TV Journalism Careers: the Money Miscalculation

People are sometimes fascinated by what I do. When I tell them I write for the news, some people kind of don’t get it at first. I have to spell out the fact that I actually WRITE what you hear the anchors say. (for the most part – though I won’t take credit for SOME of that stuff!!) Then, what often comes next fascinates ME. “I bet you make the big bucks in the TV industry.” Let me clarify.

No. NO. **NO.** TV news is part of the entertainment industry, I’m not denying it. But I’m not making a sitcom here. Someone else can speak to how much those people make. All I know is, in local TV markets, you’re not gonna be a millionaire any time soon. Especially now days. You’ve probably noticed, the 20-somethings (which is who the advertisers want to reach with their money, anyway) are going on line. In the stations I’ve been at, I’ve seen rather drastic cuts in recent years. From cutting an entire anchor staff to start over younger – and cheaper – to getting rid of some of the people who’ve given the majority of their lives to a station. Unless you’re on-air at the network level, you’re probably not making a whole lot. Ok, I take that back. I’m sure the producers of shows like Good Morning America and 60 Minutes are probably pulling it in. But again, network level.

I’m not trying to be discouraging … just continue to give a little glimpse of reality. I came into the business making 19,500. This wasn’t THAT long ago, and while it’s true I was in a medium-sized market, I knew people who had never even graduated college who were making more than me on a construction site (not that I’d prefer to work construction …). I was barely pulling in minimum wage. I’ve moved on from there, and make a lot more now, but it’s still not close to what people out of, say business school make after five years on the market.

Of course it’s true no matter what you do, that you should really enjoy the work you’re choosing, since you’ll spend a lot of your time doing it. But I’d say it’s even “truer” when it comes to TV and news. Chose to go into journalism for the love of it … not the money! It might not hurt as much then, when you realize what you'll REALLY be making!

*alexis (www.10thfloorpr.com)