-30-
That was the banner headline across two more newspapers that published their last issues. It is another sad moment for print journalism. I vividly remember the loss of the Dallas Times Herald. It shrinks job opportunities for people like me and makes the job market tight for all of us. This means another influx of people vying for the same jobs I'm trying to get. I never like that, but it is also another nail in the coffin of what many people have called "dead tree reporting."
And, just FYI. The -30- is what reporters put at the end of our stories, so the editors know that they are done and aren't missing anything. If you click on the link, in the headline, the word 'hed' is used. More journalistic jargon - our short name for a headline.
-30-
And, just FYI. The -30- is what reporters put at the end of our stories, so the editors know that they are done and aren't missing anything. If you click on the link, in the headline, the word 'hed' is used. More journalistic jargon - our short name for a headline.
-30-
5 Comments:
At 12:00 PM, January 04, 2008,
Chris Hughes said…
> It shrinks job opportunities for people like me and makes the job market tight for all of us.
Well that is not necessarily true. Print is fading, but other electronic reporting outlets are growing. I don't think that you can make the case that this shinks the job market. In fact, I would suggest that opportunities abound in both print and other formats. The consolidation of printed media in a given outlet may create a vacumn for new, alternative media (including printed media) in those markets.
At 10:53 PM, January 06, 2008,
Army of Mom said…
I hear what you're saying, but the anecdotal evidence I see supports my beliefs. Fortunately, I do write for several online publications and magazines that produce both print and electronic issues. But, the truth is, the market for print journalists and public relations consultants is far more competitive now and has grown more so every time a publication shuts down. It just floods more people into the job market. *shrug* Competition is not a bad thing and I manage to come out ok.
Some of my bitterness is nostalgia, I suppose. It is going to be a sad day for me when I can't walk outside and pick up a newspaper in my front yard to sit down and read with a cup of coffee. To me, it is far more comforting than clicking online for the news.
At 12:27 PM, January 07, 2008,
Chris Hughes said…
> But, the truth is, the market for print journalists and public relations consultants is far more competitive now and has grown more so every time a publication shuts down.
Of course - in part because some can not (or will not) make the transition to new media. And if you define the job market as traditional print journalism, then yes, that market is contracting. The overall analysis should consider why that market is contracting and what products are filling the void left behind!
Its the classic buggy whip problem!
> Some of my bitterness is nostalgia
Yes it is sad and true.
At 5:11 PM, January 07, 2008,
Army of Mom said…
The old dogs will never be able to make it in the newer market, that is certain. I read a tech blog that labeled print journalism as "dead tree" journalism and I had to laugh. What I found odd were the number of colleagues to whom I sent that post who got ticked off beyond belief. I was shocked. I believe change can be good, even if it is sad; but you're absolutely on target about adapting. Maybe my dinosaur analogy (of which I often draw upon) is more on target than I realized. Adapt or become extinct. The good newspapers are finding ways to generate revenue from online publication, but it is still sad to see the inevitable death of newsprint.
At 9:54 PM, January 08, 2008,
Chris Hughes said…
Right on!
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