Baltimore Sun furloughs gave him time to rethink everything, including his job

Sameer Rao knew the furloughs were coming, but he had to ask around to learn he was one of two Baltimore Sun reporters with the longest of them — a total of six weeks. Maybe it was his beat — arts reporting was tough during the shutdown. Maybe it was his experience and salary — both more than some younger colleagues. Maybe it was him? He asked and got no real answers. But honestly, Rao was also kind of burnt out — with the lack of transparency about the future of the Sun, then still owned by Tribune and being stalked by hedge fund Alden Global Capital, which now owns it and recently offered buyouts; with watching his colleagues and friends take buyouts or leave for other jobs; with the pace and with the pay.