Six Professions Deader Than Print Journalism

By J.J. Colagrande Fri., Jan. 7 2011 at 11:15 AM

The Imperfectionists portrays a group of journalists at a declining newspaper and begs several questions: Is it truly the end of the print era? What happens to all the old timers just looking for a scoop? Can they adapt? Or will they rot at the merciless hands of technology?

The critically acclaimed debut novel from Tom Rachman answers these questions and more with hilarity, insight, and memorable characters. Join Rachman as he celebrates the release of the paperback edition at Books & Books in Coral Gables next Wednesday.

Here are a few more professions currently struggling or already in their twilight. Maybe one or two can have the drama, characters. and suspense needed to match The Imperfectionsts.

1. Photo Processors
Although companies like Tropicolor on AltonRoad rock, this is not the best career to get into with the rise of the digital age. However, this job does allow for looks at private pictures, creepy, and alluring to the average voyeur--remember Robin Williams in One Hour Photo. Definitely room for a thriller.

2. Video Store Clerk
Do video stores even exist anymore? Between Red Box and NetFlix and On Demand, this job is fading faster a Key West sunset. Anyway, not much drama in the pimply world of video store clerks. Maybe humor, but didnt Kevin Smith drain the concept?

3. Bank Tellers
The need for bank tellers has decreased with the rise of ATMs and online banking. Shucks, there's even an app for depositing checks now. Still, maybe one can fantasize a suspense in the blahzay behind-the-scenes world of banking. Just maybe.

4. Travel Agents
Not much need for a travel agent in the digital world, although there could be a story here. A romantic comedy, with a little suspense. Think My Life in Ruins meets a John Grisham novel. The ensemble characters would make this one interesting.

5. Non-Profit Organization Staff
Non-profits continue to face hard times due to the recession. Charitable donations are down and endowment funds (sans the almighty Knight Foundation) are still in recovery from the inconsistent stock market. Imagine a science fiction / fantasy project starring a granola eating ex- non-profit worker who drops out of society (Babylon) to pursue his own utopian (Jah) village somewhere in Malyasia.

6. School District Employee
The recession is devastating all sectors of the economy, including education. Most local colleges, like FIU and MDC have been on a hiring freeze for a couple of years already. Easy to imagine a drama starring a laid off teacher collecting unemployment left alone with his kid after his wife splits. He's drinking and down in the dumps when his life long dream of being a scientist or an inventor pays off when the big corporation buys out his patent.

If you work at any of these jobs, or just like wallowing in others' misfortune, join Rachman as he celebrates the release of the paperback edition of The Imperfectionists at Books and Books (265 Aragon Ave) on Wednesday, January 12th. The reading starts at 8. Call (305) 442-4408 or visit www.booksandbooks.com.

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Books & Books

265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, FL

Category: General

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w00t.

get your spelling of Malaysia right at least.

Maximum Inheritance

There is a profession for which there is demand, of which this writer has not taken advantage - teaching. In particular English tuition. The opening sentence has an error of grammar! I rest my case.

0_demand

You may demand it of the writer, but if the writer does not demand it, there is no economic demand. No economic demand means no demand.

marca17

http://begthequestion.info/

Arhutch

Librarian?

Tom

you know photo processors print from digital to right...currently working in one in a small town doing 2000/3000 prints from digital a day, we are hardly dead yet.

niche film only labs are just that now niche, still making good money from what ive seen but they are a specialist service now.

RoadAbode

Tom You're what - 20something? I'm over double that and maybe you don't remember going to the camera store (and later the local supermarket) to get photos processed. I do. Anyone who had a camera had to do this. Now, In the last 15 years I've gone to get photos made into prints ZERO times - like many people. I have no need, with color laser printers (even some inkjets) giving me good quality for my needs. So for most people, Tom your are wrong. Photo processing which use to be big business, is now a niche, and in the business world, where the $$$ is what talks, it's a dead end job.

Adam

"Blahzay", really? Shouldn't a writer know the word is "blasé"?

FGFM

7. Alternative Paper Critic

Dave Cullen

Good call on the first four.

But the last two--according to your own descriptions--are just experiencing a cyclical downshift. (Which is actually the best time to look for a job in a field, at the end of a down cycle.) They seem very out of place.

lakawak

Good call on the firs 4? Bank tellers will have jobs LONG after this silly blog has posts its last asinine blog and closed down due to the fact that is has NEVER turned a profit. Many banks are EXPANDING their branch hours. TD Bank now is open 7 days a week, 360 days a year.

And people still use travel agents for the convenience. Not everyone spends their entire lives on the internet. (Only sad people without ACTUAL lives do.) Many people would prefer to pay a little more to have all the research done for them. The same way that most people pay to have someone else grow heir own fruits and vegetables.

John Colagrande Jr. will be begging for money on the street long before most bank tellers and travel agents (and NPO staff or school district employees for that matter) are even concerned about losing their jobs. (Of course, based on this article, John Colagrande Jr. will be begging for money some time in the next few weeks with the lack of talent, professionalism or journalism he has.

Oh..and by the way....many small time local newspapers are THRIVING. Whereas almost all blogs have never made a penny in profit and never will. Again...John Colagrande Jr. will be out of a job long before most print journalists will be.

Ano Nym Ous

"Not everyone spends their entire lives on the internet. (Only sad people without ACTUAL lives do.)"

Hmmm... something here about stones and glass houses.

lakawak

How so? Being on the internet a little each day, as I am, has noting to do with people who think that everyone spends their whole lives and does everything online.