It is an interesting time to be a student entering the world of journalism. None of the major publications have a serious grasp on where the medium is heading and seem to have adopted a trial-and-error approach to social features and interactivity.
In about a year, I will graduate and be in an overflowing job market. The problem may not be necessarily finding a (decent) job, but maintaining it. Newspapers around the country are laying off (talented) reporters and editors.
Prognostications are not great for the business of newspapers either. The saddest news come from the closures that are being threatened around the country.
Just take a glimpse:
- The Baltimore Examiner will close February 15 (dead link).
- The Tucson Citizen will look for a buyer until March 21.
- The Seattle Post-Intelligencer will look for a buyer until March 10, at which time, they will move to an online-only format.
- The Rocky Mountain News has already passed its January 16 deadline to find a buyer.
Even many of those who have been able to keep their jobs have been subjected to a forced unpaid leave for a week, courtesy of Gannett and the MediaNews Group.
