At the FPRA media forum last week, the publisher of Scripps – the company that owns the majority of the Treasure Coast newspapers – was asked how much longer they would be using correspondents. He responded that they would actually be expanding the use of them.
And it didn’t seem a big deal when I asked him if this would affect the quality of journalism.
Since a couple local reporters resigned recently, I inquired to the managing editor about the openings. I reminded him I was freelancing for them until the end of the year when I was told Scripps will look at their budget and decide whether to thaw their hiring freeze.
Unfortunately, he said they won’t be filling those positions now. In fact, this means they’ll be using more freelance than before.
That’s good for me now but bad in the long run. I need a job. I need to be a hired reporter, not a lifetime freelancer.
June 19, 2008 at 9:40 am
Patience honey. It will come. You are too good at what you do for it not to. Seems like freelancing is the way newspapers are going because it’s so much cheaper than having you on the payroll. Hang in there, good things happen to good people.
June 20, 2008 at 12:07 am
[...] relationship, reporter, source, stereotype, stigma, story, world | In my last post, “Job openings closed to freelancer,” I expressed some frustration about not being hired by The Fort Pierce Tribune – remaining a [...]