A few months ago a colleague of mine pointed me to a website - http://www.angryjournalist.com/. It's a virtual and anonymous venting forum for journalists to air out their anger. I read it every morning because it provides insight into what's wrong with the media from those on the front line.
It's no surprise that most of the comments are about the low salaries journalists are paid. Having been there and done that I know reporter salaries are very low. It took me about 10 years in trade publishing to get to the mid $30s which was just enough to cover rent and bills with little leftover.
There's also a lot of anger among journalists over the current state of the media industry. A few posters to the site have likened the media to the automobile industry - outdated and to slow to react to changes in the marketplace.
Reporters/editors are screaming for the execs in charge to fix the industry. Yet it's those same execs who led this industry to where it is today. Why are we asking them to fix it? These are the same execs who think Twitter is the feeling you get in your stomach right before your first kiss. Where are the young thought leaders in newsrooms? Where are their ideas? Why aren't they standing up for change and presenting a plan?
Journalists are lamenting the death of the media. Instead of just sitting there, do something. Don't let it die. The problem is, most of us don't really - I mean really - know what is wrong. It's a complex issue but someone, somewhere needs to analyze the problem and come up with a solution.
My solution? I'll present it in a future post. But for now, I am asking everyone what they think. What would you do to save the media industry?
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3 comments:
To save the media industry there must be a certain need to analyse. If a person is a good journalist he will not complain, but write.
I guess the core question is "what is journalism?". Is it a simple writing of upcoming news or is it a creative thought-writing?
The latter is the best option that should be cultivated, 'cause any person would like to feel accomplished and this state can be reached by creative thoughtful activity.
Sorry for the question, but what is an average salary of a journalist in your country?
btw I came across your blog in linked-in. I am impressed and will try to go on reading your blog.
Ann.
Hi Ann - thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. I'll do my best to keep it a good read.
I agree that the latter scenario in your post is the best option. I have always viewed a good journalist as someone who can write something that influence the readers thoughts and opinions. That said, not every story warrants such creativity. I think young journalists out of school should start with the basic news writing and editing. After gaining some experience they can move onto the more in-depth pieces which require more thought and analysis.
Onto your salary question. Salaries in the US have long been a sore point among journalists. The average salary for a journalist in the US? Well, that can vary a bit. Right out of college newspaper jobs pay between $20,000 and $30,000. Magazine jobs pay a bit more, although trade magazines pay lower than consumer magazines, on average.
Thank you, Joseph. It is almost the same here, in Russia.
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