Death Sells

[Casey_03]

This is mainly just to vent. Maybe someone can relate.

I am really starting to hate being a journalist and constantly having to write about people's horrific deaths. Today, right now, I am writing about the EMT who was killed tonight in Brooklyn after being dragged by her own ambulance, which was hijacked by a madman. I have to watch the video of this, which is deeply unpleasant.

Very often, I have to watch these graphic videos of very distressing things and people dying horribly. I even once had to watch up-close footage of a man I knew personally dying after a car bomb tore him in half. Had to keep my composure long enough to write the damn story, despite my own shock at realizing, "Hey, I know him personally."

Ugh. I need a new line of work. It's just not worth it anymore. I'd much rather be writing fiction, but that doesn't really pay any better than journalism and it's harder to get into.

I would just like to go a few days without having to be surrounded by constant reminders of death.

 

[hodge]

I hear you. It's awful. Yeah, if it bleeds, it leads.

I don't know anything about blogging, but could advertising pay enough to do that?

I'm thinking about the example of Josh Marshall of TalkingPointsMemo. I remember when he started out, and now he is able to pay contributors. Well, at least I think they're being paid. Couldn't swear to that, though.

 

[asadafagahajakal]

This is mainly just to vent. Maybe someone can relate.

I am really starting to hate being a journalis...

Then write a fictional book. Who knows, you could be the next best thing since lord of the rings. You have a gift of writing. Dont give that up if you still love doing it. Dont worry about what pays well. You can still write on the side while you have a day job.

Hell, in a couple months im going to take up bladesmithing aside from a part time job. I know it wont get me rich any time soon but im gonna do it anyway since ive always been intrigued by that trade.

I hope you find something that you enjoy doing.

 

[asadafagahajakal]

I hear you. It's awful. Yeah, if it bleeds, it leads.

I don't know anything about blogging, but could ad...

As a youtuber with a monetized channel, i can say that google adsense doesnt pay well unless you have a ton of traffic. I think since last winter ive had about 300 views. Not a dollar yet. But if you have a history of journalism and you have your name out there already you might be able to get by with blogging and a part time job. Working online is like gold panning when it comes to the work:pay ratio.

 

[Justmehere]

It's hard to be a reporter. Many journalists develop PTSD without ever leaving their desks because of exactly what you describe. It qualifies as a Criterion A event. It's right up there with being assaulted and etc -- it has the same kind of impact on the nervous system over time.

I was a journalist myself for a short period of time and realized I wasn't cut out for the heaviness of it all. (The low pay and long crazy hours didn't help much either. Plus, I'm not a great writer. Lol.) I was quite passionate about it - and I'm glad for folks like you that can do it for a season. Quality reporting is so badly needed.

But yikes, it was even someone you knew? That would have undone me.

Supporting a family as a writer in other fields can be really tough, but perhaps it is time for a career change? A new season of life? I read somewhere recently that people are expected to change fields several times in their working lives nowadays. It's becoming quite common.

Maybe this is a season to explore what else you love to do. While you might not be able to work as a fiction writer, perhaps another field might give you a better income to be able to take the time to get into fiction more.

Either way, for whatever time you have to still endure this, hang in there.