A mid-career reporter came to me recently with a career dilemma: She knew exactly what she wanted to do next, but that job didn’t exist at her newsroom. After nearly a decade on the education beat, the reporter wanted to move into a role that let her use her burgeoning AI skills to help other education reporters tackle complex stories.

Do you know any newsrooms looking for someone to do this kind of work? she asked.

No, I told her, but why not start meeting with editors to explain why they should create this role for you?

For journalists who know what they want but not exactly how to do it within the limits of today’s newsrooms, drafting a new job description and selling it to the bosses is a bold move. But it can be the most direct path to getting what you want — if you do it successfully.

Many journalists are passive about their career moves, waiting for a job opening or a manager to suggest their next role.…