Pros and Cons of being a journalist

There are pros and cons to most jobs and journalism is no exception. So here is a quick list of the main advantages and disadvantages of working in journalism including the practical pitfalls associated with the job of being a journalist. 

Pros:

• Not knowing what to expect from one day to the next as no two days are ever the same
• Challenging and demanding for people who work best under pressure
• You get to meet and talk to a variety of people from all walks of life
• To have your name published on stories in print and on websites
• You get paid to write, something that most newspaper journalists should have a passion for doing in the first place
• To be seen and often respected by the general public as someone of authority and influence
• Being invited to cover various events such as theatre performances and restaurant meal reviews for FREE!

Cons:

• Low pay. Typically a UK journalist's starting salary is between £13K and £15K progressing to about £25K
• Long and often unsociable hours which can include weekends and public holidays (the exception usually being Christmas Day!)
• Working in a demanding and ever changing industry
• Often working in a city or town centre newspaper office where there is no free car parking, subsidised or free childcare facilities and usually no staff canteen
• A risk of death or injury if covering a riot, war zone or other violent disturbance
• Being blamed for bad news or being seen as the enemy by members of the public when covering sensitive news or events