Encouraging the Next Generation of Storytellers + Free Lesson Plan
- Ashlyn Brown
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Journalism is more than reporting the news. It’s about asking questions, telling stories, holding people accountable, and helping communities understand the world around them. Yet, many students don’t consider journalism a real or attainable career path. A big reason for this perception is how the industry itself has changed over the past two decades.
Traditional newsroom jobs have shrunk significantly. For example, newspaper newsroom employment in the U.S. has dropped sharply since 2008 as print media lost advertising revenue and circulation declined, even as digital platforms expanded. Pew Research Center According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for news analysts, reporters, and journalists is projected to decline about 3% from 2023 to 2033, a trend that reflects ongoing restructuring in the news industry. Despite this overall decline, the BLS also estimates about 4,100 job openings annually over the decade, mainly from replacements as experienced workers retire or leave the field. Bureau of Labor Statistics+1
Because of these trends, many students think journalism isn’t a viable career, especially if they associate it only with traditional newspaper or TV reporting.
What’s often overlooked is that journalism teaches skills employers value across industries: research, critical thinking, clear communication, interviewing, and meeting deadlines. These abilities are useful not only in newsrooms but also in public relations, digital media, marketing, content creation, and nonprofit communications-- all areas where media-savvy storytellers are in demand. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Some journalism graduates also pursue related roles like editors, content strategists, or multimedia producers, where writing and storytelling remain at the core of the work. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why Students Don’t Always See Journalism as “Real”
A lack of visibility and understanding contributes to journalism’s reputation problem. Many young people today distrust traditional news media or see it as “boring” or irrelevant, which could be perceptions shaped by social media narratives and a lack of news literacy education in schools. Recent surveys show teenagers often use negative terms like “biased” or “fake” to describe the news, which can discourage them from considering journalism as a career. AP News
In addition, the perception of limited job prospects, reinforced by shrinking newsroom employment, can make journalism feel out of reach, even though openings continue to exist and the skills are transferable. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Value of Journalism Skills Today
Journalism may not always look like the stereotype students imagine- standing behind a microphone on live television or writing front-page newspaper stories. But, its core competencies are in demand. Strong communicators are needed in every sector: nonprofits, business, entertainment, digital media, government, and more. Media technology and new platforms also continue to create fresh opportunities for storytelling in audio, video, and digital formats. Bureau of Labor Statistics
For students who enjoy asking questions, exploring issues deeply, and sharing information creatively, journalism offers a flexible and meaningful career path, one with real impact and varied opportunities, even in a changing media landscape.
Want a fun way to introduce journalism in your classroom? This free activity gets students interviewing, writing, and creating stories they can be proud of. Built for grades 9–12 and adaptable for any classroom.
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