To Those In Journalism

[Orange]

So one career choice I am contemplating is journalism, but I wanted to get some opinions first about people in this field before I threw all my eggs into one basket.

Is it worth it to get in now?

Is the pay good?

Is there seperate types of journalism you can go to school for ?(sports journalism etc.)

Would you recommend it in the job market of today?

I know every school is different, but as for the actual schooling what's a broad feeling of what I can expect?

I've been reading a lot about it on the internet, but I wanted to get some first hand opinions of the field from my Crapper friends

[joeskvorecky]

1) do you think you love it?
2) ah, I guess not, if that's your second concern
3) sort of
4) yes
5) study something other than journalism but work for the school newspaper regardless. You'll be better-rounded and smarter.

[Jason Todd Grisham]

All I hear about are lay offs now. I think the local papers are doing decently, but it's not the best job market to get into now. Especially with its future in jeopardy thanks to the internet. But if it's your passion, why not try?

[WWE Trademarked My Name]

Apr 19, 2010 11:45:05 GMT -5 Orange said:

So one career choice I am contemplating is journalism, but I wanted to get some opinions first about people in this field before I threw all my eggs into one basket.

Is it worth it to get in now?

Is the pay good?

Is there seperate types of journalism you can go to school for ?(sports journalism etc.)

Would you recommend it in the job market of today?

I know every school is different, but as for the actual schooling what's a broad feeling of what I can expect?

I've been reading a lot about it on the internet, but I wanted to get some first hand opinions of the field from my Crapper friends

I just started college last fall and it's what I'm pursuing as well. So far I feel it's been a good choice.

[chazraps]

I'd say write now as much as you can. Just keep writing on some schedule, like at least 3 700-word things a week, and just keep going with it. Once you amass at least four months of that, decide if you enjoyed it enough and then weigh out your decision to do it.

[sunwukong]

Honestly, now is not a great time to get into the industry. The entire landscape of journalism is being changed thanks to changes brought about by the ease with which info is now available, and tons of jobs are being lost.

Used to be you could get on as a beat reporter somewhere after finishing J-School. Nowadays, it's not that easy. Newspapers and magazines are dying quickly. Online is obviously where its at in terms of news, but the pay is not guranteed and ad revenue is still a mess. Also, where a paper used to staff X number of people, a blog or website can get away with far, far less, so the number of jobs is much fewer.

If broadcast is what you're looking at, it's a bit more viable, but still not what it used to be. The broadcast companies are slashing jobs left and right (ABC just announced it's laying off a ton of its news room), and local affiliates are also cutting back and honestly don't pay that much (unless you're in a huge market). An anchor for a mid-market local TV newscast might only make about 40k a year (sometimes less). Not awful, but way less than most people assume.

The cable channels are solvent, but there's only so much to go around and they mostly want people with previous experience, unless you're looking at entry level stuff like internships or newsroom work.

None of this is to say you can't make a living in journalism, but it's VERY different now than it was even five years ago. Experience is better than education in journalism, so the path most people followed was leaving school and starting out as a cub reporter or entry level broadcast/newsroom job with the goal of building a portfolio/reel and moving up the ladder. It's still possible, but those positions are much, much harder to come by these days, and the field is shedding jobs (which honestly, likely won't come back) like mad.

[Orange]

Apr 19, 2010 11:54:43 GMT -5 joeskvorecky said:

1) do you think you love it?
2) ah, I guess not, if that's your second concern
3) sort of
4) yes
5) study something other than journalism but work for the school newspaper regardless. You'll be better-rounded and smarter.

1) Yes I love writing and feel this is the best career choice for me

2) Well pay isn't particularly important to me, I'd rather work at a job I enjoy than a job I hate just to make big bucks

3) Okay that's good to hear, I'd mostly like to get into sports journalism

4) Cool

5) Alright sounds good!

@jasontoddgrisham - Actually what I was hoping to do was get into web journalism, like work for a website just because traditional print won't be around much longer IMO

wwe Trademarked My Name - Awesome to hear! I think it'll be a good choice for me as well

chazraps - Alright that sounds good, I do love to write so that shouldn't be a tedious task for me or anything of the sort.

[chazraps]

Apr 19, 2010 12:01:53 GMT -5 @sunwukong said:

Honestly, now is not a great time to get into the industry. .

TO be fair, now it not a good time to get into any industry.

[Orange]

Apr 19, 2010 12:01:53 GMT -5 @sunwukong said:

Honestly, now is not a great time to get into the industry. The entire landscape of journalism is being changed thanks to changes brought about by the ease with which info is now available, and tons of jobs are being lost.

Used to be you could get on as a beat reporter somewhere after finishing J-School. Nowadays, it's not that easy. Newspapers and magazines are dying quickly. Online is obviously where its at in terms of news, but the pay is not guranteed and ad revenue is still a mess. Also, where a paper used to staff X number of people, a blog or website can get away with far, far less, so the number of jobs is much fewer.

If broadcast is what you're looking at, it's a bit more viable, but still not what it used to be. The broadcast companies are slashing jobs left and right (ABC just announced it's laying off a ton of its news room), and local affiliates are also cutting back and honestly don't pay that much (unless you're in a huge market). An anchor for a mid-market local TV newscast might only make about 40k a year (sometimes less). Not awful, but way less than most people assume.

The cable channels are solvent, but there's only so much to go around and they mostly want people with previous experience, unless you're looking at entry level stuff like internships or newsroom work.

None of this is to say you can't make a living in journalism, but it's VERY different now than it was even five years ago. Experience is better than education in journalism, so the path most people followed was leaving school and starting out as a cub reporter or entry level broadcast/newsroom job with the goal of building a portfolio/reel and moving up the ladder. It's still possible, but those positions are much, much harder to come by these days, and the field is shedding jobs (which honestly, likely won't come back) like mad.

Is there any chance that it could pick back up any time soon? So it sounds like a smart choice would be to maybe major in something else, and get a journalism degree on the side?

[sunwukong]

Apr 19, 2010 12:03:59 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Apr 19, 2010 12:01:53 GMT -5 @sunwukong said:

Honestly, now is not a great time to get into the industry. .

TO be fair, now it not a good time to get into any industry.

Journalism has been hit harder than most., though Like I said, those newspaper and magazine jobs aren't coming back. It isn't just the economy, it's a wholesale restructuring of how we recieve our information, and the industry as a whole wasn't prepared to deal with it (or, more to the point, refused to acknowledge it as long as they could), so you've got a double whammy of bad economics and a rapidly changing field that still has more questions than answers moving forward.

[sunwukong]

Apr 19, 2010 12:05:50 GMT -5 Orange said:

Apr 19, 2010 12:01:53 GMT -5 @sunwukong said:

Honestly, now is not a great time to get into the industry. The entire landscape of journalism is being changed thanks to changes brought about by the ease with which info is now available, and tons of jobs are being lost.

Used to be you could get on as a beat reporter somewhere after finishing J-School. Nowadays, it's not that easy. Newspapers and magazines are dying quickly. Online is obviously where its at in terms of news, but the pay is not guranteed and ad revenue is still a mess. Also, where a paper used to staff X number of people, a blog or website can get away with far, far less, so the number of jobs is much fewer.

If broadcast is what you're looking at, it's a bit more viable, but still not what it used to be. The broadcast companies are slashing jobs left and right (ABC just announced it's laying off a ton of its news room), and local affiliates are also cutting back and honestly don't pay that much (unless you're in a huge market). An anchor for a mid-market local TV newscast might only make about 40k a year (sometimes less). Not awful, but way less than most people assume.

The cable channels are solvent, but there's only so much to go around and they mostly want people with previous experience, unless you're looking at entry level stuff like internships or newsroom work.

None of this is to say you can't make a living in journalism, but it's VERY different now than it was even five years ago. Experience is better than education in journalism, so the path most people followed was leaving school and starting out as a cub reporter or entry level broadcast/newsroom job with the goal of building a portfolio/reel and moving up the ladder. It's still possible, but those positions are much, much harder to come by these days, and the field is shedding jobs (which honestly, likely won't come back) like mad.

Is there any chance that it could pick back up any time soon? So it sounds like a smart choice would be to maybe major in something else, and get a journalism degree on the side?

The thing about journalism is, like I said, experience counts. You don't need a journalism degree to work in journalism. Many top journalists didn't even go to journalism school. As someone who did, I won't say it was a total waste of money, but if you're a good writer you can start freelancing and build from there.

Nowadays, I'd say try to build a portfolio online. Start a blog or site, or try and start working with one that's established, even if you're volunteering for free at first. In journalism, a portfolio is more important that a piece of paper with a school's name on it.

As for will it pick back up...those print jobs are never coming back. Ever. Print is dead. But moving forwards, once the economy levels out and people start figuring out online revenue and how better to sell ads and make money, it will likely improve.

[Orange]

Apr 19, 2010 12:11:40 GMT -5 @sunwukong said:

Apr 19, 2010 12:05:50 GMT -5 Orange said:

Is there any chance that it could pick back up any time soon? So it sounds like a smart choice would be to maybe major in something else, and get a journalism degree on the side?

The thing about journalism is, like I said, experience counts. You don't need a journalism degree to work in journalism. Many top journalists didn't even go to journalism school. As someone who did, I won't say it was a total waste of money, but if you're a good writer you can start freelancing and build from there.

Nowadays, I'd say try to build a portfolio online. Start a blog or site, or try and start working with one that's established, even if you're volunteering for free at first. In journalism, a portfolio is more important that a piece of paper with a school's name on it.

As for will it pick back up...those print jobs are never coming back. Ever. Print is dead. But moving forwards, once the economy levels out and people start figuring out online revenue and how better to sell ads and make money, it will likely improve.

Alright that sounds good, so it's kind of like being in a band in a way, just build yourself up and get noticed (I know it's not the best comparison, but hey why not? )

Yeah that's amazing to me and it shows how powerful the internet really is to pretty much singlehandedly kill off print. I really wouldn't be that interested in a print job anyway, but it's not like there's a real big choice anyway. Thanks for the replies and feedback so far guys, I really appreciate it

[angryfan]

One thing I'll always remember from an interview I did with Dan Patrick years ago. He said, "If you don't absolutely love it, don't do it". The pay starting out is (or was when I was doing my internship in 1997) brutal, and the hours are long. However, if it's what you love to do, then go at it full speed. If it's an "I can make lots of money", may I suggest pursuing a diferent career.

[Orange]

Apr 19, 2010 12:26:31 GMT -5 angryfan said:

One thing I'll always remember from an interview I did with Dan Patrick years ago. He said, "If you don't absolutely love it, don't do it". The pay starting out is (or was when I was doing my internship in 1997) brutal, and the hours are long. However, if it's what you love to do, then go at it full speed. If it's an "I can make lots of money", may I suggest pursuing a diferent career.

Yeah money's not a huge factor for me, I believe that it's more important to enjoy your job rather than go for one you hate just so you can make a lot of money. For example, I'd rather be a journalist and make minimal money, than be something I hate like a surgeon and make a lot of money, because that job is something you have to do everyday.

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

Speaking as someone that didn't go to J-School and have managed to infiltrate Forbes.com as a reporter - work your butt off. Write as much as you can and save all that writing. Like others have mentioned, an online portfolio is great.

[lucaspunkari]

From a Canadian perspective here, I can tell you here there's stuff out there for jobs, but more of it is out West or in Southern Ontario (I live in Northern Ontario and not really a lot for full-time in my hometown).

As one of my profs said at College, if you're doing this for pay you're in the wrong field. Speaking for myself, pay is secondary to me, I do it because I love the field (Having been in it for about 10 years or so now). What I mainly do is Sports Journalism, so getting able to cover sports is a dream for me (I got to do the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Curling event in February and it was the best week of my life).

There is certain places for just sports journalism for sure, one of my best friends went to Loyalist College in Belleville Ontario, about a couple hours east of Toronto, and did a three year journalism thing there followed by a one year sports course. I got to sit in on a class there and it was a fantastic program.

My schooling was at Canadore College, six hours away from my hometown, where I was in a three year Print and Broadcast program. There I got to do a lot of radio, tv, and print, which has all been a great help. A lot of hands on stuff as well, and all of my profs were fantastic people.

Again though, you have to have the passion for it, plus a lot of luck helps. Almost everything I've gotten to do has been through just pure dumb luck.

[Dynamite Kid]

Don't do it. No, no no no no no. The industry is circling the drain, and I'm wishing I'd never bothered starting my degree.

[Stu]

Ok, it looks like you're young, and by the time you get started, things may be different. And you're likely to be taught different things compared to what we learned several years ago. But here's my take in a nutshell:

Unless you really love it and are willing to put up with people complaining, it may not be for you. And right now, the jobs are few. We've had some openings for some lower positions, but getting hundreds of job applications, even from people with lots of experience. And all papers are downsizing, and we're trying to do more work with fewer people.

That said, whenever you get that big story and see your name printed right above it, it's all worth it.

[angryfan]

Apr 19, 2010 13:40:59 GMT -5 Stu said:

Ok, it looks like you're young, and by the time you get started, things may be different. And you're likely to be taught different things compared to what we learned several years ago. But here's my take in a nutshell:

Unless you really love it and are willing to put up with people complaining, it may not be for you. And right now, the jobs are few. We've had some openings for some lower positions, but getting hundreds of job applications, even from people with lots of experience. And all papers are downsizing, and we're trying to do more work with fewer people.

That said, whenever you get that big story and see your name printed right above it, it's all worth it.

Absolutely. The very first time I saw my name in a byline outside of a school paper (during my time as a stringer back in 1995 during my senior year in high school) was without a doubt one of the proudest moments of my life.

The story wasn't much, really, just a standard news bit about a local high school football game, but I have the article framed sitting in my home office.

[bob]

Apr 19, 2010 11:45:05 GMT -5 Orange said:

So one career choice I am contemplating is journalism, but I wanted to get some opinions first about people in this field before I threw all my eggs into one basket.

Is it worth it to get in now?

Is the pay good?

Is there seperate types of journalism you can go to school for ?(sports journalism etc.)

Would you recommend it in the job market of today?

I know every school is different, but as for the actual schooling what's a broad feeling of what I can expect?

I've been reading a lot about it on the internet, but I wanted to get some first hand opinions of the field from my Crapper friends

if you can find a way, yes

what's pay? I launched by own on-line news paper a month ago and have yet to make a dime from it

I don't know

follow your heart with it, but have a backup plan just in case

it really depends where you and varies university to university