I have 3 degrees and would like another, but I’m 58 and don’t know if I have the passion to go get it. However, Steve, you appear to be a young man, and I think you can never get too much education. If for no other reason than to keep your mind working to it max. As Tiger Woods says, “just do it”.

Absolutely! Go back and get that Master’s. It’s a pain while you are doing it, but it goes by quickly. You are obviously a hard-working, intelligent guy (and the reason many of us read the paper!). But, you are right, you never know what the world holds. I went back and got my MBA several years ago and it dide make the difference when I left my old company and came to my current one. Best of luck, Steve. Merry Christmas! oh, and if it ever comes to it, I’m sure you can get some paid subscribers to your own business blog/news.

Skip it. You’re certainly right to be thinking through your exit options. But you’re too talented of a journalist.

There will always be a place for someone like you — even if it is not in a traditional media company. You’ve established a strong-enough brand here that, if you ever get the six-minute meeting with HR, the next day you could open your own blog and have advertisers and a loyal readership follow you. I don’t have to tell you journalism is changing before our eyes, but maybe you need a reminder that you’re a born journalist, and a damn good one. In fact, you’re one of two writers at the Oklahoman I bother to read (the other is Darnell).

If you needed a steady stream of income to supplement you while you started your own outfit, you could perhaps teach. You’d be great teaching, say, Oklahoma history and journalism, and that would leave you with some time to pursue your side project, which I predict would turn into a full-time gig. You just need a little nudge to start the entrepreneurial risk-taking.

Anyway, most formal education is a ruse. And this is from someone with an advanced degree from a demanding program.

Only question I have Steve, is what do you see yourself doing with the history degree? I certainly believe people should pursue their passion, and if that is where yours lies, then follow your head and heart.

If you’ve got the ‘itch’ Steve, then yes, get the Masters. You would be perfect as curator for an OKC history museum. Actually, I’m surprised that you do not already have a radio talk show focused on Downtown and OKC history, with guests ranging from Ida B. to Patty Cox-Hampton to Ron Norick.

My capcha says ‘who Liebmann’

Steve… EVERY time you’ve queried your readers about a pending personal decision, you’ve ignored the input and done it anyway (“…should I do videos?” “…should I do twitter?” etc.). I predict you will indeed obtain additional education. More education is never a bad thing.

That said, History isn’t exactly the kind of degree that increases your value as a workforce commodity! So when you do this, do it because you love history, NOT because you want to increase your employability. (Unless you want to be a teacher.)

I vote for Steve to take Mark Shannon’s slot on KTOK!

Um, actually Twitter is an example of me following my readers’ response. I was very, very, very reluctant to do it. There are still aspects of Twitter I don’t like, but I’ve come to see it’s overall value – for now. But while the readership was pretty much in favor of Twitter by a 9:1 margin, the video experiment, I admit, went against a very mixed response. While video remains a task I’m not comfortable with, it strikes me as an important way to document the history that we’re witnessing and making sure it’s recorded the way I’d like to see it recorded. I only wish I had Mike Knopp on video talking about his dreams for the river back a decade ago, or maybe one with Randy Hogan and Lower Bricktown in 1999, and so forth. I’ve got those moments in my mind, and there are a few photos, but that’s not the same thing, is it?
All of this re-enforces how pasionate I am about history, but is teaching the best outcome? Not sure. I’d love to someday be in charge of a city museum and still write, but I can’t say I’d like to work at any other museum of any sort.
I’m an odd duck in all this – and I realize I’m probably even more odd for opening up this discussion with you guys. But Dennis I do respect a whole lot of you, and I’m sincere in boasting about the QUALITY and INTELLIGENCE of my readers. So with such a readership I can’t help but want to hear what others might suggest in this matter.
We’ve broken down the fourth wall here, and when people complement what I’m doing online and ask what my strategy is, I’m honest: I’m winging it.
FYI – Radar, the Captcha writer today is Sen. Harry Reid.

Um Kris, I’m betting newspapers outlive traditional radio (with the exception of stations like The Spy).

^
Only if newspapers outlive traditional cars.

Steve, as long as I’ve known you, you’ve always been very anxious about your job security as a journalist. I remember when I was a wee little freshman in college and meeting you for coffee at the Buzz downtown..the first thing you asked my opinion on was job security, what you could do to keep up with the times, etc. Now I don’t mean to get on your blog and brag about the time I met you for coffee..because I don’t do that, I mean I had coffee with Thomas Jefferson the other day and didn’t tell anyone about it (oops)..but I just think you’ve always been nervous/anxious about your job security.

If it’s something you think you’re going to continue to be anxious about, it might be an excellent idea to think about more solid options.

Now, IF you getting a masters in order to provide for your family interferes AT ALL with us getting the latest scoop on the downtown community, then I’d have to say absolutely not! No way! haha just kidding.

I earned my MBA in 2007 at the ripe old age of 51. It helped me secure better emmployment. More than that, it taught me some skills I needed to succeed. It was a lot of work, but I really enjoyed the effort. Even if you don’t change careers, continued education is rewarding and, if it is in your passion, can be fun. I would miss your coverage of downtown OKC. I don’t always agree with your opinions, but I appreciate the inside information. If you are looking for opinions, I say go for it.

I’m anxious about journalism as a business Nick – and I’m not too shy about that. And I’m doing everything I can to make a difference, and that included talking with you and others to learn what we could do to stay relevant to future generations. But I’m also finding myself more and more hooked on history. To quote Harry Truman, “the only thing new in this world is the history you don’t know.”

I think you should get a dual masters in history and in Urban Planning. You understand all of the concepts and you have a passion for urbanism, it seems natural.

Not too much to add, but I would go for it Steve. I got my masters while working at OU, and it really turned out be a good thing for my career. Depending on your work schedule, you might be able to knock it in 18 months; however, for added gravitas, I’d pick a thesis option over comps.

Unfortunately Oklahoma colleges don’t offer decent urban planning programs. OU used to, but not anymore..

a master’s degree in history is not likely to increase your marketability. the books you have already written likely do you far more good in that regard than the degree itself.

the most important thing of all is, DO what you LOVE doing, and you will be a success at it! frankly, i think that’s why you are a success right now. if you want to go to school for the accomplishment of obtaining the master’s, then by all means do so. however, no amount of money can EVER make a miserable job worth enduring. i am blessed to have a job that i love, and that is the one thing that i would wish upon everyone. the ones who endure their miserable existences make life difficult for all of us, don’t they? you, on the other hand, have given much joy to those who enjoy your efforts, because you obviously love what you do.

you may not always have the exact position you hold today, but never stop doing what you love, whatever it is.

Yeah I just don’t think the history industry has the stated requirement like a masters degree for starting positions, but if it did, having written several books would be a good start..

This is a very worrisome time for journalism. NewsOK is a leader among American newspapers in making the transition to the digital world. (Didn’t The Oklahoman just win an award for their digital efforts?) The problem is, how does The Oklahoman make money from this new environment to stay in business. It’s a problem for all newspapers today.

If you have the time, stamina, desire and family support to go for the history degree, now may be the time to do it.

Love your reporting and your blog, Steve. I was able to tell Ed Kelley that at the Skirvin book launch. And I can’t imagine a better person to get a new Oklahoma City history museum started!