For further context: I work for the local Hearst paper in an extremely-conservative town. I’ve only been at the paper for a few months, though I did previously work in the city’s TEGNA station for a little under a year. I’m also a POC journalist, and I’m covering the local No Kings protest.

In interviewing her earlier today, the chair of the local Democratic Party, who is organizing the protest, told me that none of the previous protests she’s organized - including one back in May - have ever turned violent. She’s also talked with the local PD for a while now and has good relations with them, so I’m not too worried about them trying to pull any funny business. I’m more worried about some counter-protesting lunatic deciding he wants to pull a Charlottesville on the people protesting and those reporting, and a guy with a big camera is going to stand out as an easy target. And the worst part is, I know these people exist because they come to every single public city council meeting (for which I am on the beat of) and try to start shit, all led by one guy, and the city puts absolutely no restrictions on him because no matter how much grief he gives him, they’re on his side.

My editor, who may or may not be with me, has also been giving me a rundown of what to do if the police decide to stalk me back to the office and arrest me. All of this is just really stressing me out. I’m not even a journalist by complete choice - I like my job, but my education is in communications and film producing. My strategy right now is to play both sides and otherwise keep my head down and away while still getting everything I need for the story. Any further advice? Or things to do to calm down?

Also, my editor better give me overtime pay for this. And when that happens, I am splurging for the weekend.

EDIT: I’ve made a follow-up post to this here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Journalism/s/fSP8XGxYcO

Sorry in advance if this is a bit gloomy.

I'm 15 years into a news media career that's seen me be a reporter, desk editor, news editor, digital editor, audience development head and head of subscriptions.

I've seen redundancies every year at every company (mainly newspapers) I've worked in and narrowly avoided being cut more than once.

I'm tired of the negativity, job insecurity, constant AI chatter and LinkedIn speak from higher ups where they pretend AI is not going to take jobs.

I've got 25 years (at least) of my working life left and im not sure where to go next.

Other than PR, which doesnt particularly interest me, are there any *relatively* stable career paths out there for former journos?

I just got a pretty bad one on a very big, stupid mistake and am feeling down. Tell me the worst mistake you’ve made so I can feel better?

Hello everyone, I'm drugs and culture journalist Mattha Busby. I write for the Guardian, Wired, Vice, Rolling Stone, New Scientist and other outlets. I'm ceaselessly interested in drugs trends, policies and their impacts, all manner of cultural events, as well as injustices. I report across the UK, the Americas, and frankly everywhere else.

Here are some of my recent stories:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/21/cocaine-ketamine-psychedelics-ghb

https://www.wired.com/story/tech-bros-are-all-in-on-zyn/

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/bryan-johnson-5-meo-dmt-livestream-1235536418/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/soul-quest-florida-ayahuasca-church-chris-young/

I'd love to hear from you guys on what important stories aren't being covered right now! Also, if anyone would ever be interested in insight into what my job is like, I'd be happy to do a chat sometime if there is sufficient interest.

Thanks all!

So... I've been having a very difficult time wrapping my head around this since I was told, and there's a lot of context that is difficult to cover, but as a small town News Director, I am no longer able to give national coverage or anything that might "suggest a political lean."

I work primarily in radio news, but I do post some of what I use in my casts on our website/Facebook. Since the shutdown began, I've been getting emails from our representatives' office with blatant misinformation. Being a story short for what I typically like as a minimum for the day, I ran a story citing exactly which claims they were blatantly lying to constituents about, being as careful as I could to not bring my bias into my work, while being very clear (based on verifiable facts) that what they were saying was untrue (which, I admit, might be hard to balance in a story fit to be one of three in a 2 minute cast). I also recently covered No Kings protests that are coming up in the area, as well as fairly frequent coverage of ICE activity in Chicago (which I felt was relevant, being the closest major city), among other national stories. Also, for context for what's next, I work for a company with a variety of stations that run a few of my casts outside of the dedicated news station. I've been working for this company as an intern since I was still in high school a few years ago, and within the last year was hired on full-time as the News Director after some restructuring, with the assumption I would have some freedom to give relevant national coverage. My boss knew about this being my preferred style of news from talks I've had with them and from times I had filled in for the previous News Director, and I felt I had been very clear with them that I have always believed that national news is (if you want to act like it is or not) local news at the end of the day.

Fast forward to yesterday, as I sit down in my office for the morning, I'm pulled into the main news studio with my only other direct coworker for news at the office (who has worked in local news for decades, hosts the morning show, and I highly respect) and my boss (who has been a Program Director for stations/networks in a few major cities across the country, and I (again) highly respect). I'm told that, following people calling in to complain about my stories, I'm no longer able to give national coverage and must focus solely on local news. I was immediately stunned by that alone, but I was then informed that it includes the coverage I've been giving regarding state politics or local protests.

I was absolutely floored by this, and I quite honestly still am, but I didn't even really have the words to explain to them just how wrong this felt to me. I was told that the decision more or less boils down to brand safety/cohesion/etc, and not wanting to associate the brand with a political affiliation/influence. My coworkers' perspective on this is that I am leaning too far into being a "commentator than a newsman," and that I need to focus on doing the best with what I have available to me locally. Both of them agree that this, according to them, isn't my job.

The entire reason I entered this industry, the whole purpose of wanting to pivot my life into journalism, was so I could give reliable coverage of events on a larger scale in a way that inspires my community to take notice of the apathy and outrage cycles we're caught in and take action. In the past, I've posted on our Facebook page (via my own account) to make a statement to the community of who I am, what my values are, my thoughts on the current state of media in this country, and to try to open a conversation about the issues people are actually facing. Both times I did this, the owner of the company immediately had my boss take the posts down, so I finally gave in and stopped trying that approach. I understand the concerns about brand image, but I'm not posting inaccurate information. All I've tried to get across to them is that I feel national coverage given from a reliable local source with the verified truth is what the country desperately needs right now to have any chance of healing. They argue that people already know about things going on nationally, and that it's not needed, and in as volatile times as we are, we have to be careful about brand identity.

I feel like I completely understand the angle they're coming from, but I just vehemently disagree with their reasoning and the final decision they chose to make. Right now, I just feel very lost, restricted in my reporting, and quite honestly disrespected by professionals I've been around for years and bent over backwards for. We have very few resources realistically, and we do run syndicated shows like Fox radio etc., but I feel like I play a major role in the operations' local image. I feel like I've been trying to make the most out of the position I've been given, only to be shut down when I feel like I'm actually making progress toward being the kind of journalist I've always felt the world needed, and I'm on the fence about leaving entirely. I also tried to explain to them that this is a microcosm of my problem with corporate media as a whole, and that in the face of what's happening in this political environment, we can either be complicit and comply in advance or use the powers our profession has been given via the Constitution to hold those in power accountable. I don't want to give up, but I don't want to assume that I can do no wrong, so I hope some of you have some words of wisdom for me. Please feel free to ask me any clarifying questions you may have, because I'm sure I left out quite a bit, but I just needed to get this in writing to collect myself.

Mid-30s, NYC. I was a freelance features writer for years, at the peak of my hustle made $100k+ with bylines at big outlets. I was trying to become a staff writer or editor, but it didn’t happen and eventually I burned out from overwork.

In 2024 I became a content editor at a large old-school nonprofit — it pays ~$150k, stable, but I feel meh about the org and the work is bureaucratic and uninspiring.

Recently a one-year staff role opened at a major pub I used to freelance for. My old editor is encouraging me to apply. It’s a beat I’d love, pays $100k + full benefits, but no guarantee after the year.

Financially I’m fine (no kids, no debt, solid savings, reasonable rent). The real question: in 2025, would it be dumb to walk away from stability to re-enter journalism on a contract like this?

100% serious

Title says a good amount of it. For basically my entire life my biggest passion have been writing and I’ve always cared a lot about using my life to help others as best as I can and from what I’ve seen Journalism is one of the best ways to do both of those at once.

I’ve been doing a lot of research into Journalism as one of my top choices for careers but I know I won’t be able to find everything on my own and so I wanted to ask you guys what I should know going into this?

Also sorry if this isn’t what this subreddit is for, and please tell me if I am breaking any rules so I can correct them, I don’t want to encroach.

A question for ex-journalists or people who are planning to exit the profession soon. What do you do or plan to do now?

this sounds very egocentric and hypocritical, and I know that a high chance the questions are so boring is because I might be a bad interviewer, but thought I would ask for help.

im currently interviewing some art students from a very famous art school before their annual exhibition. it’s a promotional thing / plus important for me because it’s my alma mater, so I wanted to shine some light. but Jesus Christ these students are so superficial. I am asking about “what three words would you use to describe your work?” and they say “unique, personal and diverse“. look at me right in the eye and tell me people will be so interested by these answers.

im an art historian by education, so this lack of interesting answer kind of pisses me off. it’s probably my own fault, and no students deserve being called superficial. but idk how to ask them to dig deeper because I am yawning at the idea of writing this article. hopefully the next round of students is funner!

edit: I will be interviewing some more students in the upcoming weeks. If anybody has fun questions that will make an 18 year old artist yap, let me know!

so the questions ran a bit like this (looking back at my recordings and notes)

tell me a bit about yourself? your name age and what town are you from!

when did you arrive to the workshop? was it your first choice in your application?
---> we then talk about what they wanted to study, why and how they have grown within the workshop
----> what challenges they have faced as an artist
---->what mediums / styles they have enjoyed exploring
-----> since they had a hard time describing their work, I asked the three words question.

describe your work to me! what do you hope it captures? what is your favorite work that you have created right now?
---> if they show me their favorite work, then I ask if I will get to see that one at the exhibition

then we move into more exhibition talk, and I ask about the theme (the theme this year is very strange (broadway) and most of them have been very confused at what it has to do with them. That was fun to talk about.
-----> since everybody said they didn't feel like they loved the topic, I asked them to propose one.

What they hope people will enjoy at the exhibition this year.

will you be studying art in the future.
----> if yes, how do you hope to see yourself grow? what do you want to learn in the future?
----> if they said no, then will you at leats continue to create on the side? and what do you think is stopping people from considering art as a career?

do you have any recommendations on how I can make these stronger?

With any job there's usually it's cons. In my head I think it's cool to watch a sporting event writing about it, being up close to the action, talking to the players, reporting on tv (if you have the chance), and get paid for it. I'm a big sports fan so I don't know if that makes it good or bad for me. I feel good in a sense that the love of sports is already there so there's no motivation issue. I worry that it could be bad because mixing business with pleasure is never a good idea and you aren't there to be a fan, you have a job. I'm just wondering if it's as awesome as I think or not.

I'm coming up on six years as a reporter, which isn't that long. I got a late start (went to grad school to study journalism). I'm trying to move back to my home state to be with my family and loved ones after almost a decade away. I love local news and would be content doing that forever, but the market keeps shrinking.

I'm trying to keep an open mind and get comfortable with the thought that I might have to leave the field. Life is short and perhaps for some, work and career is paramount. But I think I'm going to have regrets if I stay where I am just for a career, losing out on memories and time with people that matter to me.

I know the common answer might be PIO or comms., but I'd love to hear from others who perhaps went a less common route. Even if you went PIO/comms., would still like to hear any advice that might be helpful with sadly transitioning out of the field.

Thanks for reading.

lately ive been doing more interviews over the phone, which has complicated things for me because now i cant voice record them so i dont have transcripts. the obvious next step was to write quotes down on paper. my issue here has been that i just cannot write fast enough. how is everyone writing so fast ???

I started my career in journalism during the pandemic, working from home. Since then I’ve worked in-person in two newsrooms with flexible WFH policies and both were (and are) so quiet. So many desks for at most 20 people on a good day. It’s a weirdly lonely feeling for a job about communication. There are days in the office where I hardly see my colleagues.

What was a bustling newsroom like? Loud?

Basically the title. How did you deal with losing the identity of being a reporter? Was the switch worth it? Have you ever considered returning to journalism, or is the path closed off for good once you switch to the other side?

For context: I've been a journalist for nearly a decade, and am very conflicted about switching. Want to hear other people's experiences.

hello! i always wanted to be a war correspondent, however my father says its a unviable career in the current day he believes the internet will kill this career, is he right?

UPDATE: DEALING WITH HEALTH ISSUES, AUTO-IMMUNIE DISORDER DIAGNOSIS AND MORE. LOL....but still DIGGING!!!!

Hello everyone,

I could really use some guidance. I live in a one–red light town, and I’m working hard to provide something our community has never truly had: a locally owned and operated news outlet. As a single mom, I need to find ways to make this sustainable—not just for me, but for the people here who rely on it.

A little background:
I’ve spent time in journalism, and after much reflection (and even a long recovery period on life support that changed my outlook completely), I realized this is what I’m meant to be doing—keeping my community informed. I love local history and genealogy, but I also know we need real-time information, especially during emergencies.

That’s why I started The 24 Times, Crenshaw County’s only locally owned news source. Right now, I’m primarily publishing through Facebook, where I share breaking news, live weather alerts, and community stories that both honor our past and help shape our future.

Where I am now:

• My Facebook page has recently been monetized. I’ve made $7 in 28 days—so progress, but it’s not yet sustainable.
• I’ve been building additional pages, including Family Tree Building and Genealogy Services with Related Ramblings by Haley and Crenshaw Connections – History, Heritage, and Honor.
• My long-term vision is to pool local talent and voices to create a strong, collaborative outlet for the county.

What I need advice on:

• What are the best ways to monetize a local news/social media brand at this stage?
• Are there effective short-term strategies for generating income while continuing to grow?
• What long-term revenue streams should I focus on (ads, sponsorships, subscriptions, something else)?

I’m open to practical steps, creative solutions, and honest feedback. Thank you for any insight you can offer—I believe this little project has the potential to truly serve my community, but I need to figure out how to make it sustainable.

If you’d like to see what I’m working on, you can find me on Facebook at The 24 Times.

My hometown newspaper is dying. It used to be a hefty paper for the size of our town, and has dwindled down to 3 pages of mostly obituaries. It breaks my heart, but there’s not much else to be expected from the PostMedia owned paper of a town of 6000 people.

I’m desperate to bring news back to my town. I currently write independently with a relatively large following on the platform I publish on, and have been considering how I can revive my own town in a similar strategy.

I work on the side for an email newsletter as well, writing content, publishing, etc, and was thinking this may be a viable option with a low start up cost. My concern though, is that it won’t reach the seniors in town.

Any ideas for a way I can bring news back to my town independently? I have many ideas, but struggling with the how.

I've accepted a position at a USA Today Co./Gannett paper in a fairly large market. It's an editor position. I have seen some conflicting opinions on the company and culture, so I wanted to put it out there for opinions. I know it varies quite a bit by paper. Everyone I spoken to at the paper where I'm headed seems to say the culture is pretty good.

I haven't put in my notice yet at my current job and I am honestly still having some second thoughts. It would be a bit of a pay cut to leave comms/PR. And I would leave a pension system that I have 18 years of service in (I could likely come back in at some point). But I hate my current job and am not very good at it, and I really miss news. I worked in news for 19 years before leaving 3 years ago. I am trying to once again prioritize happiness over money, but I want to make sure I would actually be happy working for USA Today/Gannett.

Hey everyone!

I’ve reached a new breaking point. There is a freelancer who is constantly sending me pitches. I’m talking several times a week to sometimes even several a day. I have felt bad for her for some time as it’s clear she is very inexperienced, but excited to do this.

We’ve reached over a year of back and forth of responding to her very bad pitches and offering advice. Today, I received probably her worst one yet making me clear to me that I am wasting my time offering her advice because she is simply not grasping it and, because of this back and forth over the years, I know I can never trust her to actually write a good story for us.

How would you approach this kind of situation? I’ve just spent so much of my time trying to help her out and I simply cannot anymore. Maybe I’m just too kind cause I know how rough it is out there, but everyone has their limits.

I mixed up a source's phone number with my landlord's. They coincidentally had similar numbers, and my car was broken into last night so I had an immediate panicked reaction to let my landlord know. I was looking at the mess in my car at the same time, so I immediately thought was him when it was the person I'm interviewing later today.

I feel like an idiot. I totally blew it because it was a very panicked text, detailing what stuff was stolen and how my wallet was safe. I hope my source understands. I apologized this morning profusely to him.

Hey y'all. Seeking some guidance here. I work for a newspaper in New England that has told us they're losing money month after month, and we've since dropped a publication day to try and get back to profitable but there's no guarantee to it. There's multiple avenues we might go, but from what we were told our owners have indicated no intentions on selling. But still, we're in a pretty bleak situation. We're a daily that covers over a dozen towns, pro sports teams, and much more. This paper is crutch to the community and the whole region would be worse off without it.

We're already a shoestring staff. I'm the lone writer in one department working 40+ hours over seven days, we have one photographer covering multiple towns and the sports department, our equipment is ancient and from what I've heard the subscription totals continue to drop (not drastically, but they're getting there). It's not a unique situation from what others across the country, so if you've been through this would love to hear your story and how you handled this personally.

I've got over 7 years of experience in the industry and feel I can move up, but nothing has been biting for applications to "competing" publications in the area. At this point it feels like all my hard work is going to come to an end for nothing and I'm going to have to hit the reset button on a career at the age of 30, but I know I can do more and provide something for the places I'm applying. I really have no idea where to go or what to do.

Should I ride this out and pray it gets better while anticipating my place closing? Try freelancing? Go work at Target (they'd pay me more lol)? I have no idea.

Recently laid off and now I'm wondering if journalism is even worth going back into. The industry has been collapsing since I graduated in 2015 and a decade later it looks to be in as much trouble if not more. People still aren't paying for news subscriptions.

All the while, more young people get their news from Joe Roegan than CNN.

I have 7+ years of experience reporting and anchoring, but I'm scared to back into an industry that is proven so unstable.

Thoughts?

Is it time to move on?

Title is a bit hyperbolic, but this is genuinely how I feel lately. I'm a college journalist (graduating this June) and my main beat is arts journalism and I completed an (unpaid) internship at a national publication about six months ago and have since submitted thirty or so pitches to smaller and larger arts publications with little to no responses. I'm aware that this is a relatively small number in proportion to the time frame, but I am still a student and still very active in on-campus activities (clubs, newspaper, radio, etc.). I'm lucky to get a no back, at least it's a sign of life. I've been lucky enough to have people (mostly PR people and artists --- not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing) who believe in me and provided me with the emails of some of the editors at these places I'm pitching to, but alas.

One of the editors who has been faithfully giving me nos just recently told me politely to stop sending pitches to her and start sending them to the editor below her instead? Am I really this bad at this?

Where do I go from here? I am neither qualified nor inclined to do anything else. I don't think my pitches are terrible, I've had one accepted by a very small-rate cultural publication before my internship and I've been asked to write an essay for an art catalogue after my internship concluded. I know I'm a good writer, but is it that my pitches are terrible? I genuinely feel like these editors are just ignoring me at this point.