Best Worst Ever

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Journos 5th from ‘Worst,’ and Happy to Be There

“A survey ranking journalist as the fifth-worst job to have in 2012 has been getting a lot of attention for the last few days, in case you haven’t noticed. The report, by CareerCast, says being a reporter at a newspaper, magazine or TV show is worse than waiting tables and only a tiny bit less lousy than working on an oil rig. Blame the combination of high stress and scarce career opportunities.

“You know that old joke referenced in ‘Annie Hall’ about the restaurant with the terrible food and the tiny portions? This study makes me think of that. Working as a reporter is just awful — and it’s so hard to find a place to do it!

“Inadvertently, all this survey does is highlight the truth: Being a journalist is the best. That’s all there is to it. Yes, there are too few really good jobs and too many people fighting for them. Yes, salaries start out quite low. Yes, the hours can be long and irregular. Yes, the industry is in a period of extreme disruption, with lots of old jobs being destroyed, and the new ones typically offer less security and require different skills.

“None of that changes the core fact here. For those who are cut out for it — and that’s definitely not everyone — journalism is a uniquely rewarding, wonderful career. Here are just a few of the reasons why.”

—Jeff Bercovici, media writer,
“Forget That Survey: Here’s Why Journalism Is the Best Job Ever,”
Forbes, April 16, 2012
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• Editorial Comment: On the top-10 best job list: Actuary. Mathematician. Dental Hygienist?!!!? Get your hands out of my mouth. I’ll stick with journalism, thanks anyway.

• RERUN: Singalong Did you miss yesterday’s WORDs from renowned political observer Barbra Streisand, on the need for clear-eyed reporting on the presidential campaign? Click here.

• JCOM Teaching Excellence: Congrats to the History Department, which edged out Journalism & Communication for USU’s 2012 department teaching excellence award. But that doesn't take anything away from the accomplishments of our students and faculty. Junior Emily Landeen produced this video of student feedback on the department.

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Fang the Wonder Cat died Monday, 1995-2012
Hairballs in Heaven




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