Journalists Sarah Fentem from KWMU and Lauren Trager from KMOV visited professor Jean Whatley’s news writing course at Saint Louis University on February 13 to provide students with insight into the field of journalism. Trager is an investigative journalist and member of the News 4 Investigates team while Fentem reports on sickness and health as part of St. Louis Public Radio’s news team.
“If there’s anything else that you like to do, do that.” Fentem said regarding career opportunities. She pointed out how, with the decline of print media, finding a stable job within the profession may be economically precarious. Trager echoed Fentem’s sentiments, “At the end of the day, the jobs are fewer and farther between.”
While offering a bleak view on the future of the news writing profession, Fentem maintained that there are stable, albeit less traditional, writing jobs available with industry and online publications. Trager offered advice for journalism students to “diversify” their skillset. Students should get into journalism after graduation if that’s what they are truly passionate about but should be aware of the harsh realities facing the profession, according to Fentem and Trager.
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