A Journalist’s Guide to the Galaxy’s Inaugural Blog Posting, Issue #1

by Carl BR Johnson

Welcome to the inaugural and newly formed online magazine blog posting of A Journalist’s Guide to the Galaxy!  This magazine/resource center was specifically designed for Journalism students to access and consult, to help them all find meaningful and career satisfying work once they’re time at school has concluded.  This all-encompassing information site can help you, your child, your friend, and your spouse, dispel any fears they might have about the daunting task of finding a job after the so-called “J-school” (Journalism school) so that all the work that they have put into this college thing pays off in spades.

This online magazine was created because I, myself, have seen how much fear and loathing there really is with my classmates and those like us about career-life after school.  It seems to possess our thoughts on a daily, hourly, and minute-to-minute basis as it interferes with the very thing that we all came to SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) and other J-schools across Canada for!  It has almost become a very complex and self-defeating exercise as we trudge our way through college only to have those very educational efforts trashed because we’re so afraid of succeeding after all the effort.

Edward Tsang, a photo-journalism student at SAIT, who was one of a few lucky 16 students who were chosen to participate in the exclusive club of the so-called “photo students” said that his sentiment of fear was strongly echoed as he is very unsure of the future in this industry.

Edward Tsang, photo-journalist extraordinaire and scared out of his mind for his own future in this industry.

“I sure am scared of the future,” he said.  “Every other student and even already established journalists are all fighting for the same job that might or might not be available in Calgary.  It’s almost like there’s an America’s Got Talent here and only the best of the best will get hired and it makes me nervous.”

Tsang’s fear is justified because currently in Calgary, there has been a major shift in the success of newspapers as the Calgary Herald had to axe its Sunday edition in an attempt to save money.  Many photo-journalists were laid off there too as a result of their financial situation being compromised.  Even at the Calgary Sun, their newsroom staff has been drastically reduced to the point where many desks are now vacant in the once vibrant newsroom.  Currently, there are only three photo-journalists on staff there now and no room for employment for a green-and-wet-behind-the-ears photo journalism student.

Tsang was eager for any kind of resource to help him out after college.

“Anything to make the job-hunt easier.”

“We have been told many times by many of our instructors that going to a small town and asking for a job at one of their newspapers is the best bet for us,” he said.
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“But exactly how do we do that?  If your magazine (A Journalist’s Guide to the Galaxy) seeks to help people like me out, then I would read it.”

Jesse Semko, an ex-AMPA (Alberta Magazine Publishers Association) Journalist, says the current climate in this field of Journalism is a particularly hostile environment, because the industry itself is suffering from disinterest from the public.

“Many kids’ fears about getting a job in this industry are well-founded unfortunately,” said Semko.

“If you look at the Calgary Herald, they just had some 20-odd layoffs this summer because the newspaper publisher model is based on advertising.  When those advertising dollars dry up, then the newspapers will suffer.”

Many students in J-school are fearful of finding a job in Calgary as it can be a daunting task considering how many people have been laid off at the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun.

Semko reiterated that the industry is experiencing a fundamental shift in viewership from print to online Journalism; many people now simply want to read the news online because its free there.

“Most people know that they can get content for free online so the advertising money just isn’t there which has caused many newspapers to lay off reporters, thus hiring right from J-school is rare.”

Despite the fears that are associated with finding work after college there are such sites like JeffGaulin.com.  It’s a very useful site that allows editors of magazines and newspapers to find student Journalists to help fill their ranks.  It’s a good start for sure and every J-school guy or girl should check it often for the very latest in Journalism job postings.