As with all good things, they usually come to an end. Our intrepid tech editor, David Kennedy, has decided to pursue the smoky side of life, taking on the editorship of our sister rag, Diesel Power. We will miss Davidaround here and appreciate his hard work and enthusiasm over the last five years, and wish him well at his new endeavor. But of course, that leaves this magazine with a big hole to fill, so what better place to start looking than with you, our readers?
Most of you probably think that a position here would be the best job in the world. And truly, what could be wrong with living, breathing, and writing about 4x4s, while getting paid for it? Nothing wrong with that, for sure, but the reality of this position is far from an easy trail ride. Let's start with the basic requirements: You must be over 18 with a clean driving record (since we drive for a living), good credit (since you have to pay for all of your own travel expenses and wait to be reimbursed), and a college degree, preferably in journalism or a related field. You must be able to take great photos, write superbly, and organize your life so you are never late for a deadline. That means spending way too many hours in the office, doing critical research while possessing excellent phone, computer, and typing skills so you can garner the information needed to write a story. Having practical mechanical knowledge of the subject matter is critical, since you may be the one wrenching on a trail rig to get back from some desolate destination. In other words, you need to be a 4x4 kind of person and totally self-sufficient.
Don't forget that you must also reside in the greater Los Angeles area to ensure that valuable face time at the office, which means a reliable mode of transportation is a critical requirement. And don't think you're going to be building up your own rig courtesy of the magazine either; it simply doesn't work that way.
On the other hand, we offer vacations you can never use (we're salaried employees so we work 12-18 hour days and all weekends), a moderately good health plan, a fair 401k plan, and a cube on the 11th floor across the street from Beverly Hills. You'll be required to travel at least two weekends a month, and you won't get to drive while at an event because your job is to take pictures and report on the story, not participate in it. Don't expect to be wheeling and wrenching with free parts and gobs of celebrity attention-that's not what the job is about. But if you do love the world of 4x4 and would give your right wheel to get into the industry, send us a resume at 4-Wheel & Off-Road Job Start, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. David Kennedy received the same information you just read when he started here, and now he has his own magazine. Good luck!