Mar 7, 2009

A tale of two job listings

To get an idea of how tough the job market for newspaper journalists has become in Southern California, a friend recently sent along the following two newspaper job listings.

The first comes from the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram (circ. 5,860) in Sulphur Springs, Texas (pop. 15,387*). The paper is advertising for a full-time photographer - experience preferred but not required. The position pays between $25,000 and $30,000, or between $12 and $14.40 an hour.

The second listing comes from the Redlands Daily Facts (circ. 7,094) in Redlands, Calif. (pop. 71,807**). The paper is looking for a full-time reporter/photographer, some experience and a bachelor's degree in either journalism or communications are required. The hybrid position pays between $20,000 and $25,000, or between $9.60 and $12 an hour.

According to City-Data.com, the median price for a home in Sulphur Springs is $92,934, the median household income is $35,407 and the median rent is $546. City-Data says the median price for a home in Redlands is $419,900, the median income is $65,782 and the median rent is $985.

Given how volatile the real estate market is some of the City-Data stats are probably out of date, but you get the picture.

For some added context, when I first went to work for the twice-weekly Claremont Courier (circ. 5,000) in 1997, I was paid about $9 an hour.

*City-Data.com
**2008 California Department of Finance

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't know who actually owns the Sulphur Springs paper, it is listed as Echo Communications on the web site, but Redlands is part of Singleton's MNG holdings.

Enough said.

Anonymous said...

yeah, but at least no layoffs at singleton's papers...right?

Anonymous said...

For the love of God, Gary, is there anything you can do to stop the idiot above from posting the same comment a half-dozen times a week?

Anonymous said...

On Craigslist, the job is listed at 11 dollars an hour.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, the Daily Facts listing.

Anonymous said...

I think you are getting a bit sensitive here. Couple of points, could be more than one idiot, and this idiot who posted the comment in question believes STRONGLY that until we get a reaction directed to the appropriate individuals, the comment deserves repeating, and, often.

Anonymous said...

has anyone heard about additional cutbacks at singleton's papers?

Anonymous said...

I think you are getting a bit sensitive here. Couple of points, could be more than one idiot, and this idiot who posted the comment in question believes STRONGLY that until we get a reaction directed to the appropriate individuals, the comment deserves repeating, and, often.


I agree. This wasn't some random memo by an anonymous middle manager, it was a promise made by the company's senior vice president of human relations. If Jim Janiga and MediaNews want to lie to our faces, we have every right to call them on it.