Hundreds of reporters have lost their jobs in Washington over the past decade, a time when the news industry shrank and once-lofty Washington news bureaus shuttered, but the nation’s capital is still among the best places to practice journalism.
A new review of Bureau of Labor Statistics employment figures finds that the city still has 2,630 journalists in it, second to New York’s 3,740. But Washington reporters earn more than those in the Big Apple, averaging $66,360, about $5,300 more than New York journalists.
Industry analyst B.R. Hook found that overall, reporters, editors and news analysts, earn 3.6 percent less than the average worker nationwide.
But for some media biggies, that deflated wage is still too high. The New York Times, for example, recently offered a new contract to news guild members, but said more cuts need to be made in light of the 22 percent revenue drop the Gray Lady suffered from 2003-2011. “We have to do more. To ignore it would be to put The Times itself, and all of our jobs, at risk,” said management.
