The first printed newspaper appeared in Germany in the late 1400s. The first English-language newspaper, the London Gazette, was published in 1666. The first American newspaper to be published, Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestick, hit the Boston streets in 1690. By 1783, there were 43 newspapers in print; by 1880, that number grew to more than 11,300. The United States alone is now home to 8,200 newspapers.
Journalism has long been associated with newspapers. Then, with the advent of radio and newsreels, came broadcast journalism, which was later refined with the birth of the television age. The Internet has widened the scope of journalism once again. It is now possible for almost anyone anywhere to get accurate, up-to-date news and information. And with the Web content explosion, job opportunities in journalism have grown tenfold.
What's Out There In 1998, 341,000 people were employed as writers and editors, with the majority working for newspapers, magazines and book publishers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts this area will see growth through 2008, as magazines develop new market niches and as more businesses and organizations develop Web sites and online publications. a job fair.
The BLS reported 247,000 jobs in radio and television broadcasting two years ago--116,000 in radio broadcasting and 131,000 in TV. The number of jobs in television and radio broadcasting is expected to grow at only 2.5 percent until 2008, which puts it well behind the 15 percent projected rate of growth for all industries combined.
Factors contributing to this sub-par growth rate in broadcasting include consolidation within the industry, decreasing advertising revenues, new technologies, and competition from other media. This slow growth rate is also expected to result in a rise in competition for jobs as the market tightens. According to analysts, the highest rate of job growth will be at small and mid-sized stations--as opposed to those in larger, metropolitan markets.
Breaking into the News Biz A search on the Internet reveals dozens of jobs in journalism and related fields. Along with traditional jobs such as copywriter, editor, proofreader, reporter, and writer, I found opportunities such as communication specialist, marketing coordinator, public relations associate, and research analyst. As the Internet has grown as a medium, there are traditional jobs out there with a new twist--such as e-business content manager, online editorial director, Web content editor, Web communications writer, and Web site editor. These jobs are generally suited to the traditional skills of good editors. The old "writer" has become more specialized: financial writer, gossip writer, Internet writer, investment writer, marketing writer, New Media writer, and technical writer are all common titles nowadays.
One of the best ways to break into journalism--whether print, broadcast, or New Media--is through an internship. Newspapers, TV and radio and stations, and online publishers often offer internships. These posts usually allow interns to research and write content. You can also gain experience by working at college newspapers and radio and TV stations. Note that even entry-level jobs require some college, training, or experience. Your best bet is to arm yourself with a degree in journalism, although some broadcast outlets do consider people with degrees in other majors. In all, there are more than 450 colleges in the United States that offer programs in journalism and mass communications.
You'll Never Get Rich A survey conducted in 1997-98 by the National Association of Broadcasters and the Broadcast Cable Finance Management Association found the average annual salary for television news reporters was $33,300; $32,300 for radio news reporters. Sportscasters averaged $52,600 in television and $57,600 in radio. Weather reporters averaged $55,000 for both radio and TV. News analysts and correspondents in radio and TV averaged $26,470. Annual earnings for writers and editors in newspapers was $28,500; $35,900 in magazines; and $26,300 in radio and TV.
With some starting salaries in technology areas ranging up to six figures, these numbers seem almost anemic. So, what's the bottom line? If you're thinking about becoming a journalist, do it for the love of the mighty pen--not the almighty dollar. Every time you see your byline, the financial sacrifices will fade into oblivion.
