was going to do it — or was forced to do it — I would try to freelance for media based out of NYC. And, yet, I dunno. I think that’s my ego talking. I probably should try to start off in Richmond. But, I dunno. I have no idea how to go about such things.

What would I write about?

Technology
Media
Pop Culture
Being Blue In The Red Part of a Purple State.

The big issue issue would be, of course, the due diligence that any editor in NYC would do on me would cause them to see what a fucking kook I am. Though it would be fun to see the poke around this blog before they told me that I suck and why did I bother them with this or that pitch?

Anyway. I don’t know yet that I have to go back into freelancing. But it’s at least *possible* at the moment.

‘Failed Journalist’

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

There are a few professions that if you involved with them ONCE in your life, that is how you’ll be referred to for the rest of your life. Stripper is one of them. If you strip for a little while in your life, then you’re a stripper for the rest of your life, no matter what else you might do.

Journalist is the same way, in large part because it gives OTHER journalists a hook to frame whatever it is your in the news for. As such, when Tyrant Trump snatches me off the street in early 2025 because of all the times I called him a “fucking cocksucker” on this blog, then the local Sinclair owned station will call me a “failed journalist” who got what was coming to him.

The great irony is, of course, that if I ever need to pivot back into actual professional journalism again, I would probably do a really good job. I only bring this up because I’m nervous about my future and I’m thinking about looking into freelancing again.

There is the problem, of course, of all the bizzaro posts I’ve made to social media over the years. No editor worth his or her snuff would poke me with a 10 foot poll because they would think I’m clearly bonkers. (And, sadly, maybe I am.)

Anyway, the biggest reason why I “failed” a journalist the first go round was, well, me. I’m 100% extroverted and all good journalists TEND to be introverts. I love to talk and socialize — I’m anything BUT one of those deranged guys that everyone says “was quiet and kept to himself.” I’m NOT quiet and I DON’T keep to myself.

In fact, if I somehow managed to sell this novel and it become any sort of success, I would probably make a name for myself for being quite the character. I would do rather well on the late night TV talk show circuit. But, who am I fooling –I’m old as dirt. And it would be extremely surreal if somehow my life righted itself after a lifetime of being a drunk weirdo.

But stranger things, and all that.

Triumph Of The Tribunes

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

If we really are heading towards some sort of “Her”-like future, then people who can ask Her-like digital assistants will be the people with the most important jobs. And the people who can do that?

Usually, in today’s world, they’re journalists.

As such, there may come a point in the future where the skill set usually associated with journalists will be the most valuable in the marketplace. Remember, of course, that the path to such an idyllic future for today’s journalists won’t be a straight line.

Pretty much all knowledge economy jobs could become moot before it happens. It could be that not until the entirety of human civilization is reorganized will any such thing happen. There could “Tribunes” who are the people who talk to our new AGI overlords on a daily basis.

Something. Something like that.

Everyone else will be living off of UBI. And there might be a civil war / revolution in the US between now and this future (and a WW3.)

So, all the bitter journalists I know will still have every reason to be bitter for years — decades? — to come. But I do think that all these new jobs I’m being promised because of AI (AGI) may be a real revolution in how we view work. It will be people who can asks a good question who will have a job.

That’s it.

That will be the only job in existence — being able to ask a good question.

Welcome To The Trumplandia Report

by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls

I don’t really know what I hope to do with this site. All I know is I have been, in the past, a journalist and there seems to be so much news streaming out of Trumplandia that it seemed like a fun thing to do, to try to a site devoted to giving people my take on things.

I can’t promise that this site will be updated as nearly as much as it should, but I will try. Really, I would turn this simply the Website of a email tip-sheet if I had my way, but it’d doubtful I will be able to manage to get anyoe to give me their email address for that.

One thing I can say is, I will probably update this site mostly in the mornings and late at night because that is when I feel like writing the most. And also when I have the most time. Should this site become a success and bandwidth become an issue, I’m really going to be desperate for some contributions. Don’t know exactly how that will work out.

Regardless, this site, at this point, is more about me enjoying writing than it is anything else. I have zero expectations and I don’t even know if I will continue it beyond the first few days. But, like I said, there is a huge amount of news coming out of Trumplandia and I am a writer, so this is a excuse to flex my reporting skills, if just in a minor way.

Shelton Bumgarner
Editor and Publisher
The Trumplandia Report
@bumgarls