Salary, hours, stress cited in leaving print journalism

Things are churning in the newspaper business.

With talent cutbacks mounting in newsrooms around the country, many journalists face a tight market when it comes time to seek employment elsewhere in the profession, notes Grumpy Editor.

But many still on the job have reservations about continuing in the newspaper field, finds a recent survey by Scott Reinardy, a Ball State University professor and former newspaper reporter/editor.

When his online survey of 770 journalists asked if they had intentions to leave newspaper work, 25.7 percent answered yes and 36.2 percent said they don’t know.

Reasons for departing the profession?  When those who said they wanted to leave the field were asked why, 36 percent cited money or salary, 27 percent pointed to hours or schedule, and 19 percent mentioned stress or burnout.

Other findings:

Young copy editors or page designers at small newspapers are most at risk to burnout.

Those with intentions of leaving the profession are eyeing freelance work, public relations, academia or further education in another field.

Most likely to depart are journalists 34 years old and younger.