Life after journalism webinar: Hear from 6 journalists who pivoted in their careers

About the Event

In a time of mass layoffs and deep uncertainty, SFJ wants to provide a space for members to learn from each other and find support. Join us for an hourlong panel discussion with six longtime journalists who successfully pivoted their careers into journalism-adjacent fields.

Details

Date: Tuesday, March 26
Time: 12 p.m. ET; 11 a.m. CT; 9 a.m. PT
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84582158858

Panelists

• Hsiao-Ching Chou, cookbook author and Principal, UX Editorial and Events at Salesforce
• Gina Cole, Corporate Communications Manager at Zillow
• Allison Linn, Director of Communications, Global, AI and Innovation Storytelling for Microsoft
• Margaret Myers, Managing Editor at Long Dash and former SFJ President
• Susanna Ray, Features Writer on the Microsoft Stories team
• Ben Riggs, writing coach and Senior Communications Specialist for Kettering Health

About Our Panelists

Hsiao-Ching Chou leads editorial for Salesforce's Product UX team. She supports content strategy and marketing, and edits the blogs related to UX design that publish on The 360, Salesforce's corporate blog. In her other life, she's the author of three Chinese cookbooks and remains active in the food community. Previously, she worked as a food writer for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Denver Post.

Gina Cole is a corporate communications manager for Zillow Group, focusing on media relations, crisis communications, business strategy, and thought leadership. Before making the jump to PR, Gina was an editor at The Seattle Times, at various points managing morning news, COVID coverage, and the digital audience team.

Allison Linn is a communications director at Microsoft, responsible for overseeing journalism-style storytelling about AI, innovation, and global customers and partners. Previously, she spent more than 15 years as a journalist for the Wall Street Journal Europe, the Associated Press, and the NBC News family (Today, CNBC, msnbc.com, and NBCNews.com).

Margaret Myers is a Director on the editorial team at Long Dash, a creative and strategy firm developed at The Atlantic. Over the last eight years, Marge has advised Fortune 500 corporations, nonprofit newsrooms, and social media giants like X and Discord on creating enduring engagement through storytelling and audience cultivation. She began her career as an editor in Guatemala City and Mexico City, and later ran the features department at the Amarillo Globe-News, was an editor at espn.com, and led the PBS NewsHour’s online team.

Ben Riggs is a writer, editor, and writing coach with a compulsion for true storytelling. A graduate of Ohio State University, he has been working with words for nearly two decades and holds writing and editing certificates from the Poynter Institute and Standard Health. He lives in Dayton, Ohio, with his wife, Emily, their black lab (Lewie), and they are expecting their first child, a girl, in late May.

Susanna Ray reported from multiple continents over two decades for top-tier global news organizations including Bloomberg, Dow Jones, and the Associated Press. She never planned to leave journalism but took a break for health reasons and was later recruited by the Microsoft Stories team eight years ago in a surprisingly enjoyable career twist.

Questions Our Panelists Will Answer

• How did you get your job?
• What journalism skills are transferable to other fields?
• How do you market yourself for the world beyond journalism?