What shrinking newsrooms means for media relations

I read the news today, oh boy.

Nearly a third of consumers said they have abandoned a news outlet because it no longer provides the news and information they had grown accustomed to, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism.

Among the people who left a news outlet, 61% of the respondents said that the stories were less complete than they had been, the survey added.

Pew’s annual “State of the News Media” report shows that newsroom employment is down 30% since 2000 and has dropped below 40,000 people for the first time since 1978.

And fewer reporters and editors means fewer people engaged with the news. The survey, which took the pulse of 2,000 consumers, found that 28% of adults under age 30 counted themselves as regular local news viewers, down from 42% in 2006.

Call it blowback from years of severe newsroom cuts that have left many newspapers throughout the country decimated and cable news outlets resembling an over-caffeinated version of talk radio. (TheChicago Sun-Times late last week reportedly laid off several longtime suburban editors and other staffers as parent company Sun-Times Media begins to consolidate operations in its Chicago offices.)

For PR folks, the shrinking of traditional newsrooms continues to turn media relations on its head.

 

Related articles:

About Farrah Hudson

Farrah Hudson is a multifaceted marketing communications professional with over five years experience in marketing, public relations, sales and advertising. Farrah holds a B.S. degree in public relations from Florida A&M University and a Master’s in strategic public relations from The George Washington University’s School of Political Management. Farrah’s professional track record includes spearheading her company’s participation in regional and local marketing exposition shows, creating communications collateral for target audiences including civic leaders, government agencies, business developers and members of the media. She has also evaluated target markets and proposed marketing strategies through customer surveying techniques. Farrah has added value to many organizations through evolving strengths in client relations, copywriting, grant writing, and market research. She has demonstrated ability to work both independently to meet organization goals as well as collaboratively as part of a team. It’s these skills combined with a strong sense of professional integrity and genuine regard for people that contribute significantly to her profit driven performance. Farrah volunteers her time as the managing editor for the Washington DC Chapter of the Black Public Relations Society and as public relations coordinator for the Mt. Olive Seventh-Day Adventist Church Serving Our Community department. She lives in the Washington DC Metro area and enjoys yoga, painting and spending time with family.

One thought on “What shrinking newsrooms means for media relations”

Leave a comment