Columns
Related Photos
-
John P. Cleary
Discussion
Scott Underwood: Competition for journalism jobs intense
Like so many other industries, newspapers across the country are beset by financial challenges. When a recession hits and jobs are lost, people buy fewer goods. This can mean a reduction in a newspaper’s circulation. At the same time, some businesses reduce their advertising budgets, resulting in less ad revenue for newspapers.
Ultimately, this chain of events can cause a newspaper to cut resources to remain profitable. This produces a newspaper job market that has more prospective employees than there are jobs to fill. Since the job market is tight, those who are lukewarm toward journalism tend to leave the field and look for jobs in other professions that might be less demanding (and more lucrative). Sometimes this can result, in the end, in a better work force of truly committed journalists.
I recently attended a journalism jobs fair, organized by the Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors, at Franklin College. About 20 newspapers were represented there, and about 100 students attended. Each newspaper rep was given a table and a schedule with about 16 student appointments for 15 minutes each.
As you might imagine, it’s a nerve-racking experience for the students, especially given the job market. The students are young, want a job badly and are involved in an intense competition for the few jobs available. Of all the newspapers represented there, less than a third actually had newsroom positions to fill. The others were there to lend advice, make contacts and express encouragement.
I mentioned to the very first student I talked to that The Herald Bulletin would likely be hiring a new reporter soon. Word of this spread like breaking news through the ranks of the students, and I became a popular target. The moment the student I was talking to stood up to move on to his next appointment, a student who was not on my schedule would step forward and ask for a minute of my time.
Having entered the job market in the mid-1980s, when the economy was shaky, I had a special empathy for these students, so keen on getting a job in newspaper when there are so few available. My message to each of them was the same: If you’re really good and really determined, you’ll eventually find a job you want. Stick to it.
The good news from the job fair was that the future of newspapers (and their Web sites) is in good hands. Of the 20-some students I talked to, all but a few were well prepared to work in the real world of newspaper journalism. Even a few underclassmen who attended to get a jump on their career already had good credentials through internships and work on their college newspaper.
Only the better, more passionate students, of course, will find jobs in newspaper. The others will look elsewhere. And in the end, the recession-induced leaning of the newspaper industry will be good for it. Whatever we endure, as long as it doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger.
Managing Editor Scott Underwood’s column appears Mondays in The Herald Bulletin. Contact him at scott.underwood@heraldbulletin.com or 640-4845.
- Columns
-
-
Verna Davis: These are last words that really mean something
Ever wish you had the last word? Maybe you yearn for the last word in an argument. “I told you I was right. If only you had listened to me, you wouldn’t be in the mess you’re in right now. So, there!”
-
Susan Miller: Consider the sweet rewards of buying local
I recently saw a familiar face appear on my TV screen. Anderson entrepreneur Judy Zinszer was on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick. Since the program isn’t a cooking show, I was intrigued. Was that a cookbook she was holding? Was she starting a publishing business?
-
Primus Mootry: All of us in Wonderland are wondering about things
The recent Tim Burton movie version of “Alice in Wonderland” has had widely mixed reviews. Some critics like it, many don’t. That’s pretty much the way it was when Lewis G. Carroll’s popular children’s fantasy was published in 1865. At the time, most readers thought Carroll was some kind of nut. Years later, critics and readers alike had to change their tune. Not only is “Alice” well written and illustrated, it is a brilliant satire of human behavior in times of great confusion and profound change.
-
Jim Bailey: Take me out to the great American ball game — and more
Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park is four years old now. I can’t believe it took us this long to make it to a Reds game there, particularly with a daughter living in the burbs.
-
Scott Underwood: Reporters form core of newsroom
Many daily community newspapers, like The Herald Bulletin, have a significant amount of employee turnover in the newsroom. This can be particularly true among news reporters.
-
Jesse Wilkerson: What is faith?
What is faith? Have you ever thought about the answer to this question?
Everyone is believing or has faith in something.
Here is my definition of faith. Faith is not just believing. -
Rodney Richey: Ernie Pyle was our hero
Sometimes parents and children struggle to find common ground. Some more than others ...
-
Nancy Vaughan: Colts camp provides community engagement
Football. That’s the operative word throughout Madison County, but especially on the Anderson University side of town.
-
Jim Bailey: Public swimming not what it used to be
Summer is a time for swimming. But the venues for getting wet have changed considerably, and there are a variety of reasons.
-
Maleah Stringer: Bloggers barking up wrong tree
I want to thank all of you who responded with donations and support for Animal Care & Control in response to the column about the number of animals pouring into the facility and the July 16 newspaper article concerning Animal Care & Control.
- More Columns Headlines
-
Verna Davis: These are last words that really mean something
