Every time I tell someone I want to be a journalist, I get the same reaction: “Does anyone even read newspapers?”
Honestly, I’ve asked myself the same thing more times than I can count.
With constant headlines about shrinking newsrooms, layoffs, and AI creeping into the writing space, it’s hard not to wonder: is journalism still worth it?
Let’s be real. Journalism is not the easy path.
It’s badly paid for most people starting out, the hours are intense, and job security is shaky.
On top of that, public trust in the media is at an all-time low.
Being a journalist sometimes feels like defending yourself against criticism before you’ve even written the first word.
There’s also the digital shift. Print is shrinking, social media has changed how news is consumed, and attention spans are shorter than ever.
The classic picture of the reporter with a notepad is colliding with a world of TikTok explainers and news told in 30-second clips.
So, why do people still do it?
Despite all that, people stay. And I think that says something.
Journalism, for all its chaos, still has a heartbeat that other careers don’t. It matters.
It shapes communities, holds people in power accountable, and tells stories that might otherwise never be heard.
Even more overlooked, local journalism. It creates impact, from covering council decisions to celebrating small businesses.
It connects people to where they live and gives them a sense of belonging. That’s not something you can easily replace.
If you’re chasing big money, journalism might not feel worth it. But if you’re chasing meaning, connection, and the rush of telling stories, it absolutely can be.
For me, the worth isn’t in the pay check, it’s in knowing I’m contributing something that matters, even if just to one person.
And with the rise of independent outlets, newsletters, blogs, and podcasts, journalism is reinventing itself.
It might not look like it used to, but that doesn’t mean it’s dying. It means it’s changing, and maybe that’s the most exciting part.
The answer (for me at least)
So is journalism still worth it? For me, yes.
Not because it’s easy, or glamorous, or secure, but because it still has the power to matter.
It’s about what makes us human, connection, through words on a page people’s voices are heard (or shall I say read) whether that’s nationally or locally, by one person or by everyone, it is a connection.
It might not be perfect, but it’s still worth fighting for.
