Columnistosaurus

That sounds like a formula for being just one of the chorus to me, many consonants. Becoming a respected and (more important) enjoyed local voice is an honor and an honorable status. Of course, not too many newspapers are interested in that status today as institutions. And let's face it, most newspapers don't want sports columnists (or any columnists) with marketable identities. People like that want to get paid.

 

Just like being the preeminent attorney or president of a bank in a smaller community would be. Yet, for a variety of reasons--social and financial-- graduates from most "elite" schools* aren't rushing back to their hometowns to take those jobs, either. I'm not disagreeing with the premise that-- assuming you believe this non-major city focused version America is ideal--these jobs are valuable. I'm just saying the reasons young people don't view them that way is not journalism specific.

* Which may be a weak proxy for "best and brightest" but you get the point.