From the episode (which, granted, I only saw once), I gathered that the reason Perry is a tabloid reporter is because of a mistake he made that COULD be rectified if he would swallow his pride and change his lifestyle a bit. If he could only make up his mind to redeem himself, things could improve for him.
And so what if he doesn't remember Clark in 10 years?
He still might give him a job... though, like "our" Clark, he may have to prove himself first.
