Young journalists are braced for the rise of multiplatform journalism and the decline in traditional news sources yet few of you imagine yourselves working outside of mainstream news in the foreseeable future.
In 2007 I came up with the idea of setting up a dinner club for young journalists to discuss the future of the trade. That has now blossomed into something even bigger and at our session last week I carried out a survey of ‘young’ journalists’ thoughts about our trade.
The findings of my (completely unscientific) survey raise questions as to how early-stage journalists expect to be able to maintain career longevity in a rapidly changing media landscape.
“Journalism is hugely overrated and unsatisfying for so many people but it teaches you the skill of proper writing so it’s worth doing,” was one comment that seemed to sum up many of your thoughts.
The main gripe cited about your current positions was the lack of opportunity to engage in original journalism. Poor organisation, the prevalence of desk-based reporting and increasing job insecurity were cited in equal measure. Only one person mentioned a poor salary as a bugbear!
Your reasons for becoming a journalist were very honourable. Most of you were attracted by the idea that you could make a difference through journalism, travel lots and do a job that was varied.
Despite some disillusionment with your choice to enter the trade, “I didn’t want to work in an office from 9am – 5pm. Instead I now work in an office from 8am – 8pm”, you’re all pretty optimistic about the future.
3 Comments
June 11, 2009 at 11:15 pm
The future of journalism is certainly unpredictable at this point in time. But the very changes that journalism is being forced to undergo also, to me, look like great opportunities for fruitful creative new ventures. The very decentralizing force of the internet seems to offer a pluralistic future for journalism that is anything but depressing. Check out http://www.ourblook.com/component/option,com_sectionex/Itemid,200076/id,8/view,category/#catid69 for an ongoing collection of interviews with top journalists about the future of journalism and possible avenues for growth and development.
June 12, 2009 at 11:54 am
Hi Bill, thanks for commenting. I completely agree with you about the “great opportunities for fruitful creative new ventures”. It’s great to stumble across a like-mined person online! I’ll definitely check out your site. Keep up the good work!
July 9, 2009 at 7:25 pm
I just read your blog post “What young journalists think about journalism and its future” and as a recent J-school grad I would like to chime in. I think my generation is naturally able to infuse traditional journalism with new techniques while still maintaining journalistic integrity. I think people will always seek news and information but they just want it from different mediums. There is a niche for young journalists still.
Currently I work for an Internet start-up called Newsy.com, which is partnered with the University of Missouri’s Journalism School in order to provide students with an opportunity to work in a dynamic news environment and get hands on experience.
At Newsy, students and mentors create videos that analyze and synthesize news coverage of important global issues from multiple sources. The method of presenting the way in which international media outlets are covering a story lends itself well to understanding the complexities of political issues, among many other topics. I think Newsy’s unique approach would appeal to you.
Check out our site and recent videos. I would love any feedback.
Thanks,
Jessi