TV or print journalism?

I have always had an affinity for print journalism but a friend of mine is trying to pull me over to the television side. I would primarily work off-camera, write, research etc. Should I stick with print or try something new? At 25, I wouldn't mind trying something different. But if I made the career move, I don't know how easy it would be to get back into print journalism. Any feedback would be great. Thanks.

 

neither

 

I know some print people diss broadcast journalists. However, the way I see it: They're both different skills. One forces you to be able to condence a shitload of information in a way that can be digested in brief sound bites and get it right. The other forces you to be able to sift through a shitload of information and find it in different places, write it so that it can be digested readably and get it right.

Then there's always law school...

I wouldn't make the move, but that's just me.

 

I am one of these people.

 

Neither. Print is not a growth market anymore, and TV is just full of bullshit.

Do something better with your life. Find a happier environment than this.

Find something happy and make money. I would suggest construction management at this point.

Build something strong, watch it grow. Then build something else, watch that grow.

Repeat as necessary. Good values, and you're home in time for dinner most nights.

 

Sure, Dan. He should do what you say, not what he might want to do.

Great that you're not in the business and you're happy. Doesn't mean everybody else will be.

 

If you make the jump, just be prepared to relearn a lot of the skills you've developed for print. Good newspaper writing doesn't work for TV. It's a totally different animal.

Having said that, if you're good at it there are plenty of off-camera jobs. It's a bitch to find good producers -- broadcast majors all want to be on camera. Like print, the pay is shit at the bottom but pretty decent if you get to a bigger market.

And I wouldn't necessarily argue with Dan Rydell on this one.

 

Honestly, I'd take a crack at it. Find out what it's like. See if you can find some spots to freelance at so you can keep your writing sharp, but you never know if a job is going to be something you want to do unless you try it.

 

Follow your heart, guy. If your passion is fully in print, stay there. But grabbing a little taste of the other side isn't necessarily a bad idea. You might even like it. Who knows?

Is there any way you can do some volunteer work at the station before making the switch? If so, I'd suggest getting your feet wet first, so you know exactly what to expect -- at least for the most part. I did a lot of television work in college, and it was some of the thrilling times I've had in the communication field. Ultimately, I chose print journalism because I had a stronger passion for it. But I had a taste for both. Maybe that's what you need.

You're only 25. Don't worry about if you can get back into the business. If you've got talent, you'll have a place to work.

 

The way this business is headed, it's probably to your benefit to have as much experience with an many different media as possible.

 

I work in TV. I like it much more than I did print. I am also off camera and it's a fantastic situation.