A kiss for all your kind words these last couple of (a bit difficult) days
Ι had two meetings today so I spent the day in offices talking to people. I know I have been coming up with new job offers and new plans for months in this blog and it must look as if Greece is the Press centre of the world with thousands of newspapers, magazines and news portals. As I see it, two things are probably possible: The first is that the Media are used for money laundering. Most people know that and there is no other explanation for publications, radio stations and TV channels that survive with minimal sales and no income from advertisements. The second explanation is that many people here want to be publishers. It’s like a disease. Many newspapers and magazines are issued with no plan at all. I put more effort into planning my college newspaper. Sometimes you are invited for interviews and go to empty offices that still smell of paint. There is a state of the art plasma TV on the wall, the latest Mac computer and a huge presidential chair for the director of the project and that’s it. No desks, computers, phone lines, internet, toilet paper, for the future employees. Many times you never know who finances the project. There are shadow publishers who move puppet directors and editors. Today I went to a meeting for a newspaper that is going to come out in January. It might be a perfectly honest job, or a total farce, who knows. Usually, nobody knows, not even the people who run the project. This is going to be a newspaper with a female target group. Again, I have no idea what this means. Not all females care for the same things, just like not all males watch football. They said it is going to cover every news area but from a woman’s point of view. The people were very nice to me. I am a friend of a friend, and this is usually how you find a job here. Luckily, I have some guardian angels just like I have been a guardian angel to one or two people in the past. I believe very much in being looked after and looking after colleagues, especially in this job where everything is so temporary. I left the building description till last. The offices were luxurious. I was stunned. Marbles, golden mirrors and touch screen lifts, are not really my style, but if you are into Versace maximalism, this could be your paradise. We are meeting again this week, so I’ll let you know.
November 29th, 2005 at 11:53 am
It sounds like this place may have toilet paper and a bidet?
November 29th, 2005 at 11:56 am
possibly a bidet with a golden tap?
November 29th, 2005 at 12:25 pm
I wonder how you can provide news with a “female” point of view. Its news! What do they report on, abortion and the glass ceiling?
There’s a network over here geared toward’s men, called Spike TV (sounds manly, eh?) All I watch on it is Star Trek.
Marble and gold mirrors? If it looks as gaudy as it sounds, how will the deco freak in you cope?
November 29th, 2005 at 12:25 pm
good luck with everything. I know your brave enough to make the right decisions
November 29th, 2005 at 12:30 pm
steve
thank you sweetest.
where have you been?
erikku
dunno! I guess i’ll just have to go upscale and maximize everything: huge golden mug with Versace’s Medusa? Marble desk? Velvet curtains?
November 29th, 2005 at 12:38 pm
Gold taps, Marble Medusa heads, velvet drapes.., please be careful Chloe, either it’s all expensive and gaudy or they’re props for a porn movie.
November 29th, 2005 at 12:43 pm
I’m still for a start your own magazine route
You’ll just have to wait until one of the temporary operations closes up shop and moves on to a new place.
I’d rather watch Spike TV than Lifetime (television for women). We jokingly refer to Lifetime as the “women-in-peril” channel.
November 29th, 2005 at 1:27 pm
If there is a mac i’d say wait and see. but..
the description reminds me of freelance job i had. Same marbles, i dont remember if there was a bidet, but i do remember apart from huge servers, a steel SMEG high tech fridge in the kitchen packed with souvlaki and gyros leftovers, Evian water, sweets, and coca-cola. and no signs of ashtrays (hmmmm)… Unfortunately there was no Mac! The whole team looked suspiciously spookily friendly. they were bad people.
November 29th, 2005 at 1:37 pm
all this talk of music has made me think of tori amos. also, “pieces of me” makes the think of her, as well. she’s got this line that is sublimely melancholy Tear in Your Hand: “there are pieces of me you’ve never seen/ maybe she’s pieces of me you’ve never seen well.”
i’m tired to the point of being without inhibition right now. so my brain is firing its to whatever it feels is the right path for today.
hopefully you have a great one! good luck with the job, too. it sounds like fun to me even if i’m not into the posh surroundings.
November 29th, 2005 at 2:13 pm
wellcome to media madness will you be a freelancer?should we publish our newspaper or magazine?do you think the others are better from us? i believe in some years in the nearly future with that growth of the newspapers and magazines there will be a unique newspaper or magazine for everyone of us
but are we gonna still have jobs? that’s why i’m saying lets be publishers too…
November 29th, 2005 at 2:44 pm
Chloe, err…my sweet blog-friend, if you finally got the job, err…can you please speak to your boss about me…
i’ll be happy with 1000Euros per month.
November 29th, 2005 at 2:58 pm
Money laundering? What an interesting concept. So “offshoreish” chic. Nice kiss by the way.
November 29th, 2005 at 4:00 pm
Best of luck.
November 29th, 2005 at 4:13 pm
A big kiss to you too and sorry I haven’t been around much lately for those kind words. I’m loving your soundtrack
I’ll be back!
November 29th, 2005 at 4:45 pm
In BroodingSideOfMadness’ words…
If there is a mac i’d say wait and see.
I add…
If you get a G5 Mac or a PowerBook, i’d say stay
All the best.
November 29th, 2005 at 5:15 pm
So that’s where Saddam Hussein’s interior decorator ended up!
Or don’t they need a fashion/movies/books supplement magazine that you be editor in chief on?!
November 29th, 2005 at 5:27 pm
Good luck always.
You always put out positive energy and some of that will come back to you.
November 29th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
great material for your first novel of intrigue and suspense. Grishom style in the publishing world.
Nice kisser.
November 29th, 2005 at 7:07 pm
Money Laundering is there in every industry !
On a lighter note, nice snap of you !!
November 29th, 2005 at 7:26 pm
walter
then i’ve got a good story in my hands and i’m not going to lose it!
Stephanie
just wait and see the magazine i bought today. i think it’ll dispel any illusions about how serious a journalist i am. i’ll post tomorrow.
joe
isn’t everybody? i mean “bad people?”
great white hype
i like Amos a lot, especially Jackie’s Strength.
street spirit
too late to welcome me. i am trying to get out.
i have been a freelancer for the last 8 months. This last 10 months i have quit 3 jobs, two of which in the space of 10 days. The people who hire me are lucky indeed.
husker du
i won’t let you work for that amount of money. think about the buying power of 1000 E: A sofa and an armchair maybe from IKEA?
For a month of non-stop work?
But if you insist! xx
zona boy
yes we are chic people. (sick too).
bedshaped
thank you so. you do bring me luck.
devil mood
by all means enjoy the soundtrack!
vista
this is how this work thing is progressing. people usually go to interviews so that others can see if they are right for the job. i go with my checklist and tick off boxes:
Powerbook - ok
Espresso machine -ok
Nice view from office window - ok
Nearby metro station - No! Can’t do!
Finn
yes there was an opening for Chairman of the Board, but as Iggy says, “I’m bored”.
Angel
thank you.xx i get lots of positive energy from all my friends here.
pirate
don’t put ideas in my head! you know i am easily influenced.
true blue guy
you are right. i mean, about money laundering.
November 29th, 2005 at 8:07 pm
Chloe;
Check everything out in great detail; particularly the washrooms. If there isn’t toilet paper, then they msut really be a temporary outfit! Good luck this week. Have you decided to not stay with the freelance for the odd magazine with the really nice boss man?
November 29th, 2005 at 8:11 pm
Good luck with the second interview. I don’t think you’ll have trouble finding a job you want, as you keep finding jobs period.
As for the decor, maybe you can be a rational influence from within… “No, I don’t think the the gold taps shoudl go in the lunch room. How about silver instead?”
November 30th, 2005 at 12:26 am
Chloe,
To start with such a darling picture…you should consider modeling.
I am so sorry you are having such a rough time getting a good job. I know it is tough out there and a lot of competition. I am an optimist and I am going to keep my fingers crossed for this fancy job for you! You will fit right in with the ambience.
Hang in there!
Connie
November 30th, 2005 at 1:19 am
I LOVE TORI AMOS!!!!!!!!!!!
November 30th, 2005 at 1:19 am
Thanks for the kiss and good luck!
November 30th, 2005 at 2:16 am
Other industries are also used for money-laundering (e.g. IT industry) but, I agree, nothing compares to publishing…
A recent “scandal” in Greece revealed that the wife of the guru of greek journalism was involved in the works for the Olympics… Quite disappointing…
November 30th, 2005 at 3:23 am
Cathy
hehe, thanks. No, I am staying with the nice boss, whether he likes it or not! This new thing is something i might or might not do independently of freelancing.
blackcrag
or maybe i’ll decide to blend in and start going to work in golden roman-like robes.
Connie
hehe modeling, muahahahaha! that was sweet.
Thanks for the faith Connie. I didn’t use to believe in all this but i have started thinking lately that all these good vibes from all of you are the reason i have been having so many job offers lately. xx
Vesper
there are more kissses xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
use your illusion
it’s a shame our international friends cannot take part in the big circus that the Media are in Greece.