Economically, journalism remains a hazard area. And freelance journalists remain the most threatened species of all. Without the muscle and security a corporate employer can provide, the freelancer often feels like a small fish in a sea of sharks. Enterprising journalists can and do make a good living from freelance writing. The more experienced and the better established the journalist, the better that living.
Newcomers can expect to go hungry.
There are about a hundred major newspapers and magazines in the local marketplace, as well as many smaller outlets. Any half-awake writer ought to be able to break into the market. New magazines are opening as regularly as ever and, while they seek out proven writers at the start, they are also often on the lookout for fresh talent. Since budget does not always equal quality, this breakdown can be misleading. Alternatively, a high-budget publication in the hands of the wrong editor can be a journalistic disaster area.