Available Positions Include Associate Editor, Volunteer Event
Correspondents
As a journalist and a
pilot, I have to tell you there is no better marriage of vocation
and avocation than working as an aviation reporter and editor.
Seriously. The late musician Harry Chapin once told me his biggest
fear was that someday, someone would walk up to him and say,
"Harry, the jig is up. It's time to get a real job." Now that I do
what I love, I can understand. The truth is, if you love your work,
it's like hardly working at all. That's what working at ANN is all
about.
I started out here as a volunteer correspondent at Airventure in
Oshkosh, WI, a few years back. For me, it was a great way to get to
the big show and see all the sights. I got great access to events
and people you generally don't get to see up close and personal as
a mere spectator. ANN paid for my transportation, lodging and
meals. And, heck, I was going to Airventure anyway!
There were other opportunities to "go to the show" on ANN's
ticket, see the sights and write stories: ICAS, AOPA Expo... ANN
covers all the big events and a lot of the smaller ones as
well.
You might remember that
we put out the call for volunteer reporters last year. We had a
great response -- and we ended up hiring several of those who
volunteered. So many, in fact, that we need to again put out the
call. As you can see, there's plenty of room for advancement in
this growing organization.
I then became the associate editor, writing and posting stories
on the weekends and when needed to fill in during the week. That
was a paying job and, like Harry Chapin, my worst fear was that
someone would find me out. I worked just a few hours on the
weekends, yet carried a byline and a slot on the masthead for one
of the most prestigious online publications in all of aviation.
I've now become senior editor here, putting together everything
that I've learned in almost three decades of reporting and in
almost 20 years of flying general aviation. It's been a great ride
and I'm glad I climbed on board.
If you're interested in either testing the water or jumping
right in, let us know. Send me an email telling me what you'd like
to do -- either act as a volunteer correspondent for major aviation
events and other occasional assignments, or working as an associate
editor primarily responsible for putting together our weekend
edition. Let me know something about your experience and include a
sample of your writing.
And that's all you have to do! We'll be in touch! -- Pete Combs,
ANN Senior Editor