A new newsroom
Just in time for the holidays, we’re again facing buyouts and layoffs. Hohoho.
But while gossiping in the newsroom today with several of my fellow “too-young-to-be-bought-out” colleagues, I realized that what we were all so concerned about might in fact be great for our industry – and not from the beancounter’s perspective, but from an editorial point of view.
Think about it. Our newsroom is currently weighed down from the top by people who have been at the paper for dozens of years. Their experience is certainly valuable, but in an industry that has to change (and how!) it’s foolish to put a group of the same old people in the same old room and expect a new product. Let’s try some mathematics.
Old + Old = Old
The people most likely to accept the buyouts and the ones close to retirement age. The people most likely to be laid off and the middle-roaders, those people who haven’t been there long enough to attract a buyout, and yet not young enough to be ignored (since we don’t make enough money).
That leaves young people. Poorly paid young people, but fresh blood and ideas nonetheless. While the average newsroom size might be much smaller in five years, those left behind are likely to be young and awesome, hopefully led by equally young and innovative people.
Will any of us be around then? Well, that’s really the main issue now, isn’t it…