It’s been nearly 3 years since I began doing the WorkLife Minute. It’s something that I value highly as it offers a nugget of information that generally promises an ah-ha moment on “cultivating resilience & serenity in a 24/7 world.” Tonight I was inspired by the king of inspiration himself, John Tesh as I take WorkLife Nation to the next level which will soon be revealed.

John appeared on our talk show tonight at News 12 Long Island. He shared that success was not about the money, but instead being passionate about your work. The deepest desire of your heart. Speaking about how difficult it was for him to make the decision to leave Entertainment Tonight, he went on to explain his journey, that lead to fulfilling his dream of  playing piano as a career. Subsequently it lead to his nationally syndicated radio show: Intelligence for Your Life. It materialized organically – sparked by a desire to help people and a passion for sharing what he had learned.

When asked about his best selling book of the same name, he said a lot of the wisdom came from failure. We’ve all learned such lessons. There’s an incredible wisdom that often arises out of chaos. He also shared that it was through a lot of self-contemplation and going to a deeper place spiritually, that he was able to overcome various obstacles that crossed his path.

I’m a fan of John’s radio show because I think it comes closest to reflecting my passion about how we’ve become a WorkLife Nation, and how to navigate it. The lines have blurred between our living and working experience and his program paved the way to practically examin how we’re living our lives.

At work, we generally don’t have the kind of inspirational or psychological help to get through crisis. But there are some exceptionally healthy workplaces out there that offer support in very practical ways. A few months back I wrote on this topic in my post: Wellness and the Psychologically Healthy Workplace. 

Here’s my latest WorkLife Minute (TM) on The Psychologically Healthy Workplace which highlights a recent study by the American Psychological Association:
WorkLife Minute

 Overlooking the Boston city waterfront high above the downtown traffic was congestion of a different    sort on a cool June evening. Hundreds of people were packed into a cocktail room at The  Intercontinental  Hotel for a Tweet-up  hosted by Marketing Profs. Chris Brogan, blogger and co-author  of the upcoming  book Trust Agents, was navigating a slew of  Twitterers looking for face time, on-line  marketing  companies were handing out fun gadgets and I was engaged in a multi-generational  discussion  about  work life flexibility and  how various constituencies valued such practices in the  workplace. 

 A fellow blogger, Leanne Chase (Founder of Career Life  Connection ) and I, found ourselves steeped in  debate with a small crowd of Tweeps. Mixed opinion radiated from this group made up of Leanne and  myself  (both Gen X) a boomer  gentleman, another “traditional” type and the real clincher voice who  through us all for a loop – Gen Y  Adam  Stewart. Stewart is a Relationship Supervisor at Crayon, a new  media  marketing consultancy. He  also blogs at Discobeta.com.

 Essentially we tossed around  the idea of lumping all the Gen Y’s together as the folowing: happy go  lucky,  wanna steer the ship of my own life, work life flex addicted, creative non-conformists who want  to  change  the world without working  9-5. We were just speaking generally and not  negatively in any way, however the  discussion  was rather  stereotypical. But Adam set us straight making an important point: All Gen  Y’s are not  created  equal. 

Adam and I engaged in a discussion which I felt should be shared with the masses. He was already on his third job, worked long hard hours, went to business meetings like the rest of us, and didn’t expect or require any special attention. The message –  he’s working his way up the career ladder and is just as responsible as say, any Gen X’er working beside him.

Here’s an insightful excerpt from an on-line interview with Adam Stewart:

JUDY: What is a typical work day like for you? Do you have flexible working conditions and what does your position entail? 

ADAM: Crayon is a virtual company, so I have the freedom to work at home.  However, I’m in constant contact with the rest of the company through phone, IM and video chat.  There is a certain level of flexibility, but ultimately we are a small company that works hard to make sure our clients are given the best strategy and execution we can give them. In terms of a typical day, there isn’t one.  And that’s a good thing.  Again, we are a small company, so we all wear a lot of hats. I manage our clients and their business with us. 

A typical day may include writing strategy documents, collaborating with clients and vendors, creating project plans, writing copy — really, it can be anything. Crayon also stresses the importance of being involved in social media. If you look at the Crayon website, it’s actually a lifestream of everyone’s activities online.  Everyone is a blogger, everyone is on twitter and everyone has a strong grasp of what is happening in new media.

JUDY: What’s your definition of a Gen Y or Millennial? Is it accurate to say that they are looking for more “me time”  or “down time” – more work life flexibility?

ADAM:  I have never fully understood the need to lump generations into groups that completely discount every other factor besides age.  To that point, I think Millennials are tough to define.  If I were to define the generation in a few words — sharp, driven, entrepreneurial, value work-life balance, opinionated.  None of those are flaws.  Applied too vociferously, however, these traits can cause some negativity in the audience. 

I think the assumption that they are looking for more downtime (or “me time”) is an accurate one.  But who isn’t looking for that?  There is an undercurrent of rebellion against the typical constraints of an office job and management hierarchy in many companies.  Companies no longer show the same degree of loyalty that their parents had, and that is both a product of economic factors and a product of employers reacting to new generation of employees that don’t want to be working at the same place for 20 years.

JUDY: Are there stereotypical attitudes or work patterns that are inaccurate in your eyes when others refer to Gen Y ?                                          

ADAM: Yes — there are.  Entitled and lazy are two words thrown around a lot.  But you know what?  Every generation has that.  The Millennial/Gen Y generation is confident and wants to control their own destiny.  They were raised by parents who instilled that confidence in them, and now there seems to be a backlash. There is nothing wrong with a confident entrepreneurial spirit.  However, this will always need to be tapered with real experience.  If Millennials don’t realize it at their first job, then they will soon that they do need actual experience to grow and achieve their goals, and the truly smart ones will adapt so they can get what they want to out of the position.

JUDY: While you are labeled a Gen Y, often defined as a new kid on the block in business you are far from it as you’ve already worked at a number of companies. Is this distinction being lost on HR talent recruiters? 

ADAM: I don’t think most recruiters are looking at age as a detriment.  A lot of companies want young talent, especially at the entry level position.  However, talent is identified through experience, and the best candidates will have demonstrated their abilities through actual experience.  Enthusiasm and confidence (even cockiness) is ok, but it doesn’t mean anything without the knowledge of how to apply it.

JUDY: Just last year  - the term “cuspers” was born to describe those who were just on the edge of the Gen X and barely into the Boomers. Do you see a new distinction emerging in the Gen Y set? 

ADAM: As I mentioned, the grouping into a generation based solely on years doesn’t necessarily create an accurate representation.  People a year older than myself had the benefit of a much more stable econony when they completed undergrad and stepped immediately into a workforce begging for their services.  A year later (in 2002), it was a much different situation.  Jobs were a lot harder to come by.  The result are two groups of people a year apart  - that have a different outlook on their jobs and careers.  I don’t see any type of distinction at this point, but it may still emerge.

Vietnam is often refered to as ‘McNamara’s War” by political hacks in the know.  Former U-S Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara is credited with being the “chief architect of the Vietnam war” as stated in this Los Angeles Times blog. That title is clearly not recogized as an honorable work life distinction, but in his death it dominates the headlines.  

The blog goes on to chronicle the books that have sealed McNamara’s place in history,  despite his work to divest the world of nuclear arms and his work with poor nations. Although he subseqently denounced the war in his 1995 memoir, The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam, it was too little - way too late for the public and pundits to digest. 

The word “legacy” as defined in Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary: anything handed down from the past as from an ancestor or predecessor. It wasn’t meant to have a negative connotation judging by its true roots, but it’s meaning had been kidnapped long before the dictates of our time (ie. the legacy of ancient Rome).

In our era, the Bernie Madoffs, the former chief of Enron, the politicians who have not quite lived up to expectations, have marred the word further. So today, I vote for a conscious cultivation of the morally good-to-the-core kind of legacy. That means aligning our core human values with our work, career, or what I refer to as vocation.

Few of us have the opportunity to call the shots on a war, engage in a public political battle, or make a mark in nuclear disarmament. But in our daily lives we do have the opportunity to be of positive influence, even in little ways. And it’s not just about our work – it’s about how we work, why we work, what motivates us to work, and the values we  align ourselves with as we work.

No longer are our working and living experiences all that separate, we are truly a work life nation.  Now because of social media which allows information to travel at the speed of light across the planet, there’s a moral and business imperative to stick to the meat of our business message from a more human place. If not, we shall be recorded in history not just in books, but forever in our digital age as less than – or far worse. 

As for McNamara, he is human, just like the rest of us. We all make mistakes, but owning up to them or correcting them sooner rather than later, might help us to avoid the tragedy that McNamara endured. His true “legacy” by definition, should be the work he did with developing and poor nations, and his strong voice on disarmament. But as the term has been corrupted, his “legacy” will instead be McNamara’s War.

The bottom line is that the images and sounds of Vietnam is how we will remember McNamara, and few would argue otherwise. Do we really think about our “legacy” when we work and do business? Perhaps we should  just concentrate on being more conscious of making the right choices in every moment. That means conscious action not just in support of ones own business goals, but also to be impeccably be aligned with our values as we impact others in life, work and business.

Life’s Work in the Spotlight till the end

People die everyday, but when so many famous people transition at the same time it tends to garner media, and now, Twitter attention. It was easy to follow the events around the passings of a number of legends over the last week. But the deaths of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and a few other household names made news mostly because of their respective legacies; their life’s work.

We were offered every detail of their work life legacy. From their death, to the details of their career, to the family foibles. Most of all, the body of work left behind by these masters of entertainment is front and center – at least for the time being. TV specials and documentaries abound, and reams of information are plastered across the Internet. We know more about their life’s work than ever before – and in real time due to Twitter.

This tsunami of information is a wave that is washing over our consciousness alerting us to their incredible contributions and causes reflection on our own life’s work. They did not have empty careers, but vocations. Michael Jackson was the King of Pop and opened doors for more African American artists, Farrah Fawcett put a face to cancer and brought attention to physical abuse in the movie The Burning Bed. Ed McMahon brought smiles to late night television audiences. And what’s more, they all arguably worked in some capacity until the end of their lives. From most accounts, even in difficult times, they embraced and valued their work.

The events of the last week made me think a lot about how we value or embrace our working lives. In this tumultuous economy,  it’s likely than many of us will work well into retiring age. If that’s the case why be cogs in a wheel? Why not give thought to ones unique contribution. Whether we work for ourselves or someone else, there are subtle ways in which we contribute.

We might be the glue that holds the morale together in the office, the tough love voice that guides the direction of a business, or the peaceful addition in an otherwise difficult workspace which has undergone downsizing. Our work,can impact others even when our own lives are in transition, even in death. Such in the case with a close friend.

Gifting others in our work in the face of transition

An artisan friend of mine whom I have written about before is dying as a brain tumor rapidly consumes her physically, but not mentally at this juncture. Even in what may be the final stages of her life, she occasionally engages in her work of restoring antique books and artwork. I learned this not through speaking with her about it, but instead through a matter-of-fact moment.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend some time with this talented woman at her home in the mountains of upstate New York. It’s the first time I had seen her since the operation to remove the tumor. The procedure, along with chemotherapy will likely prolong her life by a few months, albeit with the consequences of hair loss and exhaustion.

After the hellos, she said she had something for me that was very important. Taking care of business was clearly paramount. I had no idea what was coming as she walked into the next room. To my wonderment she returned with an antique Torah scroll wrapped in blue velvet with Hebrew characters burnt in gold on the outside.

In the last few weeks as she recovered from brain surgery she took time to restore the ancient paper of this scroll which belonged to a mutual friend. It had been in his family for generations; a lineage that began back in Russia; when Russia was Russia.

Repairing this document was not work for her she explained, but instead an opportunity to forget about her pain for a short time and engage in her craft- her vocation.  Although it was clearly a painstaking process as she is losing control over the left side of her body, it was a joyful creative process. My friend is not famous, but her work will live on and be appreciated long after she is gone. Her life’s work was really a vocation; a manifestation of her core brilliance which we had the pleasure of enjoying, even for a short time.

We live, we work and we die. And if we’re lucky our career will manifest more as a vocation instead of the nine-to-five grind of the typical workplace.

Below is a bit of inspiration. It’s U2’s Beautiful Day. The lyrics are included.

A teacher of mine taught me well over 15 years ago that death has a heart, a voice, a consciousness. Volunteering in a nursing home during the height of the AIDS pandemic I witnessed the passing of many men and women who left certain legacies behind. Many were at the height of their careers. News of their deaths reverberated throughout their respective workplaces, communities, and in the media. Their lives were cut short, but not without meaning.

Some wrote of their process, others created art, many chronicled their last days for posterity, and sadly some would never be able to speak their truth. AIDS sparked a new consciousness forcing society to look hard at discrimination, human rights issues, and how we treat each other in the workplace.

In death, a deeper expression of a person’s inner sanctum can manifest in meaningful rich messages which impact others. The process might be as simple as vocally forgiving a loved one, or as globally complex as it was during the height of the AIDS pandemic, which made daily news headlines. In the case of Neda Agha Soltan, the Iranian woman being hailed as a martyr after she was reportedly killed by Basij militiamen at a protest; her death impacted the world deeply in an instant.

The haunting images of Neda represent not only the attempt to silence those opposed to the current Iranian regime, but also the voices and rights of women in Iran as articulated in this article on Bloomberg.com, Neda’s Death Highlights Women’s Role in Iran Protests .

News of Neda’s death crossed the globe in mere seconds. Whether at home or at work, the world received her message of discontent in pictures and in words. Her message is not lost on a world that was eager to listen. But in our personal lives that might not always be the case. Bombarded by media, work and life issues, we’re not always listening in death with the most alert ear because we are consumed by information barely keeping our head above the water suffering from the “attention crash.”

This morning, while still at work after anchoring the morning shows I had the opportunity to speak with an old friend who is dying. He’s the father of one of my oldest friends from high school. Deeply centered, I spoke softly to him over the phone, although he could not respond. At this writing he is passing. His legacy is an incredible daughter who has touched the lives of many people as an actress, teacher and a very good listener and friend. While all I could hear on the phone was his labored breath on the phone, it was a soothing closure.

I could have waited to get home from work to call, but time was of the essence. Why must I wait until I get home to call? It was just another sign of our times, the working and living experience is merging in a new way. As our society ages, and more people work longer, we will inevitably be faced with enduring the dying process in our workplaces.

A few questions came to mind: Are the programs in place to handle such occurances outdated or cutting edge? And in our 24/7 world will we take the time – even in the workplace or in our busy lives working from home – to listen to the messages being expressed in the dying process. Death has a heart, and it will be a real shame if we don’t take the time to listen to the messages that might be coming our way.

I’d like to hear from you. Please share your thoughts or programs that might be in place at work to handle the end-of-life process.

I remember it like it was yesterday because there is not a day that goes by that it doesn’t come across my radar. Following the events of 9/11 a concrete shift took place within the workplace; the work life experience merged for many, because the grief of this time knew no boundaries. A spotlight was suddenly shown on organizations, non-profits and faith-based initiatives that dealt with workplace issues. That’s when I learned more about the Families & Work Institute. 

This week is the 20th anniversary of the Institute’s inception. You can read about the Legacy dinner that was held last night honoring co-founders, Ellen Galinsky and Dana Friedman at Cali Yost’s Work+Life Fit blog. Cali’s blog goes into depth on the workplace trends spoken about at the dinner. It’s a good read with the latest ideas on the topic. I’ve partnered with Cali on a few projects and she has an incredible handle on the cutting edge initiatives in the field, and the work of the Families & Work Institute, as she began her career there.

The Families & Work Institute is known best perhaps for its National Study of the Changing Workforce. But what initially caught my eye less than two months prior to 9/11, was the Institute study entitled: Feeling Overworked: When Work Becomes Too Much.

It stated that a third of U.S. employees felt often or very often overwhelmed by the amount of work they had to do. Little did anyone know how much more difficult it would get to juggle work and life issues. 9/11 was a tipping point in our work life nation. Wall Street suffered, then came corporate malfeasance, the collapse of the DotComs and Sarbanes-Oxley which put a lot of people in a bad mood and upped the stress levels. The Institute was there the whole way and still ahead of the curve to this day. Subsequently, I learned more about the Institute, and interviewed its founders for some stories I did for Marketplace and NPR.

The material that comes out of the Institutes combined efforts with other like-minded groups keeps work life integration on the front burner. It keeps the conversation alive so that companies take more of an interest in their people, their so-called “human capital.” To this day their shared wisdom has fueled my passion to report on programs, companies and pioneers making the work life journey in the new economy, a more positive experience. For me, that’s also part of their legacy; giving voice to what can no longer be ignored. For companies working in a 24/7 global marketplace amidst many generations during a recession – they can’t afford not to listen.

There’s been a lot of hoopla about CNN playing catchup to Twitter in covering Iran’s election fallout (check out the Twitterartti bashing at #cnnfail &  response in an article from the New York Observer   quoting @ricksanchezcnn at the #140 Twitter Conference). On that note, some argue that  Huffington Post  also trumped the global news network.

We can argue for eternity about who reported what first.  The real “get” for me was watching seasoned journalist Christiane Amanpour whittle away at Ahmadinejad at a press conference Sunday – on CNN. She has unmatched street credibility, courage, and deliverables that I’ve yet to see anywhere else during this historic moment. Yes, through the ears and eyes of  Twitter, we witnessed real people out in the streets. It was hard to match. But reporting from that area of the world is challenging at best. Kudos to Amanpour.

Talk about work life integration. Covering her native country as it teeters on a seemingly thin line between chaos and order, Amanpour defiantly stood her ground. And she did it on CNN for the world to witness. Press conferences like that don’t just happen, and moments like that can’t be forced. Amanpour showed up in what is perceived as hostile territory. At this writing, foreign journalists are getting the boot from the streets of Tehran.

It is perfect timing however to take note of Amanpour’s journalistic prowess. Wednesday night she is being honored by the Women’s Media Center  along with other distinguished journalists such as CNN’s Candy Crowley, PBS’ Bonnie Erbe and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. In its first annual awards ceremony (read more about it here) the Center will also dish on the medias most sexist moments over the last year. Among the examples stated:  presidential debates sans women moderators, lack of diversity in the white house press corp and on the Sunday morning pundit shows.

Here’s a snippet from Amanpour’s tete-a-tete with Ahmadinejad which turned many a head on Sunday.

Mesmerized by the goings-on in Iran Sunday, I was admittedly glued to Twitter and the wires with CNN blaring on one of my monitors ( I anchored Sunday at News 12). But the distinctive sound of Amanpour’s voice had me grabbing the remote. Why? Because I trust her as a journalist. I think Twitter will change the journalistic paradigm – although I’m not exactly sure how. It’s bringing us news faster, but also forcing us to be very cautious about the voices behind the tweets.

For me as a journalist, Twitter has shown me how flat the world truly is in our work life nation, and how our work life scenario can change in an instant.

The Brave New World of Working as a Journalist

So what becomes of the journalist now that the internet has essentially become king? The media landscape has not just changed, it’s just been transformed into a multi-dimensional, exponentially growing, holographic exchange of ideas.

It’s nearly impossible to determine the future of news gathering and dissemination, but the times call for a radical departure from the way things have been done. (Check out yesterday’s post on Deconstructing the Brave New World of Journalism) After all, the competition is fierce due to our 24/7 global marketplace. Plain and simple, it’s a battle for attention.

In my career, I went from broadcast Tv news, to national radio, to print and onto the Internet. Now my career resides in all mediums. My love for reporting, curiosity about the stories that needed to be told, and my tenacity, have kept me alive as a journalist.

Here’s what I’ve learned now that I operate within the ranks of the freelance journalistic community, as I continue to strive for better work life balance in a 24/7 world:

1. The rise of the Niche Ninja: We’re operating in an on-line 24/7 sensory overloaded news landscape. There’s always a need for general assignment reporting, but having a niche (even within a niche) will help you rise above the rest. It might make you the go-to person for that topic by content aggregators in your field and media looking for expert commentary.
2. Personal Branding: Be authentic and purposeful when expressing your identity as a journalist. Vint Cerf, often referred to as the “father of the internet” made the following statement at a recent conference on Innovative Journalism which was covered by the BayNewser, “Journalism is going to become all about branding. [Branding] is one of the elements that will help you compete against all the other sources of information that people are exposed to.” Creating talking points that distinguish your journalistic experience and niche from others, can help in the pitching process.
3. Cultivating creative content and connections on-line: Jeff Jarvis, CUNY professor , digital media guru and author of What Would Google do? writes about the importance of developing your on-line presence. “The more public we are, the more opportunities there are to learn and create value,” Jarvis wrote in a recent BusinessWeek article adding that  ”…helping people create, helping their creations to be found, and helping people connect. That will be the secret to social success.” Jarvis wasn’t specifically writing about journalism, but I think it applies to this career, as much as any other.
4. Developing Value Velocity: If you are a blogger, you might post once a week or daily. I’ve often found myself on a radio, tv and writing or blogging deadline on the same day, until I developed “VV”. It’s a step beyond time management. Once a week I identify the value of the items on the agenda for the week by code. Here’s the breakdown: the amount of valued time necessary for a project, the financial value of the project (RIO), and the impact or exposure (local, national, personal niche) of the project. If a project measures up to all three codes, that means it rises above the rest as it is likely taking me in the direction of my niche along with financial security. 
5. The Myth of Perfection: No brainer. If you strive for perfection in an always-on world, you’ll be left at the train station, ticket in hand as you watch the info-express trains speed by you. Investigative journalism requires time, effort and patience. I’m not suggesting skimping on any level, but get your content out there. I have taken days to write a blog.  But there comes a time when you have to stop and let it go. I’ve often found that in my agonizing attempt at perfection in the pitching process, I’ll sit on a story only to see it break a few days later by someone else. Pitching takes time, blogging takes time but as Jeff Jarvis has said, “We are never a finished product, we are an ongoing process. Be prepared to make mistakes.”
6. Avoid Writers Remorse: Not every opportunity is for the taking. We can’t say yes to everything. Life happens and so does “writers remorse.” This is another one of those living-in-the-moment lessons, but it’s valuable. Focus on the story that is in front of you instead of worrying about what the competition is doling out. If someone beats you to the punch on an idea, remember this – there’s no such thing as a new idea – only the lens through which it is uniquely birthed. Look for another angle.
7. Cultivate Work Life Resilience: I’ve been writing on this topic for years and it applies to journalists perhaps even more so today. We sit at computers, talk on the phone, and research till we are blue in the face. Stopping is not an option on deadline. That’s why making use of downtime becomes crucial. Develop your own personal de-stressing routine and be consistent with cultivating that routine. Accumulated stillness goes a long way when the sh– is hitting the fan.

I experienced a whirlwind of activity around social media, journalism and work life balance last week. Every door of my career as a hybrid journalist (providing content across many mediums) was knocking.

Separating the wheat from the chaff was a chaotic, but creative dance. From participating on a panel on the Brave New World of Journalism and Media, to my own contemplative journey as a journalist, I came to one conclusion – journalism is evolving at the speed of light and we either adapt to change in every moment – or we perish.

It’s a Brave New World Thanks to the Internet

Last week I sat on a panel discussion on The Brave New World of Journalism and Media at CUNY for the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Among the panelists; Professor Leonard Witt of Kennesaw State University, Rene Ebersol of Audubon Magazine, Media consultant Brian Reich, Nick Penniman of the Huffington Post and author Christine Henrichs. We debated the direction of  journalism 2.o. Here’s the end story in a few points:

• The internet has clearly changed the business model of news distribution – but some fear it will change the quality of journalism.
• Will the general public be willing to pay for quality journalism? No answer to this one yet. But there is a thirst for good investigative journalism.
• How does one define good journalism? Kind of subjective.
• The rise of the citizen journalist. The jury is out on the impact of this phenomenon. 
• For laid off journalists, freelancing is the best option and work life balance might be compromised unless you’ve got great time management skills.
• The line between citizen journalism and professional journalism is blurred, as is the line between journalist and expert.

For two hours we toyed with new business models and the outmoded ones. We tinkered with how we were going to survive in the Internet age. There was talk on where we came from, where we’re going, and in fact if there will be a financially sustainable place to rest our hats. Who will govern good journalism and who will pay for it?

It was a nostalgic and contemplative night for me. Which had me talking about my evolution in news as I was reminded of a story from long ago.

Before the Brave New World of Journalism, there was Watergate

My interest in journalism was sparked with the traditional newspaper, (still fond of the paper version of the Sunday New York Times). My journey and development as a reporter subsequently included rip and read wire copy when I started in television (pre-computer era.) But even before I hit the newsroom, a life changing evening influenced my interest in news, right out of the gate, if you will.

I remember like it was yesterday, really. My mother was yelling from the bottom of the stairs, “Girls, come down, history is being made on TV.”  I wasn’t even ten years old, but I raced down the winding stairs to the den with my little sister in tow, in our pajamas. And then it happened. The words were spoken. On a black and white television, my family watched and listened.

“I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow,” said then President Richard Nixon. We had studied what was happening to our nation in social studies. I understood, even as a child, that two newspaper journalists, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein had in essence, taken down an administration. It was their tireless 24/7 reporting which flew in the face of any type of work life balance, that changed history. 

That slice of the past, and subsequently the work of Barbara Walters and many Sunday’s watching Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes on CBS in my footie pajamas, formed the foundation of my journalistic instincts and thirst for a good story. Fast forward a few decades and mediums later, and it’s abundantly clear that journalism, let alone broadcast journalism, has transformed into a new animal. I wonder how the Internet or even cable might have influenced – or not – Woodward’s and Bernstein’s approach. What if Reliable Sources with Howard Kurtz was around back then?

Has Journalism really changed or are we just witnessing the evolution of distribution toward an unknown end? From just a hand full of newspaper conglomerates competing for advertising dollars, to on-line media stretching their content for eyeballs, in the 11th hour we’re scrambling to erect a new business model for news within the playground of the few which have survived. Maybe we need to make some sort of evolutionary leap into a brand new model.

What will this brave new world look like for news and journalism in general, and again, who’s going to pay for it?  Tomorrow, I’ll share my work life tips on surviving as a journalist in the brave new world.

“Everyone should have a chief of staff and a set of personal assistants,” said First Lady Michele Obama at a meeting last week of Corporate Voices for Working Families. It couldn’t be better timing for public policy group Workplace Flexibility 2010.

The think-tank based at Georgetown University Law Center issued a report yesterday outlining a policy blueprint to “expand Americans’ access to  flexible working arrangements such as compressed workweeks, predictable schedules and telework.” Essentially, the goal of the non-partisan group is to make the implementation of Flexible Work Arrangements the “new normal” –  instead of the stepchild of the traditional workplace.

The report is the culmination of five years of research and discussions across a wide spectrum of demographics including employers, employees and consumer advocates. During a press conference at the National Press Club, Professor Chai Feldblum, Co-director of Workplace Flexibility 2010, took the conversation up a notch by calling on the federal government to lead by example in work life policy.

“We need to hit the reset button on FWAs in the federal government,” Feldblum said adding that in this moment in time,  faced with restructuring the economy in what is now often referred to as the “new economy,” there needs to be a comprehensive approach to workplace flexibility.

The report indicates that the government was an “early leader” in adopting  such policies, which are still in place. But Prof. Feldblum says there needs to be commitment from all levels of government for those policies to spread more consistently throughout the public and private sectors.

Within the report are numerous examples of such workplace flexibility arrangements already being implemented in corporate America. At the press conference, Ann Weisberg,  Director, Talent at Deloitte U-S, mentioned a program called Mass Career Customization which allows an employee to adjust their hours, responsibilities and travel over the course of their careers.

Ultimately, Prof. Feldblum said it’s not that the workforce doesn’t want to work hard, they just want to work differently within a “new economy”: “The economy is changing at an accelerating rate. Companies have to be increasingly nible to respond to market conditions… it’s time to start a national conversation on the issue.”

For more information on other recent studies on Workplace Flexibility check out the following:

2009 Work+Life Fit Reality Check Survey:  Flexibility in the Recession