Struggling Journalists Can Be Technical Writers

In recent years we've witnessed the advent of increasingly user-friendly self-publishing technologies. As a result, traditional media has lost its formerly exclusive foothold on the news. Given the upending journalism now faces, please just hear me out on what may seem like a ridiculous statement:

If you're a journalist looking for a new career, you hold a combination of skills that comprise a match made in heaven. This match can be translated into a new job. This match applies also to photojournalism.

From Journalism to High Tech

On the one hand, you as a journalist (or photojournalist) have photography or videography skills. On the other hand you have words you write to complement the still photos you take, or the voice you record as an accompaniment to video you have shot.

No matter what the form and no matter what your specialty, what's so great about your photojournalism skills is that they can be repurposed for use in various "commercial applications". If you're struggling in making a living, I strongly suggest that you look into technical writing.

Technical Writing

In tech writing, you may be taking photos or videos, and you have to report facts on the topic at hand. The only difference is that you are frequently "reporting" on certain products for sale as opposed to the diverse topics you may have previously covered.

Dual Roles: Journalist & Tech Writer

I started off as a tech writer more than ten years ago, and I have recently branched off into photojournalism. The skills I acquired in tech writing for taking photos and then documenting computer hardware comprise the bridge into what is now a three-year ongoing exploration into photojournalism. Given that tech writing was my bridge into photojournalism, why cannot the bridge go in the other direction also?

Tech Writer Job Requirement: "Background In Journalism"

Look at most tech writer job descriptions: they frequently mention that the applicant should have a "background in journalism".

According to the US Dept of Labor, the mean 2009 tech writer's salary was somewhere in the $60k range. For me, while tech writing definitely pays my bills, photojournalism is the romantic interest in my career as a writer. I woo her every time I write an article as a journalist. And because I was the one who chose the topic of interest, I have a greater degree of freedom and I am thus that much more engaged.

If you struggle with journalism as the breadwinner, then consider translating your skills into something pays better, and give your passion for journalism greater freedom by choosing the topic of your reporting - instead of having it assigned to you. Perhaps this tack doesn't make sense to a more traditional journalist, but give it some thought.

I've written about the journalist-tech writer transition. Go to my site and do a search on "journalist" to get my full take on this issue.