Leaving traditional newsrooms for Internet jobs

Background

The researcher surveyed newspaper editors and recruiters at a national seminar, sponsored by the Freedom Forum, held in San Francisco, California, from May 6 to May 8, 2000.

Forty-seven editors responded to the survey. Of the 47 respondents, 17 represented newspapers with more than 300 employees in their newsroom. Eight editors were from newspapers with 201 to 300 employees; 11 editors had 101 to 200 employees in their newsrooms; eight editors had 50 to 100 employees; and three editors had less than 50 employees.

In terms of circulation, 18 editors represented papers with more than 250,000 subscribers. Another 18 editors represented papers with between 100,000 and 250,000 subscribers. Six editors were from papers with circulation of 50,000 to 100,000 and five editors were from papers with less than 50,000 subscribers.

Results

1. How widespread is the departure of traditional print journalists for Internet companies?

Responses to the survey indicate that many newspapers are experiencing turnover as employees leave traditional newsrooms for Internet jobs. Of the 47 newspaper editors responding, 37 or 79 percent said at least one person had left their newsroom in the past 12 months to join an Internet company. Larger newspapers are the hardest-hit by departure to dot-coms. Of the 10 newspaper editors who said they had not lost any staffers to Internet jobs, only one had more than 200 employees in the newsroom. And the very largest newspapers had the biggest number of departures. At newspapers with more than 300 employees, 13 said they had lost more than four employees to the Internet in the past 12 months. Only four newspapers with more than 300 employees had lost fewer than four employees.

2. Why are journalists leaving traditional newsrooms?

Seventy percent of the editors responding to the survey cited the chance to be part of something new as the number one reason employees are leaving print newsrooms for dot-coms. Another 45 percent said more creativity was often cited as the reason for leaving. About 42 percent said departures were linked to better pay. About 32 percent said more flexibility was a reason for the exodus, and 30 percent said dot-coms offered more chance for advancement. Only 10 percent cited better benefits as a reason journalists leave print newsrooms for Internet companies.

3. Is the departure of print journalists for Internet companies primarily linked to pay and benefit issues?

Of the 47 editors responding, only 19 percent said pay and benefit issues were the primary reason for departure to Internet companies. About 60 percent said pay and benefit issues were not the primary reason journalists are leaving traditional newsrooms. The rest were uncertain.

4. Is the departure of print journalists for Internet companies primarily linked to quality of work life and creativity issues?

About 72 percent of the 47 editors responding to the survey, said the departure of print journalists was primarily linked to quality of life and creativity issues. Another 19 percent said they were uncertain.

5. Are newspapers concerned with the flow of employees from print newsrooms to the Internet?

Of the editors responding, 83 percent said they were somewhat or very concerned by the flow of employees from print newsrooms to the Internet. Another answer suggests newspapers should be concerned. Of the 47 editors responding, 27 or 57 percent said they would consider taking an Internet job themselves.

6. What can newspapers do to recruit employees in light of the increased competition for workers?

Improving salaries was the number one response when asked what would help newspapers recruit and retain employees. Nearly 62 percent of the editors cited higher salaries as a way to keep employees.

7. Must newspapers adapt or change structures to attract Generation X workers?

About 68 percent of the respondents said their newspapers do not offer traits often found attractive to Generation Xers - control over their work, independence and a voice in major decisions. Nearly 47 percent of the editors said the lack of those attributes is somewhat or very serious problem in attracting new employees.

Another 80 percent of the editors responding said their newsrooms have a hierarchical top-down management structure. But only one quarter or 25 percent said the structure hinders their ability to attract journalists.

8. How can newspapers retain current employees?
9. What would help newspapers recruit and retain employees - higher salaries, better benefits,changes in working conditions, stock options, newsroom restructuring, job redesign?

Although many Internet companies offer stock options, only 23 percent of the newspapers responding said their companies offer stock options. Yet only six percent of the respondents said the lack of stock options hinders their ability to recruit and retain employees.

As stated earlier, the number one response to what would help newspapers recruit and retain employees was higher salaries. But other responses also won support. Almost 47 percent said more flexible hours would help, followed by nearly 30 percent who cited more opportunities for advancement. Another 28 percent suggested redesigning jobs, followed by 19 percent who said newsrooms need to restructure with less of a top-down management structure.