Entry routes and career attainment of print journalists
Abstract
Print journalism serves as a unique case study for the examination of careers because of the existence of its pre-career route. Through the analysis of a national sample of print journalists, this study gives careful attention to this pre-career route and its possible impact throughout the careers of print journalists. The first part of this study focuses upon these pre-career routes by concentrating on the timing of one's decision to enter print journalism, the nature and timing of journalism training and educational background and the timing of the start of careers. The impact of these factors as well as labor market experience are then explored as the focus turns toward career attainment, job satisfaction and career commitment. The findings indicate frequent pre-career experience among journalists however the impact of these experiences are found to be minimal. While pre-career journalism experience facilitates immediate entry upon leaving school, it has little significance on future career attainment. Labor market experiences are found to be most significant. Moreover, the degree of job satisfaction and commitment among print journalists is also found to be only minimally related to pre-career exposure to journalism. Satisfaction with one's job and commitment to journalism are most significantly tied to the journalists' attitudes toward their employing organization and to print journalism in general.
Subject Area
Sociology|Journalism|Labor relations
Recommended Citation
Feldman, Barbara Jill, "Entry routes and career attainment of print journalists" (1991). Dissertations available from ProQuest. AAI9211931.
https://repository.upenn.edu/dissertations/AAI9211931