You would think that all those journalists who are getting pink slips, being tossed out on their ears after years of working with ‘the system’ and ignoring the news; you would think that they would resent going bankrupt. You would think that they would be angry at being tossed aside, losing their retirement, pension, savings, homes, cars and livelihood. You would think they would be outraged, and would get some ‘payback’; and publish those stories they had been ordered to quash. Why not publish those stories on to Drudge, or Foxnews, or other on-line publishers.
You would think that those who watched friends, co-workers and managers pack up their belongings and crying on the way out the door to their awaiting fate, that those who are still employeed would jump onto any story that will sell a paper.
So, are journalists all lazy, stupid and barely able to manage more in life than flipping a burger? Based upon what I have seen so far; a journalist is someone who is too stupid, lazy and unmotivated to dig ditches. Even when someone points out the stories for them to investigate.
From what I can glean in reading about all this, they do have severance, over 2 years of unemployment benefits and have kept their retirement accounts, et al. Some may be waiting to see if there is a bailout that would mean they are re-hired.
I would not be surprised to learn that books are in the works. If it was me, I would use the paid time off to do my research and line up a publisher or even, if it is explosive enough, set up a self-publishing scheme. Professionals should be able to do the actual writing in a few months. But, proof-reading, editing and galley corrections all take time.
There are conservative publishers and everyone knows how many books they can sell with scandal. I really wonder how long it is going to take to get some exposes out there.
I am certain some are so indoctrinated, they will never write anything critical. Some will use a fictional format. Some may only write after figuring out how to keep it all very anonymous. Some will just live on their wife’s income or look for a teaching gig. But there has to be someone who was fired who has information and will take it public.
OTOH, I know a retired journo who, rather than write anything critical of her beloved Democrats, has spent over a year trying to publish topical lifestyle/interview articles freelance for magazines. She was very confident because, as she stated:”I know how this business works.” She has had zero positive responses to her queries, let alone any sales. Many of the magazines she has queried are out of business. Others are only using staff-written material and/or recycling old articles. So, she may be typical.