What Industry Are We In Anyway?

Dear Editors, 

Do you remember the days when our industry was so small we complained it was incestuous? When your next job came through word of mouth and your work had its own reputation? When the role you were in was clear and you knew what the next one would be and the one after that? When your title had the word “editor” in it rather than “content” or “strategist” and it was clear what industry you worked in. Now what industry do you work in? 

It feels like a trick question. Now our “industry” is amorphous. We don’t just work in digital journalism, magazines, or newspapers. We work in content. Editorial Content. Content Marketing. Brand Publishing. Branded Content. Sponsored Content. Affiliate Content. Now any company can be a media company; any brand can create “editorial.” And thank goodness that’s the case because the old industry jobs aren’t what they were: There’s less growth, less money, just less of them. But with the vast opportunities outside of media, we are losing that tight-knit community and the clarity of our career path. Our industry may be expanding yet at the same time, it feels so thin.  

Since I started my recruiting agency The Talent Fairy four years ago, I have been trying to recreate this sense of community. What aligns us now is not working in The Media, but a common skillset, a love of the craft, and an innate ability to authentically connect with an audience. This is the common thread that can unite us as we scatter throughout corporate America. 

Yes, I have an ulterior motive here. I want to be connected to every editor, so I have you in my talent database. (That way I can jump on you when my next client is looking for just the right hire!) But I also miss that connection I had working in media, in magazines, and in an industry that felt defined and definable. I’m hungry to recreate that sense of belonging, of being among my people, and to connect with others who get it. Do you feel the same?

Connect with me on LinkedIn, and I’ll add you to my talent database! xo, Chandra 🧚🏻‍♂️