New Gig, New City. I Promise to Stay for Awhile.

Barack Obama

New Gig, New City. I Promise to Stay for Awhile.

I’m proud to announce that I’ve accepted a job with the Energy Action Coalition, a DC-based network of about 50 environmental rights groups committed to solving the root problem we face in America today: a dependence on dirty, unsustainable foreign oil and a climate in peril. I believe that working for aggressive, equitable, immediate change in this area of policy will enable our nation to end wars, reallocate funds, and invest in domestic programs that will bolster the American dream for everyone. I will handle my team’s media strategy, and will also continue most of my existing independent projects as a digital news analyst.

When campaign ‘08 ended, I was at a crossroads personally and professionally. The opinion journalism industry I pursued early in my career had altered permanently, and opportunities to inspire civic participation among my peers materialized that I’d never even dreamed of back in my days at UCLA as a political science student, reading “Bowling Alone” and struggling with the 2000 election and Sept. 11 attacks. There were a number of directions to go in from here, from formally joining the administration to twittering myself into a frenzy until I topped the Mediaite power rankings with breaking photos of myself with celebrities. However, after careful deliberation it seemed most prudent to espouse what I believe by proving the things I talk about. I’m always arguing that my generation, the Millennial Generation, is interested in using new technologies to rally around niche issues by operating outside of partisan politics-as-usual. I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to be in the trenches, to experience directly the amazing youth movement that began last year as it grows and emerges in all its Clay Shirky-esque glory.

It’s a novel concept that a ‘talking head’ would actually do something about the circumstances she blabbers about, one that some of my former colleagues will likely question the journalistic merits of. I will leave that to Columbia J-school professors to argue about, and forge ahead fully into the exciting innovations in citizen reporting and storytelling that are now available to all of us. I promise those of you who have followed me from the Chicago Tribune to the LA Times to the Huffington Post and “Wilshire & Washington” that I will always be transparent and thoughtful. Moreover, I am extremely excited to help my peers renew their commitment to change as we come to fruition as a generation.

Likewise, it will be wonderful to settle down a bit after a long period of strenuous travel and self-discovery. For the last three years, it’s been typical to hear chiding comments from friends: “Where ARE you?” Let’s just say it’s been an adventure as a self-employed “rogue blogger chick.” I’ll be forever grateful that I went all over the country, from Iowa to Denver and beyond, observing the political campaigns in action, participating in the blogosphere and new media revolution, attending mind-blowing tech conferences, meeting amazing young professional leaders and prevailing over a failed existential crisis involving the ‘love of my life,’ which brought me to New York for most of 2009. I’m sure to some extent this nomadic curious streak is an inherent part of my nature, and I’ll welcome the adventure and knowledge that comes with such a lifestyle.

I’ve always been one to follow my heart and insist on my vision. I’m so thankful for the people who supported my dreams over this wild ride: Mom & Dad, Shannon Hawes, Romi Lassally, Megan Rollins, Jacqueline Bush, Rich Wisz, Amber & James Bracegirdle, Katie Halper, Katy Tur, Eric Kuhn, Maury Postal, Brian Dockstader, and Damon & Sarah Carroll have logged countless hours and comfortable couches in the quest to make this happen.

Looking forward to continuing to tell you the compelling stories of my peers in the context of a media realignment we can probably just barely fathom.

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Discussion

3 comments for “New Gig, New City. I Promise to Stay for Awhile.”

MAEGAN, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION. I SINCERELY HOPE IT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR IN THE WAY OF EMPLOYMENT.
LOVE YOU,
SALLYE

Posted by SALLYE CARBERRY | October 16, 2009, 2:38 pm
Congratulations Maegan! Hey, this is kind of random, but you might want to upgrade your Wordpress. I think you have fallen victim to one of the worms that injects spam into your RSS feeds. I’ve seen it on a quite a few other blogs as well.

Posted by brendoman | October 17, 2009, 10:16 pm
M,
thanks for everything.. Congrats on the new position!!

Posted by Brian | October 18, 2009, 7:18 pm

Barack Obama