Pasadena, CA - A recent University of Georgia survey reports that journalism employment is picking up, after 2009 levels dropped to their lowest point in two decades. Although the industry continues to face many challenges, improved job prospects were reflected in the increase of advertised openings on WritingCrossing.com.

A recent survey conducted by the University of Georgia shows that employment among journalism graduates has improved in recent years. In comparison with a meager 56 percent of journalism graduates landing jobs in 2009, roughly 66 percent of 2012 grads found full-time jobs within six to eight months after graduation. According to CNN, average salaries have also risen, with the median annual starting salary at $32,000 in 2012. Granted, the starting salary for journalism grads is still lower than overall average salaries for 2012 graduates.

The labor market for journalism grads is experiencing a sharp turnaround from 2009, when employment rates were at their lowest in over 20 years. The industry has been hit hard in the recent recession, with wide-scale employee cutbacks and newspapers across the country closing their doors.

The recent turnaround in job growth was welcome news for journalism grads and reflected in the uptick of advertised job openings on sites like WritingCrossing.com. Over 3,000 writer openings were listed at the time that this release was written, with nearly a third of those for senior or manager-level positions. Many of the positions were for freelance work, which offers writers greater flexibility in their work hours. Technical writing continues to be an in-demand area for those with engineering or science backgrounds, with plenty of employers seeking writers who can take highly specialized or technical language and put it in plain language for laypeople.

The industry has struggled with learning to survive in the midst of rapid change. The rise of citizen journalism, blogging, and social media platforms like Twitter have called into question the value of paying for a newspaper or magazine subscription when free information is so readily available. Newspapers have faced varying degrees of success as they attempt to monetize digital platforms. Media giants like The New York Times have banked on the fact that loyal readers will be willing to shell out money for paid subscriptions in exchange for higher quality journalism. Only time will tell if the industry will be able to evolve rapidly to meet new challenges, but for now, journalism grads face a much improved labor market.

About WritingCrossing:

WritingCrossing.com is a job search site based in Pasadena, CA. It is a part of the Employment Research Institute and owned by A. Harrison Barnes.

Contact:

Andrew Ostler
WritingCrossing
(626) 243-1814
aostler@er.org
https://www.writingcrossing.com

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