This might afflict the comfortable.
There’s something inherently ironic about this course.
We talk about the changing face of journalism–how it’s not making any money. We talk about ways to improve it–get it to make money–, and we talk about how great it used to be–back when it used to make money.
In order to accomplish this discussion, Starbucks Talk, one student presents a “News Briefing” every class. The irony lies within the method: Each student brings in about seven highlighted articles from The New York Times. I’ve heard nobody reference another paper–like The Washington Post, or even The Wall Street Journal–which makes money. If The New York Times actually knew how to keep their profits up, we probably wouldn’t have this class. Is that good or bad?
It’s representative of the journalism industry today: journalists who get laid off–because the papers aren’t making any money–start a journalism school, and teach young people how to enter an endangered (certainly not extinct) industry. Mmm, healthy.
Which brings us to the irony to end all irony: It’s one of many courses that makes me not want to be a journalist.
To end up bitter at the people who fired me? I’d rather be the one who fired everyone else.
