Sportswriter salaries are often a heated topic of conversation, particularly due to the pay gap observed in the industry.
At La Presse, for example, the megastar journalists can expect a salary between $100,000 and $130,000. These impressive numbers stand in stark contrast to the broader statistics on journalist salaries in Canada, which show an annual average of $60,216, or about $30.88 per hour.
New entrants to the field can expect a salary starting around $40,000 per year, while more experienced professionals can reach up to $79,967 per year. (Source: Talent.com)
The gap between the salaries of ordinary journalists and those of popular blogs could raise questions.
Is it this inequality that is fueling some journalists' resentment towards independent media? Richard Labbé, for example, openly expresses his dissatisfaction with bloggers, even going so far as to describe these platforms as “underground media”.
Could this hostility towards blogs be related to the money involved?
The idea that traditional media often looks down on independent sites rather than learning from them is an interesting hypothesis among some observers.
Blogs have indeed managed to find their place in the media landscape by offering an approach that is often more informal and responsive than traditional media.
The blog business model, which emphasizes speed and direct interaction with the public, contrasts with the more rigid structures of traditional media. That's why it's much more profitable.
It is possible that some journalists' dislike of blogs is motivated by some form of jealousy or concern for their own financial situation.
By drawing more inspiration from blogs and independent media, journalists could potentially discover new revenue opportunities and new business models.
As Jean Trudel and Maxime Truman of the Stanley25 podcast suggest, perhaps it's time for some old guard journalists to rethink their approach and explore new ways to thrive in an ever-changing media landscape. Because as the saying goes, it's better to adapt than to remain bitter.