Can I Still Make a Living Out of Journalism?

Due to the industry evolving over the years, journalism majors have experienced a period of uncertainty and anxiety over the amount of job openings and obtaining a reasonable salary.

 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment of reporters and correspondents is expected to moderately decline by eight percent from 2010 and 2020.”

 

“I’m mostly worried about finding a job in my field that pays well. It’s really competitive in journalism so a lot of people end up going into fields that pay well, but I don’t want to do that because I’ve worked hard in gaining experience,” said journalism senior Channing Holman. “If I don’t do anything in journalism all of that work would seem worthless.” 

 

Not at all reluctant to disclose salary information, David Muto, Texas Tribune writer and copy editor, was able to put the auditorium at peace when he stated that his starting salary was $30,000 a year and that it increased to $38,000 over the last two years. 

The alumni advised students to apply for internships where they will be able to learn hands-on about the industry and the specific occupation they are interested in. The interning process helps students determine if they really want to pursue a career in journalism. Muto and Vega stated during the panel that their internships proved to be valuable to their career and ended up becoming their actual jobs after graduation.

 

Although internships and networking may not be possible for many students because they either work or have other commitments outside of school, Suzanne Haberman, Texas Tribune CO-OP Power Magazine reporter, stated that doing freelance work for various publications could also get your foot in the door and give you the necessary skills for a job.