Talent Fairy Talking Points
Musings on the editorial job market from the industry's matchmaker. #editorsmakethebesthires
★ A silver lining. I get accused a lot of being overly optimistic. But I am holding firm: Media is not going extinct. But it is changing. And it is probably shrinking. And more of it will be created by AI. But storytelling, especially good original storytelling, is here to stay. We just need to adapt better than the dinosaurs.
★ SEO is out; SGE is in. Here’s one thing we should all be paying attention to: the shift to Search Generative Experience. If you aren’t already using Gemini, give it a whirl. Yes, it’s a work-in-progress, but you’ll see the future of search and how readers will discover — or not discover — original content. If there are no (or fewer) links to click, how will readers find that delightful, surprising, entertaining, and inspiring storytelling you create? (Discuss among yourselves!)
★ AI Panic. Yes, things are going to change now that the 'bots have been released upon us. Editors I talk to are in an all-out panic about their impacts on their jobs. But with all respect, You need to calm down. AI is not going to take your job, as Scott Galloway says, it’s the people who understand AI who will. What are you waiting for? Get started with this list of free AI courses curated by the folks at Linked In.
★ In the mood for glass-half-full content? Listen in on my conversation with the lovely and talented Jonathan Small as we discuss the future of media, editorial roles, and other editor-tastic issues on his podcast, Write About Now.
2 Secrets to Making More Money
The first one — brace yourself, you’re not going to like it — is getting out of ad-supported media. If you haven’t already been laid off in your traditional media role, chances are you’re doing more work for the same pay. But take a peek at The Other Side: 70% of editors who leave traditional media report making more money, and 49% of those say they are making “a lot,” more according to my 2024 Hiring Report survey results.
The second secret? Know your worth. For that, there has to be salary transparency. Many states and cities have passed laws in the last couple of years (notably Colorado, California and New York City) requiring companies to include a salary range in their job postings. The curtain has been pulled back, and we can see what our peers are making. As part of my hiring survey (but just now released), I asked editors about the effect of these laws:
96% believe salary transparency laws are good for our industry overall.
37% say that the laws made them realize they were underpaid.
32% say seeing their peers’ salaries drove them to seek a higher-paying role.
42% say it drove them to ask for a raise. Amazingly, of those who asked, 24% got one — woo hoo!
Of course, money isn’t everything. Editors consistently tell me that they are willing to take a lower salary if a role offers the trifecta: a good work-life balance, supportive management, and job security. Which brings me back to secret #1 and those editors who pivoted out of traditional media. In addition to making more money, 68% have a more flexible work schedule, 49% are working more remote hours, and 22% work less hours altogether.
“I was matched with the most wonderful mentor. She helped me overcome my career confidence woes with sage advice which helped me to secure my new role as an editorial assistant! I would recommend this program to any recent college graduate looking for some guidance in the entry level job market,” — Sienna Sullivan, 2023 Talent Fairy mentee. Learn how you can become a mentor.
