Exit strategy: why TV journalists are running (not walking) from The Newsroom

For decades, there has been a well-traveled path for journalists to leave the television business and enter other career fields. But that trend seems to be greatly accelerated in recent years as the television industry has undergone major changes. Some experts are calling it “an extinction alert.” This project involved semi-structured interviews with 13 experienced journalists: six current television anchors and reporters (including one who left the industry and came back), six former television anchors and reporters and one anchor who was less than two weeks away from leaving. Each was asked questions about their experiences in journalism and either why they remained in television or why they chose to leave the business. No matter their age, no matter their experience, no matter their current job—one thing they all agree on that an “extinction alert” is very much warranted.