Journalism job openings scarce in Oregon
But actual experience betters graduates ’ chances I ~Z .
By GabrM Boehmer
Of ttf BmaraU
Of the more than 100 news
papers published in Oregon —
from small weeklies such as the
Oakridge Dead Mountain Echo,
to metropolitan dailies such as
the Portland Oregonian — only a
handful of job openings exist for
journalists today
The Oregon Newspaper Pub
lishers Association's every
other-weekly bulletin Up-to
Datelines lists available posi
tions in its classified section.
In the May 14 issue, only one
position was available — but not
for a reporter The North Side
News is looking for a sales
manager in Jerome. Idaho,
population 6,891 Responsibili
ties include directing a six-per
son staff for a “rapidly growing
monthly specialty horse paper
for two states “
"There is an over abundance
of beginning reporters," says
Marjorie Jamison, editor of
Oregon Publisher. “News
papers can afford to be choosy
and pay lousy salaries."
As recently as two years ago,
10 to 15 positions were adver
tised in the bi-monthly newslet
ter — many entry-level positions
were in advertising sales “Our
job listings in the past nine
months have been zero,"
Jamison says.
Dave Bennett, the publishers'
association executive director,
attributes the slump in news
paper hirings to the economy.
"Newspapers have either cut
staff or not replaced people who
have left What this means for
journalism school graduates is a
tighter, more competitive mar
ket.’’
The industry has suffered as
much as any other business
from the economic woes of the
1980s. Decreasing advertising
sales and retailers’ increasing
use of pre-printed advertising
inserts in newspapers has
reduced industry revenues,
Bennett says.
However, a survey of June
1980 journalism bachelor's
graduates, conducted by the
University Career Planning and
Placement Service, shows that
nearly 80 percent were em
ployed in the media.
More than 70 percent of the
graduates gained experience
related to their present career
while attending the University
Of that number, 28 percent
worked at practicums while in
school
Most of the respondents — 31
percent — said they earned
between $9,000 and $11,999
per year Another 21 percent
reported they were paid
between $12,000 and $14,999
per year Those graduates
earning more than $15,000 per
year comprised 22 percent of
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the respondents, and 21 per
cent earned less than $9,000.
A more recent national em
ployment survey, conducted by
the Newspaper Fund and the
Gallup Organization, shows that
more than half of the 16,000
journalism and communications
graduates in 1981 found jobs in
the media.
Daily newspapers hired 11
percent of the 1981 class. Pub
lic relations and advertising fol
lowed with 10.8 percent and
10.7 percent, respectively.
Television stations hired 10
percent of the class, and radio
stations attracted 4.3 percent.
Weekly newspapers hired 4.9
percent and commercial
magazines 2.9 percent.
“Graduates of colleges with
journalism schools usually don't
get a job with a daily,” Jamison,
editor of the publishers as
sociation monthly magazine,
said. Newcomers to the profes
sion have to be willing to do
everything from reporting to
paste-up on a small paper and
work their way up. she said.
Salaries at weekly news
papers for entry-level positions
range from $180 to $200 per
week, according to Roy
Halverson, a University jour
nalism professor specializing in
Outlook
for the
’80$
newspaper management.
The survey also shows that a
higher proportion of students
who earned a B-plus or better
average found work than their
classmates with lower grades.
Students hired by daily news
papers and advertising agen
cies had the highest grade point
Graphic by M. Schafbuch
average.
However, Jamison gives
academic performance a differ
ent priority. "Actual experience
always outweighs your GPA.”
She suggests working part-time
or interning at a community
paper is the best experience
while attending school.
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