Starting pay

[EStreetJoe]

For those newbies/college students that ask what entry level pay is, check out this link:
http://www.newsguild.org/salary/2006reporterstart.php

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Those are all union shops, of course. Doesn't cover the thousands of non-union shops in the industry which are free to gouge away.

 

[EStreetJoe]

Those are all union shops, of course. Doesn't cover the thousands of non-union shops in the industry which are free to gouge away.

True, but if you look at the lowest paying of those union shops, I can't imagine a non-union shop paying too much less than that.

 

[Clever username]

Are those weekly numbers?

 

[EStreetJoe]

Are those weekly numbers?

I would guess yes only because of the papers on the lower end of the scale. For instance the Rochester paper, where the salary is $304. I can't imagine the union letting an employee work for $152 a week (if that's an every-other week pay amount).

 

[Oz]

Are those weekly numbers?

Yeah, they are. But those are probably averages that take into account that people don't start with the minimum five years experience.

 

[Ellis Redding]

Are those weekly numbers?

Yeah, they are. But those are probably averages that take into account that people don't start with the minimum five years experience.

I'm pretty sure those are numbers for those who rate in with no experience. Were I to start at several of these papers, I would rate in with five years' experience (which is the max for new hires at some Guild papers), even though I really have seven years' experience.

 

[ADifferentOkie]

Those are all union shops, of course. Doesn't cover the thousands of non-union shops in the industry which are free to gouge away.

True, but if you look at the lowest paying of those union shops, I can't imagine a non-union shop paying too much less than that.

Well, start imagining. I know plenty of papers in my state that pay WAY less than those bottom numbers.
We're not talking metros, but small dailies and weeklies. They pay down around minimum wage at points.
In fact, I know several reporters who will get raises when the minimum wage hike goes into effect.
How sad is that, especially for people with degrees?

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

No mention there about papers that hire dudes as clerks, then throw them out there as writers.

A great opportunity for those people, to be sure. And quite the money-saver.

 

[WSKY]

I get paid in peanuts at my place

 

[pmartin25]

I thought we all agreed as sports journalists to take a vow of poverty?

 

[Sxysprtswrtr]

Those are all union shops, of course. Doesn't cover the thousands of non-union shops in the industry which are free to gouge away.

True, but if you look at the lowest paying of those union shops, I can't imagine a non-union shop paying too much less than that.

Well, start imagining. I know plenty of papers in my state that pay WAY less than those bottom numbers.
We're not talking metros, but small dailies and weeklies. They pay down around minimum wage at points.
In fact, I know several reporters who will get raises when the minimum wage hike goes into effect.
How sad is that, especially for people with degrees?

"The average reporter starting minimum salary under Guild contracts was $615.01 on Nov. 1, 2006."

That comes out to $15.38 per hour! That's a helluva lot higher compared to my first newspaper gig. I was making $11.05 pr/hr.

 

[sportswriter not a junky]

Those are all union shops, of course. Doesn't cover the thousands of non-union shops in the industry which are free to gouge away.

True, but if you look at the lowest paying of those union shops, I can't imagine a non-union shop paying too much less than that.

Well, start imagining. I know plenty of papers in my state that pay WAY less than those bottom numbers.
We're not talking metros, but small dailies and weeklies. They pay down around minimum wage at points.
In fact, I know several reporters who will get raises when the minimum wage hike goes into effect.
How sad is that, especially for people with degrees?

"The average reporter starting minimum salary under Guild contracts was $615.01 on Nov. 1, 2006."

That comes out to $15.38 per hour! That's a helluva lot higher compared to my first newspaper gig. I was making $11.05 pr/hr.

Remember, those figures are minimums. Most papers pay people significantly more than that (myself included) or they risk losing them to other papers.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Remember, those figures are minimums. Most papers pay people significantly more than that (myself included) or they risk losing them to other papers.

Thank you for continuing to provide great comedy whenever salaries in this business are discussed.

 

[Editude]

What's distressing is how much less effective buying power many mid-sized papers have from previous Guild contracts. Those are some awfully low salaries for place like Rochester, Knoxville and Dayton.

 

[wickedwritah]

IIRC, Rochester's contract expired years ago and that figure is rather old.

 

[Shaggy]

Those are all union shops, of course. Doesn't cover the thousands of non-union shops in the industry which are free to gouge away.

True, but if you look at the lowest paying of those union shops, I can't imagine a non-union shop paying too much less than that.

Well, start imagining. I know plenty of papers in my state that pay WAY less than those bottom numbers.
We're not talking metros, but small dailies and weeklies. They pay down around minimum wage at points.
In fact, I know several reporters who will get raises when the minimum wage hike goes into effect.
How sad is that, especially for people with degrees?

"The average reporter starting minimum salary under Guild contracts was $615.01 on Nov. 1, 2006."

That comes out to $15.38 per hour! That's a helluva lot higher compared to my first newspaper gig. I was making $11.05 pr/hr.

Remember, those figures are minimums. Most papers pay people significantly more than that (myself included) or they risk losing them to other papers.

I can't speak for your paper, but I get the sense that my paper really doesn't give a damn if anyone leaves. Just an excuse to find someone cheaper, or swallow the job.

 

[Crimson Tide]

I can't speak for your paper, but I get the sense that my paper really doesn't give a damn if anyone leaves. Just an excuse to find someone cheaper, or swallow the job.

DING! We have a winner.

 

[FishHack76]

It's what's for dinner ...

 

[dawgpounddiehard]

It's what's for dinner ...

Beef flavor? Gross.