A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
The Washington Post recently named John Adams one of the best political journalists in Montana. He was working for the Great Falls Tribune. Now he’s looking for work following the GFT’s offering him a bowl of road apples he rightly refused to swallow. Aaron Flint and Jim Romenesko have the details, and they stink.
I wish I could consider Adams’ situation as atypical, but I can’t. I’m not sure whether journalism has ever been a good job for most reporters and editors, but I am sure it's not a good job, let alone a good career, now. It might be personally rewarding, but it’s neither financially rewarding nor financially secure, especially for local print and even television journalists. The local model is hiring journalists when they’re young, then pushing them out the door when they accumulate seniority and commence asking for higher pay (journalists as a class may be liberal, but publishers tend to have robber baron mentalities).
That’s why I’m usually loath to criticize local journalists. They’re in a bad situation that’s getting worse, but they’re still still turning out quality work and conducting themselves as professionals.
But, mammas, be warned: your children who grow up to be reporters are more likely to be burned than your children who grow up to be fire fighters.
John Adams, you’ve done a lot of good reporting. I thank you for it, and know you’ll do more. Good luck to you.