Is there life after newspapers for journalists?

Ever wonder what newspaper people do when they're laid off? American Journalism Review reports the results of a survey -- pointing out that it's self-selecting so not statistically reliable, although it does offer good information. The short answer is in the following three points, taken from their story:

• Just under 36 percent said they found a new job in less than three months. Add those who say they freelance full time, and the total jumps to 53 percent.

• Less than 10 percent say it took them longer than a year.

• Only a handful – 6 percent – found other newspaper jobs. The rest are doing everything from public relations to teaching to driving a bus and clerking in a liquor store.

From my experience with Journal Sentinel cuts, that's pretty accurate. There are newspaper jobs, and magazine jobs, but journalism trains people for lots of other areas and many mid-career journalists are looking that way. I suspect it's for perceived job stability.