WASHINGTON, DC (March 3, 2009) – In the face of a challenging economy that's beating down newspapers across America, causing layoffs and cut-backs and bankruptcies, the Washington Post plans to create a new position in the newsroom: Community Journalist.
In a letter to the newspaper guild that represents Post workers, the Post says the Community Journalist will write for the paper's Extras, Web, and the daily paper and perform multimedia work, all for $34,000 a year.
Vice president of labor for the Post Jay Kennedy told the guild that the Community Journalists, whose base pay would be $653 per week, should "not expect to be promoted to reporter." His letter said that the primary focus of the Community Journalist "will be to report on stories of local and community interest.
The guild's response?
"This sounds a lot like the positions we already have. They're called reporters."
'In this economy, someone will surely want these jobs," guild newsroom chair Robert Pierre said. "But, be clear, they will do the work we do now for a lower wage."
