As the recession deepens, more print publications are disappearing, taking valuable eyes for democracy along with them.
As the education reporter for the Hamilton Spectator, Rob Faulkner never spent much time on global financial news. However, as the recession deepened and newspapers in the United States and Canada began downsizing or closing altogether, Faulkner found it difficult to concentrate on anything else.
“The general climate of anxiety made me rethink my options and I thought it would be prudent to develop a plan B,” says Faulkner, who now works as a communication officer for the Hamilton-Wentworth School Board.
Declining advertising revenue and increased consumption of the news on free websites have forced journalists around the country into similar situations, either jumping ship before their papers drown or taking their chances in a market that needs to alter its vision and strategy to survive. The decline in print media has spurred various online sites, like Newspaper Death Watch, that monitor the changes.
The ongoing layoffs and buyouts also pose a threat to democracy. “It means more things will happen in the dark,” said Paul Starr, a professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton University, in an interview with The Globe and Mail. “I don’t think there’s enough of a protection of democratic accountability.”
Faulkner admits he misses the rhythm and personalities of the newsroom. But, after 30 of his co-workers at the Spectator were laid off last month, he’s happy to be working in a more stable field. He still writes about education, albeit from a more strategic perspective than at the Spectator, where the motto “report without fear or favour” ruled.
Drew Edwards, Faulkner’s former colleague and coffee buddy at the Spectator, is reluctant to contemplate life in public relations or government communications just yet. Although he admits employees in these fields can make more money, work fewer hours, earn better benefits and operate in a less stressful environment, “the disadvantage from my perspective, having done it, is that it’s boring as hell," says Edwards, "and honesty is not necessarily the priority.”
Too many talented journalists are going after that “damn tasty carrot,” he says, and the industry is suffering. However, Edwards is confident newspapers will adapt and emerge from this recession more tech-savvy and stronger. He references the Spectator’s readership numbers, which are higher than ever if you combine its print and online readers.
“Now, we’re just in survival mode. We’re not talking enough about what the new model needs to look like and that needs to be discussed continuously,” says Edwards, who worked as assignment editor before becoming the Spectator's Ticats beat reporter in February.
A new profitable newspaper model that incorporates both the web and the breaking news readers want can’t come soon enough for publications like The Globe and Mail, Hamilton Spectator and Waterloo Region Record. Together, they have laid off a combined 141 employees in less than two months.
Media giants like CanWest Global could imminently declare bankruptcy, while the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has cut 800 positions and scaled back on its programming. The Halifax Daily News has ceased operating completely as have the Rocky Mountain News, Cincinnati Post, and Hunter S. Thompson’s former publication, The San Juan Star.
While newspapers continue to fall, journalists like Bill Brownstein might have to rely more on their personal brand, rather than the publication they write for, to survive.
As a columnist for the Montreal Gazette, Brownstein is amongst the privileged class of journalists who have succeeded in branding his name through regular television and radio appearances. He has also published six books and has made two documentary films.
“As a result of my exposure from my column I’ve been able to diversify my work which has certainly been a blessing,” says Brownstein.
He admits that these opportunities are hard to create as a young beat reporter in a newsroom.
“I don’t envy the people who are starting out,” he says.
In this current climate, who would? From the hallways of Ryerson’s journalism school to the noisy Hamilton Spectator newsroom, despair and ambivalence is in the air. Journalism has always been a challenging and competitive profession, but in an age of countless citizen journalists and drastically reduced operating budgets, it has become infinitely more so.
In addition to buying a lot of lottery tickets, Brownstein urges newcomers to be cautious and realistic about the shelf life of the newspaper industry.
“Do this for the love of the business rather than any long term security…and keep an eye open to all aspects of the media.”
Click on map to see where print jobs have been lost in Canada and the U.S.