WSJ survey: Newspaper reporter is worst job in U.S.

[peacer84]

Another factor not considered in the story: what percentage in a given field works a second job to get by?

Needless to say, journalists would rate highly in this dubious category.

And it affects what we cover, too -- on several recent occasions at my shop, breaking news didn't get covered because the skeleton crew of reporters, photogs and copy editors (who sometimes cover things in a pinch) were either working at their second job or buried in pages.

Not that anyone in management even noticed ...

I don't know any full-time journalists working second jobs, including a handful making less than $30,000. I wonder how many do.

We have like eight full-timers in our newsroom and only one works a second job. It's obviously all about cost of living. If you're married and he/she works full-time, there's obviously going to be less of a need to work a second job.

But for those papers that are still paying less than 24,000 a year to start for single, young reporters, I could see having to have a second job. There aren't many regular daily papers that are above 5,000 circ., paying that low in my area, but I'd certainly believe it in other areas.

 

[Versatile]

Da man's point is freelancing on the side should be considered a second job.

I misunderstood. That makes sense, and I do know a few who do freelancing on the side for extra cash.

I was thinking more along the lines of bank teller during the mornings, copy editor at night.

 

[JackReacher]

For two years, I was a copy editor/designer at night while going to school full time during the day. Including summer classes. God, that sucked. Kudos to those keeping a second job.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Da man's point is freelancing on the side should be considered a second job.

I misunderstood. That makes sense, and I do know a few who do freelancing on the side for extra cash.

I was thinking more along the lines of bank teller during the mornings, copy editor at night.

Many years ago I was working in a smallish TV market. I got a big promotion and then a couple of months later had someone else's job responsibilities added to mine -- all without a pay raise. I went to my boss to ask for a raise and she told me I was overpaid at $20k a year, and suggested I get a second job. She proudly pointed out that the station's main anchor was also a maitre d' at a big restaurant in town.

 

[Starman]

Da man's point is freelancing on the side should be considered a second job.

I misunderstood. That makes sense, and I do know a few who do freelancing on the side for extra cash.

I was thinking more along the lines of bank teller during the mornings, copy editor at night.

Many years ago I was working in a smallish TV market. I got a big promotion and then a couple of months later had someone else's job responsibilities added to mine -- all without a pay raise. I went to my boss to ask for a raise and she told me I was overpaid at $20k a year, and suggested I get a second job. She proudly pointed out that the station's main anchor was also a maitre d' at a big restaurant in town.

Wasn't she concerned that it made the station "look bad?"

 

[BTExpress]

Da man's point is freelancing on the side should be considered a second job.

I see no reason why it should be. At least in the following example.

Miami Heat beat reporter is asked to do a story on the Heat for some magazine's NBA preview issue.

Other than actually writing the preview, just about all the work (background knowledge, interviews, etc.) has been done for his main job. He writes the preview in two hours, cashes a decent-sized check.

This isn't a second job. It's easy money tapping the resources your main job provides.

 

[Captain Obvious]

That's when you start stealing the copper from the building.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Da man's point is freelancing on the side should be considered a second job.

I misunderstood. That makes sense, and I do know a few who do freelancing on the side for extra cash.

I was thinking more along the lines of bank teller during the mornings, copy editor at night.

Many years ago I was working in a smallish TV market. I got a big promotion and then a couple of months later had someone else's job responsibilities added to mine -- all without a pay raise. I went to my boss to ask for a raise and she told me I was overpaid at $20k a year, and suggested I get a second job. She proudly pointed out that the station's main anchor was also a maitre d' at a big restaurant in town.

Wasn't she concerned that it made the station "look bad?"

Remarkably, no. She seemed proud.

 

[Starman]

Da man's point is freelancing on the side should be considered a second job.

I misunderstood. That makes sense, and I do know a few who do freelancing on the side for extra cash.

I was thinking more along the lines of bank teller during the mornings, copy editor at night.

Many years ago I was working in a smallish TV market. I got a big promotion and then a couple of months later had someone else's job responsibilities added to mine -- all without a pay raise. I went to my boss to ask for a raise and she told me I was overpaid at $20k a year, and suggested I get a second job. She proudly pointed out that the station's main anchor was also a maitre d' at a big restaurant in town.

Wasn't she concerned that it made the station "look bad?"

Remarkably, no. She seemed proud.

Tell her you could get a job as a jizz-wiper at the local crank-and-yank peep show theater. That would probably be good PR for the station too.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Da man's point is freelancing on the side should be considered a second job.

I misunderstood. That makes sense, and I do know a few who do freelancing on the side for extra cash.

I was thinking more along the lines of bank teller during the mornings, copy editor at night.

Many years ago I was working in a smallish TV market. I got a big promotion and then a couple of months later had someone else's job responsibilities added to mine -- all without a pay raise. I went to my boss to ask for a raise and she told me I was overpaid at $20k a year, and suggested I get a second job. She proudly pointed out that the station's main anchor was also a maitre d' at a big restaurant in town.

Wasn't she concerned that it made the station "look bad?"

Remarkably, no. She seemed proud.

Tell her you could get a job as a jizz-wiper at the local crank-and-yank peep show theater. That would probably be good PR for the station too.

About 3 months later I was working in a bigger market with a roughly 75% raise and the Maitre D' was anchoring on CNN. Worked out OK.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Another factor not considered in the story: what percentage in a given field works a second job to get by?

Needless to say, journalists would rate highly in this dubious category.

And it affects what we cover, too -- on several recent occasions at my shop, breaking news didn't get covered because the skeleton crew of reporters, photogs and copy editors (who sometimes cover things in a pinch) were either working at their second job or buried in pages.

Not that anyone in management even noticed ...

This is a good time to recount my old story about working at my first paper, where the publisher called the News Editor (yes, the news editor, not an entry-level peon) into his office to chew him out, because Mr. Publisher had gotten word from some of his yuck-yuck Rotary Club buddies around town that Mr. News Editor (with a wife and a child) was using food stamps to buy food at the local grocery stores, and that "Looked Bad For The Paper," so Mr. Publisher wanted to "strongly suggest" that Mr. News Editor do his grocery shopping a couple towns away, 25 miles or so.

Mr. News Editor should have "strongly suggested" that Mr. Publisher pony up the gas mileage and some compensation for his driving time for Mr. Editor to do his grocery shopping 25 miles away. Barring that, Mr. News Editor should have "strongly suggested" that unless Mr. Publisher wanted further embarrasment, that Mr. Publisher give him a nice raise so he wouldn't have to use food stamps.

 

[Pilot]

Maybe about 1/2 of our staff has second jobs. Mostly retail kind of stuff, some waiting tables. I count myself because I sell photography at craft shows on the side.