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Print magazines trudge on.

According to the “State of the News Media Report,” a research center’s finding on American journalism, the magazine industry has declined again, in 2011, but still holds solid ground in journalism.

The report stated that many large magazine companies have largely downsized their employee numbers, and have had to find newer ways to keep afloat in this new age of online technology, but they are not sinking just yet.

Many companies have succeded in these hard times because they have found a niche audience that they cater to specifically. This helps create a solid base of customers that magazines can rely on for secure revenue.

I feel that my chances of someday becoming a contributor to a magazine are not neccisarily hurt by the drop in the magazine industry. I could use my personal experiences in extensive traveling as a way to fit a specific niche of readers.

The reduced number of magazine “employees” means there are less job openings available; however, the lack of full time writers also means there will be a higher demand for freelanec contributors.

“College: important, but not the magic bullet,” does a good job of summarizing the article it titles, written by Greg Marx  and published on the journalism website “Remapping Debate” on  Feb. 11. Marx argues that there is too much confidence placed in the idea that a college degree always equates to a more successful career and in turn, a better economy. Though Marx found many prominent people who agree with this idea, such as MIT and Harvard professors, the concept that a college degree is not a golden (or at least extremely helpful) ticket, generally goes against mainstream thought, even of our president, according to the article.

One of Marx’s main points for why college grads are not prospering as expected is that there is not a big enough job market requiring a college degree. He proposes that this results in many graduates working below their capabilities as well as their financial expectations. Marx does note that some form of post high school education, such as a trade certificate, would be helpful in attaining a “middle-class job.”

It seems to me Marx is missing a huge aspect of higher education. Although many people do see a degree as a possible money maker, there is a greater benefit to be found at the end of a four year college. Roxanne Meadows, who works on a well known project aimed at reshaping society to fix its ills, once said, “If a lot of people knew a good deal about a lot of things, we wouldn’t have nearly the problems we see in society.”

Even if today we see that a college degree is not paying off as it used to, it can still be a great investment. The knowledge and self empowerment gained from succeeding in college can have untold benefits throughout life. It has been explained to me many times by teachers, professors and graduates that it is not always what is specifically learned in attaining the degree that carries on later in  life, but “learning how to learn.” Someone who has completed college seems more likely to have a better understanding of the world and how to to learn and adapt in life. There is also a certain undeniable advantage a degree can offer in the job marketplace, even if it is at a traditionally “lower” level of employment.

Even if a college degree does not immediately guarantee a fancy position with a matching paycheck, it can still be worth the effort. The benefits of higher education are hard to calculate; however, it would be difficult to argue that a more educated population would not bring tangible benefits to itself and the economy.

“The homeless shuffle goes on” titles Gina Kim’s piece in the Sacramento Bee’s February 15th paper, documenting the 64 homeless being displaced from their illegal campsites along the downtown Sacramento area of the American River.

According to the article, even the rangers rousting the homeless campers say this is not the solution. Most of the campers being moved simply withdrew further into the wooded area. This past fiscal year, Sacramento county had $2.1 million to spend on homeless, less than half of what was budgeted for homeless in the previous year. The cuts come at a time when shelters in the community are already at capacity with waiting lists into the hundreds.

The issue will not be solved by continually displacing people who’s only home is a tent on public land, but needs addressing at a more general level. Politicians have the ability to help allocate funds and resources to help deal with the issue; however, they serve the public’s interest, and if the public is not concerned with their fellow humans struggling to keep their heads above water, then the politicians will not be bothered to work at this growing problem. It will take a more universal change of attitude and acknowledgment by Sacramento’s citizens before the homeless can step forth from their riverside abodes and truly rejoin Sacramento.

 

 

 

This is for the class I am taking. This is the set-up post for the class. I think it is all AP style so far.

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