in Journalism and Mass Communication
AOL sent out an email to its movie writers today informing them that they will no longer be paid. The email goes on to encourage those same freelance writers to continue working for free.
What do you think about AOL and its current handling of writers/managers? Post a comment below.
“Journalism as a whole — and media as a whole — are moving to a growing reliance on freelancers.” That quote came from Rob Steiner, director of the journalism lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs, earlier this month on “The Agenda” (a Canadian public affairs show).
Steiner says that journalism employers – and media in general – are looking to knowledgeable freelancers for content as opposed to full-time general assignment reporters. He mentions that colleges and universities need to recognize the idea of the entrepreneurial journalist and the fact that students graduating from J-schools will need to market themselves in their specific area of expertise.
Do you agree with Steiner that J-schools need to change how they’re preparing future journalists? Do you think there is even a shift at all towards more freelance reporting?
