The Future of Journalism

Fact #1: Journalism is hemorrhaging jobs. From an article in Editor & Publisher:

"Unity: Journalists of Color's 2009 Layoff Tracker Report shows an average 22% increase from month to month in journalism jobs lost from September 2008 through August 2009. The general economy lost jobs at an average monthly pace of about 8% during that time, according to Unity."

Fact #2: Even ice cream men make more than journalists. This former finance guy, Bill Sonner, made $350,000 as a trader at the New York Stock Exchange. Now he makes about double what a lot of low- to mid-level journalism jobs pay -- about $60,000 to $80,000, he says.



Fact #3: A first year cop for the NYPD will make more than I do as a writer:

"Under the agreement, the January 2009 Police Academy class will have a starting base salary of $40,361 and goes to $41,975 on August 1, 2009. When adding holiday pay, uniform allowance, and average night differential; a first-year Police Officer will have a total salary of $46,228 before overtime."

Fact #4: NYC Subway workers, even trash collectors, make more than I do. As of 2005, the year of the transit strike, the average subway cleaner made $40,000 a year. Wrote the New York Times, "According to the [MTA], the average subway or bus operator earns nearly $63,000 per year. The average subway conductor earns about $54,000. The average station agent earns about $51,000."

Fact #5: Freelance writers are not doing well either -- even experienced freelancers. This one is supplementing his income as a lifeguard at a Brooklyn public pool.