Comments on: In my humble opinion . . . http://inkdrainedkvetch.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/in-my-humble-opinion/ Ramblings on journalism, media and work in the digital age Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:12:46 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Wendy http://inkdrainedkvetch.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/in-my-humble-opinion/#comment-49 Wendy Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:02:49 +0000 http://inkdrainedkvetch.wordpress.com/?p=652#comment-49 Thanks, Mark. You got into the business when my former paper last had newsroom layoffs. I started when the AJC merged two separate newsrooms. There really weren't any other good options for doing journalism unless you got into radio and TV. And those were pretty limited as well. I also held down several part-time jobs as late as the early '90s. So yes, young journalists today have so many more ways to get established. The key is seeing whether many of these new experiments will enable them to earn a living wage and stay in the profession. It was a lot easier to take a vow of poverty in the '80s than now. Thanks, Mark. You got into the business when my former paper last had newsroom layoffs. I started when the AJC merged two separate newsrooms. There really weren’t any other good options for doing journalism unless you got into radio and TV. And those were pretty limited as well. I also held down several part-time jobs as late as the early ’90s.

So yes, young journalists today have so many more ways to get established. The key is seeing whether many of these new experiments will enable them to earn a living wage and stay in the profession. It was a lot easier to take a vow of poverty in the ’80s than now.

]]> By: Mark Briggs http://inkdrainedkvetch.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/in-my-humble-opinion/#comment-48 Mark Briggs Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:04:31 +0000 http://inkdrainedkvetch.wordpress.com/?p=652#comment-48 I know it sounds crazy to suggest this is a good time to be in journalism, but another story I told these college students was the situation for J-employment when I first entered the market in 1991. The country was in a terrible recession and newspapers weren't hiring so I cobbled together a living waiting tables, remodeling houses and answering phones at a local paper. Since this was before the Internet came along, I didn't have the option of starting my own blogs and self-publishing or taking advantage of other opportunities that have come with the digital age. Good luck with your transition. - Mark Briggs I know it sounds crazy to suggest this is a good time to be in journalism, but another story I told these college students was the situation for J-employment when I first entered the market in 1991. The country was in a terrible recession and newspapers weren’t hiring so I cobbled together a living waiting tables, remodeling houses and answering phones at a local paper. Since this was before the Internet came along, I didn’t have the option of starting my own blogs and self-publishing or taking advantage of other opportunities that have come with the digital age.

Good luck with your transition.

- Mark Briggs

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