Gawker Media announced on Friday that they are cutting 19 editorial positions out of their 133.
In the same breath, they announced that they will be adding 10 new positions to their "commercially successful sites" and advertising sales are up by 30 percent from a year ago.
So what gives?
"We never used to talk about the business side of the operation..." writes publisher Nick Denton. "Traffic was the only concern; my belief was that juicy news would draw the reader and the advertising would take care of itself. We were patient; even if it took four years for a site to develop the audience that finally registered with advertisers, we had the time. No longer."
It's getting hard to avoid the doom and gloom of the economic downturn.
I wont attempt to break down how Denton was paying and enticing his employees with his pay-scale but here you go if you are interested.
-Erin McKenzie
1 comment:
Yeah, the picture out there looks pretty darn bleak for we budding journalists, huh? But only insofar as it also holds many opportunities. I think the scary part is just not being able to SEE what those opps are -- because they're being created so fast on the fly, and require us to have tech skills we're just now trying to grasp.
On one hand, it's really depressing, and makes us wonder why society doesn't seem to value the necessity and importance of solid journalism. It makes some of us feel gloomy about the increasing invasion of advertising into content and media's dependence upon advertising to survive in such a competitive market for people's attentions.
But on the other hand, new opportunities seem to be cropping up as fast as the technology is coming at us. It's almost as if we ourselves have more reason to rely upon our own ingenuity and ability to stand out with distinction, rather than depend on someone else (a "stable" employer) to make decisions for us on the nature and direction of our careers/lives.
People DO NEED INFORMATION. What kind, when, and how are the questions we're pressed to consider and at a constant pace of change.
However we can stand out -- whether on our own or with a particular media organization/publication -- and build a solid reputation in doing so is, at this stage of things, where I rest my hopes.
But, more than just hope, it is from where I expect, and have enthusiastic motive, to launch my own interests out there and see if they take root. A combination of strategy, know-how, and what you love to do, what ignites your passion, and finding/creating a path for that would seem to be what the "market" and technology is asking of us.
It ain't necessarily the ol' 9-5 job anymore. But it also implies that we now have new opportunities to take advantage of, based upon our OWN innovations -- even if that's just how and what we think and in compelling, distinctive ways.
All things considered, if we can find a workable balance AND think outside the box (and get paid to do so!), I think and certainly hope we'll be in pretty decent shape.
So not to despair, Erin! At least not completely - ha. There are MANY ways you can apply your skills acquired as a journalism major. Keep your nose to what you love and, eventually, that will help lead you to something and other cool people that will make all the difference!
- Misako M.
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