We often hear about there being too few police officers on the beat. But what about there being too few reporters?
According to a (admittedly not very scientific) survey in San Francisco and the Bay Area, there are 44.7% fewer journalists than a decade ago pounding the pavement or working the phones.
The survey, by the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club, canvassed more than 700 current and former Bay Area journalists.
It revealed that 44.7% "say they have been laid off, accepted a buyout or voluntarily left their job during a period of down-sizing during the past 10 years."
The results reflect staff cuts in broadcast newsrooms and in newspapers, such as the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Oakland Tribune and Contra Costa Times.
One survey bright spot: of those who have left mainstream media organisations many are working as "journalism entrepreneurs".
Source: San Francisco Business Times
