Being a journalist is hard work. There are the long hours, the little pay and don’t forget
the unappreciated effort. Journalists live very unglamorous lives.
That’s why shareholders editors and publishers are doing journalists a
favor in laying them off.
With the thousands of layoffs of late, the percentage of journalists
leaving the industry is, for the first time, higher than the percentage
of readers leaving newspapers.
In fact, editors, publishers, senior editors, managing editors and deputy
managing editors have been so
busy lately laying off journalists, they can’t even find time to think
about strategies of ways to save the newspaper business.
Now, instead of worrying about how to juggle four court cases, finding
art for the weekend’s centerpiece and finding the time to write three
stories and four briefs before deadline, recently laid off journalists
now only have to worry about updating those resumes and deciding when
is it too early to start drinking.
These former journalists now have all that free time to write that book
they have been meaning to get at, decide which newspaper and magazine
subscriptions to cancel (which can only make things better) and explore
their new interests in working at call centers and running fast food
restaurants.
And all these layoffs are great news for the rest of the newsrooms. No
more long lines for the vending machines or waiting for the copier. It
might also mean a new a desk and chair and a closer parking spot.
Also, no more worries about their stories making A1 since it’s now more
than likely they are not only writing the lead story but also the rest
of the paper.
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I did not appreciate your flippant musings on the plight of newspaper layoffs. It may be cathartic for you to express yourself in this manner. However, I find it highly offensive. My newsroom let several journalists go early December, and the reality of those unemployed is harsh and hardly deemed as anything close to the respite you describe where they finish books and cancel subscriptions. Yes, I’m one of the shrunken lot of working journalists, and I’m thankful to be employed. But, not so much as to poke fun and gloat at others’ expense.
I do frequent this blog and snicker to myself in satisfaction or agreement of many of your posts. With this one, you may have lost a fan!
Dude, settle down. I am also one of the few beleaguered journalists still out there, and the only thing you can do while watching the hatchet fall around you is to be snarky and snide. I don’t think the writer is poking fun at others’ expense. He or she is merely finding what little humor is available in an otherwise horrid situation. As a journalist, you should be used to looking into terrible situations. I would have thought your skin would have thickened as a result.
Guys: Best of luck on your blog. You go. Write whatever you feel like writing no matter who is offended by it.
Learn all you can about Web 2.0. Blogging is a great start. Meet new people on twitter..not necessarily other journos (who, admit it, like to wallow in pity) but people who are now self-employed with their own web sites.
Example, could you become writing coaches? Freelance editors? Take up freelance magazine article writing? Keep writing..but in a new way. And keep learning new skills (audio/video etc.)
All the best from a journalism professor.
Prof,
Are you Sree of Sree.net fame?
Great blog.
Things do seem a little bleak but there are jobs out there.
Try http://www.journalismnow.com/
Best of luck!
I like that this listing is numbered 666!
This blog is awesome! As a reporter writing for a small weekly newspaper, I don’t face the threat of imminent layoffs but I can definitely relate to the rest of the issues being so caustically (and hilariously) described here – long hours, low pay, no appreciation.
I’m thinking of becoming a librarian.